(by Jean Mills)
Wilfrid Laurier men and University of Alberta women sit at the top of the standings after Day Two action at the 2014 CIS/CCA University Curling Championships in Regina, Sask.
In the morning draw, the men’s highlighted game was the University of Alberta Golden Bears (2-0) against the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks (2-0). Laurier led 4-2 after six, but Alberta was able to tie it up 5-5 in the ninth end. A last rock mistake by the Golden Bears in the tenth end allowed the Golden Hawks’ to take a 6-5 victory.
The Memorial University of Newfoundland Sea Hawks (1-1) defeated the Brock University Badgers (1-1) in an extra end, 12-10. The Badgers led for most of the game, but fell behind after the Sea Hawks tied it in the seventh and took a 10-9 lead in the ninth. Brock took one to tie the game in the 10th and force the extra, where Memorial came out on top.
The men’s side also saw the Toronto University Varsity Blues (1-1) go up against the University of Manitoba Bisons (1-1). The Bisons were looking strong after securing five points in the fourth end making it 7-3. They maintained their lead throughout the rest of the game with the Varsity Blues trailing behind in an 11-8 final.
The host team University of Regina Cougars dominated over the Saint Mary’s Huskies in their third draw. Both teams were at 0-2 records going into the match. The Cougars held the Huskies to three points as they ended the game in eight ends with a 10-3 final score.
The women’s feature game was a repeat of the men’s, with the University of Alberta Pandas (2-0) taking on the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (2-0). The game remained scoreless until the fifth end where Laurier was able to take one point with hammer. Alberta retaliated with a five point sixth end. The Golden Hawks continued to battle back but couldn’t make it happen as the Pandas took the game in a 7-5 final.
Carleton University Ravens (1-1) went up against Thompson River University Wolfpack (1-1). The Ravens were able to take a 5-1 lead after the fourth end, but the Wolfpack made a comeback with three stolen ends making it 6-5 in the eighth end in TRU’s favour. Carleton pushed through and secured two one point ends making it a 7-6 final for the Ravens.
University of Toronto Varsity Blues (1-1) took on the New Brunswick Varsity Reds (1-1) in their third draw. The Blues had a 5-2 lead going into the fifth end break. New Brunswick was never able to get ahead and shook hands after the ninth end as they fell behind in a 7-4 final score
The women’s side also saw the host University of Regina Cougars take on the University of PEI Panthers, skipped by Veronica Smith. Both teams were 0-2 going into the match. The score remained steady sitting at two apiece after the fifth end. The Cougars pulled ahead with a three point sixth end, and continued their lead to take the game 7-5 in 10 ends.
In Draw Four action on Thursday afternoon, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (3-0) defeated the University of Regina Cougars (1-2) in five ends. With a Laurier steal of three points in the first end, Regina took their only point of the game in the second. From there Laurier took one in the third and stole five points in the fourth and fifth to make it a 9-1 final. The Golden Hawks remain undefeated after four draws.
Brock University Badgers (1-2) took on the Manitoba Bisons (2-1) in their fourth draw. Brock was able to take a 2-1 lead after three ends, but Manitoba went ahead in the fourth and stayed on top through to the eighth, where the Badgers shook hands after an 8-3 deficit.
Alberta Golden Bears (2-1) went up against the Saint Mary’s Huskies (0-3). The Huskies started off the game strong with three points in the first, and held the Golden Bears to only three points the whole game. Alberta shook hands after blanking the ninth end, giving Saint Mary’s their first win of the championship with a 6-3 final.
The men’s side also saw the Memorial Sea Hawks (2-1) dominate over the Toronto Varsity Blues (1-2). The Sea Hawks took three points in both the third and fifth ends and secured their win with two in the seventh and a steal of one in the eighth to make the Blues shake hands after a 10-3 deficit.
Carleton Ravens (2-1) took on host team Regina Cougars (1-2) in their fourth draw on the women’s side. Teams were tied 4-4 going into the fifth end. Carleton took the lead after a steal of one in the fifth and continued to control throughout the rest of the game. Regina shook hands after they were down 9-5 after the eighth end.
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Team UPEI playing TRU (from Twitter @UPEIWCurling)
Thompson Rivers Wolfpack (1-2) stole in the first four ends over the PEI Panthers (0-3) taking an 11-0 lead, and after six ends and only one point, the Panthers shook hands to fall down to a 0-4 record.
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (2-1) went up against the New Brunswick Varsity Reds (1-2) in their fourth draw. The game went back and fourth with Laurier coming out on top 6-3 after the sixth. In the 10th end, New Brunswick needed a steal of two to go into an extra end but came up short making it a 7-6 final for the Golden Hawks.
University of Toronto Varsity Blues (2-1) took on the undefeated Alberta Pandas (3-0). In the only game to go to an extra end, Alberta came out on top 5-4. Toronto was able to tie up the game after scoring one in the 10th, but fell short after a heavy draw, giving Alberta the win. Alberta remains on top the women’s side with a 4-0 record.
The winning teams will be invited by the Canadian Curling Association to represent Canada at the FISU 2015 Winter Universiade in Granada, Spain, Feb. 4-14.
Draw results will be available at www.curling.ca while event information, including team rosters and draw schedule, can be found at www.curling.ca/2014university-en.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Curling National Championships are taking place at Soo Curlers Association in Sault. Ste. Marie, Ont., from Wednesday through Saturday. Eight women’s and eight men’s teams are competing in the event hosted by Sault College. For further information, visit www.ccaa.ca/national-championship-s15111.