The RDP Curling Club slides into the upcoming ACAC season with high expectations

Red Deer, November 17, 2023 – With thoughts of slides, brooms, rocks, the Red Deer Polytechnic Kings and Queens curlers are ready to hit the pebble for the 2023/2024 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) season.

RDP was represented in both the mixed and women's divisions in the ACAC last season. The Mixed team finished off a strong season with a bronze medal at the conference championship. The Queens finished in fourth place after a solid campaign at the Fall and Winter Regionals. The Queens still managed to qualify for the 2023 Curling Canada College Championships where they just missed out on securing a playoff spot.

As both teams look ahead to the start of the new season, Head Coach Brad Hamilton explained they have high expectations to be very competitive at the ACAC Championships. The SAIT Trojans will host the championship event in Airdrie from February 23-25.

"Our goal as coaches is to get all three teams to the ACAC Championships. The curlers and the coaching staff would be disappointed if we didn't get a chance to medal at the provincial level. Once we get there, it usually comes down to who is hot that weekend but we will try and be in that gold medal game."

The Kings will join the Queens and Mixed teams during this upcoming curling campaign, following a year off from competing in the men's division. Second Sam Goodey (Kinesiology Fitness and Health) and Skip Jaden Morlock (Practical Nursing Diploma) return to the Kings along with two rookies, lead Joel White (Business Diploma) and third Aiden Berube (Bachelor of Kinesiology).

The RDP Queens returned most of their core players which include skip Kaylee Raniseth (Bachelor of Education), who won gold at the 2023 Canada Winter Games in the mixed doubles category. The team also returned third Cuyler Desormeau (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) and lead Nicole Homan (Bachelor of Education). The Queens added just one rookie this year, Morgan Deschiffart (Bachelor of Sciences in Biological Sciences), who is one of the top U18 curlers in the province, according to Hamilton.

Lastly, the mixed team returned skip Nick Woznesensksy (Bachelor of Education) and lead Reegan Cox (Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences), who was named an ACAC Curling all-star last season. The two rookies are second Teryn Herder (Bachelor of Biological Sciences) and third Cassidy Blair (Bachelor of Kinesiology).

Hamilton said he's excited for the season to start and believes all three teams will be competitive.

"It is kind of a good mix of returnees and a decent group of rookies, who all have some sort of competitive experience, whether it is U18 or high school curling. Our coaches think that we will be competitive in all three divisions.

On top of the Fall and Winter Regionals and the ACAC Championships, the RDP Curling teams will get a chance to watch some of the best curlers in the world in Red Deer. The Co-op Canadian Open will be held at the Servus Arena from January 16-21, 2024. This major event is part of the Grand Slam of Curling tour which is operated by Sportsnet.

The teams believe this will help them see up close and personal how some of the world-class curlers strategize as the game progresses.

"It is going to be an incredible experience to watch them in person and see how they present themselves around the rink while also seeing how they strategize the game."

The ACAC Curling season will start at the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre with the Lakeland College Rustlers hosting the Fall Regional from November 24-26.