Griffins curling teams aim to add to successful program history
MacEwan Athletics
MacEwan curlers can circle dates on the calendar as they aim to add championship banners to an illustrious program history.
The 2017-18 ACAC season will begin with the Fall Regional on Nov. 24-26, hosted by Portage College at the St. Paul Curling Club.
Teams will also compete at the Winter Regional, set to be hosted by Concordia University Jan. 26-28 at Avonair Curling Club in Edmonton.
The top four teams in each of men's, women's and mixed divisions will then move on to the ACAC Championship, hosted by UAlberta-Augustana (UAA) in Camrose (Rose City Curling Club) Feb. 16-18.
Out of that, the top two men's and women's teams will advance to the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) championship, also set to be hosted by UAA but in Leduc (Leduc Recreation Centre) March 24-28. That event will be held in conjunction with the U Sports championship, hosted by the University of Alberta at the same time and venue.
MacEwan last won a CCAA banner in 2014 when the Griffins men's team struck gold in Sault St. Marie, Ont. The Griffins men's team also won a CCAA silver in 2013. On the ACAC front, MacEwan's men's team were conference champs in 2015. Other ACAC men's curling banners in MacEwan history include 1990 and 2005.
On the women's side, MacEwan has also enjoyed lots of recent success, claiming a CCAA bronze medal in 2013. The Griffins have also been ACAC women's champions three times in the past eight seasons, winning banners in 2010, 2014 and 2016. Other ACAC women's curling banners in MacEwan history include 1993 and 2005.
MacEwan has won five ACAC mixed curling championships in program history – 1992, 1996, 2005, 2006 and 2008. The mixed discipline doesn't compete at the CCAA level.
Last season, MacEwan lacked the numbers to ice a men's curling team, while the Griffins women's rink failed to qualify for the ACAC Championship. However, MacEwan's mixed curling squad won an ACAC bronze medal in 2017.
Full-time students at MacEwan University interested in joining the curling program for the 2017-18 season are invited to contact head coach Tom Kitagawa (curling@macewan.ca).
