REDS Ready For FISU Qualifier

(OTTAWA, ON) The UNB REDS women’s curling team is one of six teams vying for the lone berth available this week at the Curling Canada qualifier for the 2023 FISU World University Games.

The qualifying bonspiel is taking place in Ottawa.

The 2023 World University Games will be held in Lake Placid, New York, January 12-22.

“We’re extremely proud and excited to represent UNB and the REDS on the national stage,” said Jenna Campbell, skip of the REDS’ rink. “Our goal is to play like we know we can and have success. We really want to enjoy the experience and we hope to make the REDS community proud.”

Canada’s women’s and men’s teams for the FISU event were to have been decided at the 2022 U SPORTS Curling Championships, but that event was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The teams participating in the qualifier will practice Wednesday before round-robin play begins on Thusrday.

“There will be no easy games,” said Campbell. “All six teams qualified for last year’s national championship because they’re among the best in their region, so we’ll need to bring our best every time.”

Campbell leads a team that includes Véronique Carroll, Carly Smith and Kirsten Donovan.

UNB is one of two Atlantic University Sport teams in Ottawa.

They’re joined by the Dal Tigers, along with Laurier and Waterloo from the OUA, and Regina and Alberta from Canada West.

“We’re a young team, but that means nothing,” Campbell said. “We’ve proven that we belong at this level and that we can compete with teams that may be older. We have experience in high pressure and high stakes games, so we just need to play our game, be confident in our abilities, and remember that we earned this spot.”

The Campbell rink was runner-up at the 2022 AUS Championships, dropping a close 4-3 decision to Dal in the final.

At the FISU qualifier, UNB opens round-robin play with Thursday games against Laurier and Alberta. The REDS face Regina and Waterloo on Friday, and the Tigers on Saturday morning.

The top three teams will advance to the playoffs, with the first place team earning a bye in Sunday’s final. The second and third place teams will contest Saturday afternoon’s semi-final.

STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTO: File