Griffins' mixed rink aims to add ACAC title to memorable season that includes rare eight-ender

Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics

EDMONTON – Already with a feat under their belts that makes this season one they'll remember for a long time – scoring a rare eight-ender during league play last month – the MacEwan Griffins mixed curling rink has a chance to add an Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference championship to their collection when action gets underway in Red Deer on Friday afternoon.

Skip Rebecca Bartz, third Brandt Holt, second Brennin Turner and lead Zale Zabolotniuk received a special award from Curling Canada after recording the eight-ender on Jan. 23 at the Saville Centre.

"It was us making our shots and the other team not making very many shots at all," said Bartz. "It was fantastic. I have my eight-ender plaque up on my wall now. Not many people get to say they had that."

Bartz's four-year Griffins' curling career is rich with success, including helping MacEwan's women's team win an ACAC championship and Canadian Colleges Athletic Association silver medal last season. She also threw third rocks on the Griffins' 2018 ACAC Championship mixed rink.

She sees a lot of similarities from that squad to this one, which will be vying for the Griffins' second mixed banner in three seasons.

"We had good communication on that team and we had a skip who as soon as he put the broom down and went to throw his last rock, we could count on him to put the finishing touches," Bartz said of 2018 skip Jordan Semen. "If the rest of the team did a good job setting up the end, we could count on him to finish it off for us.

"I think that communication is there (with this rink) and the teamwork. We have a bit different deliveries – all of us throw a little bit different, but we all bring such different backgrounds that the four of us working together has been a good asset for all the successes we've had."

Alternates Rachael Hansen and Joel MacDonald will also be travelling with the squad this weekend.

The Griffins finished fourth (5-5) through the two ACAC regional events this season, grabbing the final playoff spot into the ACAC Championship behind NAIT (8-2), Lakeland (7-3) and UAlberta-Augustana (6-4).

But this weekend in Red Deer will be up for grabs to whichever team can find their top form at the right time.

"Our chances are pretty good," said head coach Tom Kitagawa. "It just depends on how they perform. I know NAIT's quite strong. They went 5-0 in the winter regionals.

"But I feel we have just as good a chance as anybody."

Flanked by sweepers Zale Zabolotniuk, left, and Brandt Holt, second Brennin Turner makes a shot during the ACAC Winter Regional (Joel Kingston photo).

MacEwan will meet NAIT in their round-robin opener on Friday (4:15 p.m.) before Saturday matches against Lakeland (10 a.m.) and UAlberta-Augustana (2 p.m.). From there, Seeds 1-2 meet for a spot in the gold medal game and Seeds 3-4 will go for a spot in the semifinal (7 p.m.).

Sunday features the 3-4 winner against the 1-2 loser in a semifinal (10 a.m.) before the gold and bronze matches at 2 p.m.

Although every team qualifies out of the round robin, Bartz feels it's important to exhibit strong play in the round-robin round to build confidence for the page playoffs.

"Winning where we can and at least having really close games – I think that's important," she said. "Even if you lose a really close one, you feel like you went out and played your best and you still have that feeling like you could win the next one.

"It's just exciting. It's my fourth provincials with MacEwan, so it's exciting. Hopefully we come back with a gold."