REDS Ready For U SPORTS Championship
(FREDERICTON, NB) The 2024 U SPORTS Curling Championships begin at UNB’s Aitken Centre on March 12th. They’ll run alongside those of the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association.
Action takes place from March 12-16 at the Aitken Centre and Fredericton’s Capital Winter Club.
The university and college championships are part of a two-week curling extravaganza in Fredericton, which includes the 2024 Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship. Those run March 17-22.
UNB’s women, the 2024 Atlantic University Sport champions, are led by skip Jenna Campbell.
“We’re so excited to play for a national championship, especially on home ice,” said Campbell. “Some of the best teams in Canada are here in Fredericton, so the competition should be very fierce.”
“It makes it even more special to be playing in front of our home crowds here at the Aitken Centre and Capital Winter Club,” said Wayne Tallon, head coach of the REDS’ women’s team. “This is truly a dream come true, and a goal the team had set at the beginning of the season.”
The REDS’ women open their tournament at 4:30pm Tuesday, on the ice at the Capital Winter Club, against Canada West champs Alberta.
The REDS and Pandas are joined in the tournament by teams from Waterloo, McMaster, Laurentian, Dalhousie, Mount Allison, and Victoria.
The eight teams will play a round-robin schedule which wraps up Friday.
On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, there are draws at 8:30am, 12:30pm, 4:30pm, and 8:30pm, at both UNB and the CWC.
The top four teams will play semi-finals, at the Aitken Centre, at 9:30am on Saturday. Gold and bronze medal games will be played at 2:30pm.
“We’ve been working hard the last few weeks, so I know we’re ready to take on these strong teams,” said Campbell. “We’re so proud to represent the REDS and we’re ready to give it our all!”
“Winning the AUS has helped the team to be mentally and physically prepared for this championship,” said Coach Tallon. “The team has put in countless hours, practicing on the ice as well as off the ice with physical training and sport psychology training.”
The opening ceremony for the tournament takes place at 7:30pm Tuesday, followed by the second draw of the tournament, scheduled for 9:00pm.
“We’ll have to continue to execute shots at the highest level and be prepared mentally if we want to succeed and make the playoffs,” said Tallon.
STORY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
FILE PHOTO: UPEI Athletics