The RDC Queens are hoping a little home cooking with pay big dividends on the weekend.
RDC will play host to the 2020 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference Curling Championships starting Friday, at the Pidherney Curling Centre.
The Queens were the lone team of the three RDC Curling teams to qualify, thanks to a stellar performance at the winter regional, where they went 5-1. Their 8-4 mark in two regionals on the season qualified them for the provincial championship.
“The team probably wished they could have played ACAC’s right after the Winter Regional with the roll they were on,” said RDC Curling Head Coach Brad Hamilton in a press release.
“I think the regional gave the team some confidence to know that if they curl well, they can beat anybody. They have defeated all of the championship teams except for Augustana.”
They will be represented by Third Emily Plett (Manitoba), second Erica Watts (Red Deer), lead Jaycee Bourke (Red Deer), second-year skip Holly Vincent (Red Deer County) and Carmyn Penner (St. Albert).
The Queens have had a nearly five-week break since their last college bonspiel but stayed sharp playing Tuesday night league games. Heading into the championships on home ice, they also should know the ice better than any of the other teams.
“There should be some comfort playing on your home ice in terms of draw weight and knowing how much the ice curls,” noted Hamilton.
Concordia University of Edmonton, University of Alberta-Augustana and NAIT round out the women’s draw.
“It should be a great weekend. I think any of the four women’s teams can win,” added said. “It should be a great battle to see which three teams get to go to nationals and who wins that ACAC banner. It usually comes down to who has the hot weekend.”
The Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Curling Canada College Curling Championships will take place from March 11-15 in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba.
In the men’s draw, Concordia University of Edmonton, NAIT, SAIT and Lakeland College will compete. In the mixed draw, NAIT, MacEwan University, University of Alberta-Augustana and Lakeland College are set to play.
In their opening draw, the RDC Queens will play the NAIT Ooks on Friday at 4:15 pm. All other teams also kick off the event Friday at 4:15 p.m.
Curling fans can attend for free.