(UPEI) UPEI Athletics and Recreation have announced that the Women’s Curling Team; skipped by Veronica Smith, and Brian Ofori, Men’s Basketball, are the UPEI Panther Athletes of the Week for the week of December 30 – January 5. UPEI Athletics and Recreation showcases these talented athletes to recognize their hard work and dedication to their respective sports throughout the season. UPEI Athletes of the Week are also nominated to Atlantic University Sport and Canadian Interuniversity Sport for possible recognition in the region and/or country.

Photo (L-R): Veronica Smith, Jane DiCarlo, Emily Gray, Aleya Quilty

The UPEI women’s curling team won the “B” pool final at the Atlantic University Curling Championships hosted by UNB on January 3–5. The Veronica Smith-skipped team earned the right to represent the Atlantic region at the CIS University Curling Championship in Regina, Saskatchewan on March 19–23. In the championship game, UPEI took two in the 9th and then stole one in the 10th for the win. The team finished with a 3–1 record. Team members include business student and skip Veronica Smith of Breadalbane; science student and third Jane DiCarlo of Charlottetown; science student and second Emily Gray of O’Leary, and science student and lead Aleya Quilty of Charlottetown. All members are enrolled in their second year of study at UPEI.

Brian Ofori, a second-year arts student from Montreal, Quebec, was selected as an All-Star at the Rod Shoveller Memorial Basketball Tournament. The Panthers placed second with two wins and one loss, where Ofori averaged 11 points and six rebounds over the three games, and was a very physical and defensive presence. Ofori was previously selected as a UPEI Athlete of the Week for the week of October 7–13.

The Women’s Curling Team and Ofori will be recognized at this week’s UPEI Athletes of the Week Celebration on Thursday, January 9 at 12:45 pm in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre’s McMillan Hall. All are welcome.