The RDC Queens used an impressive showing at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference winter regional to book a spot in the provincial championship.
At the bonspiel in Edmonton, the Queens rolled to an impressive 5-1 record, improving their overall season mark to 8-4 and earn a spot in the ACAC Championships on home ice from Feb. 28 to March 1.
The Queens beat the MacEwan University Griffins Sunday 8-4 and the Olds College Broncos 6-2 to punch their ticket to provincials. They were 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).
“They were 5-1 and could have easily went 6-0, they had a blip in one game. They kinda had control and gave it up,” said RDC curling head coach Brad Hamilton.
“They just had just played together more, they were all pretty much new to each other at the start of the year. That first bonspiel they were still getting to know each other. This time they looked they had played some games together. They get along really well and they curling really well.”
The Kings missed the ACAC playoffs, finishing the season at 5-7. They had a pair of wins Sunday over Olds Collge and NAIT but went 3-3 overall at the winter regional.
The RDC mixed curling team finished the winter regional at 1-4 and with a 4-6 overall record, won’t advance to the championships.
The top four teams in each category qualified for provincials.
The ACAC Curling Championships will take place at the Pidherney Curling Centre from Feb. 28 to March 1. Dating back to 2005, RDC hasn’t hosted the championships.
“Top three go to Canadians and there’s only four teams in each division, so there’s a pretty good they could go to Canadians. It’ll be nice to play at our own rink and there should be lots of fans around,” said Hamilton.
“They get to sleep in their own bed. They should know what the ice is… there should some comfort in hey, we know what the weight is usually like and what the curl is usually like.”
Email sports tips to Byron Hackett
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