RDP Queens Curling Club Nationals Update

Sudbury, ON, March 19, 2023 – The Red Deer Polytechnic Queens Curling Club's 2022/2023 season comes to a close as they just missed the playoffs at the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)/Curling Canada College Championships in Sudbury, ON.

The Queens Nationals Curling run started way back on Wednesday, March 15 with their first game coming against the Humber College Hawks who they defeated 7-5 after stealing a total of three points in the final two ends.

But the next morning, the Queens hammer efficiency took a hit as they would give up four stolen points against the Niagara College Knights in the last three ends and lose 8-6.

The following draw the Polytechnic bounced back with a huge win against the Sault College Cougars as they were able to explode on offense. They scored four in the first and eighth end with five in the fifth end. In the first three ends, the Queens stole seven points and went on their way to defeat the Cougars 20-1 in eight ends.

But their offense went quiet yet again in the morning draw on Friday. They would exchange one-point ends but the Concordia University Thunder would steal five straight points to go into the fifth end break up 6-1. The Queens would make a comeback in the last five ends scoring five in the eighth, but it was not enough as the Thunder scored four and one to close out the game in the ninth end with the final score being 11-7.

Red Deer would bounce back yet again with a huge 11-2 victory against the Fanshawe College Falcons that only lasted eight ends. The biggest difference in this game was the three stolen points and when the Queens put a four on the scoreboard in the sixth end.

On Saturday, the Queens would get the morning draw off and take on their rivals the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings in the afternoon draw. It was a tough blow in the end as they suffered their third loss of the championship with a score of 10-4 which could have knocked them out of the playoff picture. The biggest difference is the Queens gave up five stolen points throughout the eight-end game.

The Queens started off their final round-robin match by stealing nine points in the first four ends. But the SAIT Trojans would finally score their first point in end number five. The Polytechnic would score three in the eighth which led to the Trojans calling it and shaking hands as the Queens picked up with the 13-2 victory.

But with both Red Deer and Augustana tied for fourth with a 4-3 record in the standings, the Vikings would move on as they defeated the Queens earlier on Saturday to win the tiebreaker.

This would ultimately end the Queens national's run and their 2022/2023 season as they finished outside playoff contention and will not be able to compete for a medal.