(HALIFAX, N.S.) – The 2016 Subway AUS curling championships get underway tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 18, and are being hosted by StFX University at the Highlander Curling Club in St. Andrews, N.S.

This marks the second year that Atlantic University Sport and Curl Atlantic have teamed up to stage a championship event sanctioned by the AUS.

There will be a total of 14 teams participating in this year’s event, including eight women’s teams and six men’s teams. Last year’s inaugural AUS curling championship hosted by UPEI saw 10 squads register (five men’s and five women’s teams).

The teams will compete in a round robin schedule with both the women’s and men’s semifinals scheduled for 9 a.m. Sunday, followed by the finals which take place at 1 p.m. (all times AST).

“We are pleased to be working with Curl Atlantic to showcase university curling once again this year,” says Phil Currie, executive director of Atlantic University Sport. “To see the Subway AUS curling championships grow from 10 teams to 14 in the past year is a testament to the growth in popularity of the sport. We’re looking forward to a great championship as the top university curlers in Atlantic Canada will represent their institutions and compete for the honour of claiming an AUS banner.”

Last year’s inaugural championship saw the Saint Mary’s women’s team and the University of New Brunswick men’s squad claim the first AUS championship banners awarded in this sport.

On the men’s side, this year’s lineup includes Acadia University, Memorial University, the University of New Brunswick, StFX University, Saint Mary’s University and Dalhousie University.

The women’s field includes host StFX as well as Acadia, Dalhousie, Memorial, Mount Allison, Saint Mary’s, UPEI and UNB. The University of Prince Edward Island is once again represented by the rink of Veronica Smith (skip), Jane DiCarlo (third), Emily Gray (2nd), and Aleya Quilty (lead), with coach Paul Smith. The team is seeking their 4th straight CIS berth.

For the full list of participating teams and players, visit: www.atlanticuniversitysport.com/sports/curling/index.

The full draw schedule for the 2016 Subway AUS curling championship can be found here: www.atlanticuniversitysport.com/sports/curling/2015-16/index

Live scoring will be available for all draws at the Curl Atlantic website, CurlAtlantic.com

Two teams from this year’s event, the winning teams and runner-up teams, will represent the conference at the 2016 CIS / CCA Curling Championships hosted by the Kelowna Curling Club, March 20-23.

For more information on the 2016 CIS Curling Championship, visit the event website at: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/curling/index.