Posted: Mar 15, 2020

RDC Queens Curling team defeats Thunder, wins national bronze

(l-r) coach Eldon Raab, Carmyn Penner, Jaycee Bourke, Erica Watts, Emily Plett, Hollie Vincent (missing Head Coach Brad Hamilton)

Brent Forster - RDC

Portage la Prairie, MB - The Red Deer College Queens Curling team continued its momentum from a 2-0 Saturday right into the national bronze medal game on Sunday.

After dropping their semi-final draw to the Douglas Royals, the RDC Queens came up big against the Concordia University Thunder, earning bronze at the 2020 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)/Curling Canada College Curling Championships.

"It was great for the women to experience playing on arena ice and and in an arena with fans so close to the action," said RDC Curling Head Coach Brad Hamilton. "The last three round-robin games were must win games, followed by high intensity semi-final and bronze medal games. It was great for the women to experience this level of competition and find out they belong."

Hamilton was proud of the Queens' progression over the five days.

"The women took a few games to adjust to the atmosphere, going 1-3 to start. As they became more comfortable, they rattled off three straight wins to qualify for the playoffs," he explained. "They lost to the eventual champs in the semis and then rebounded with one of their stronger games to claim bronze."

In the morning semi-final, the Douglas Royals scored a pair in the fourth end and eventually got by the RDC Queens 7-4.

The Humber Hawks defeated the Concordia University Thunder 11-2 in the other semi-final, which set up a national bronze showdown involving a pair of Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) squads.

The RDC Queens and Concordia Thunder were even 5-5 after eight ends. Then the 2017 National Champion Queens strategically blanked the ninth to take the hammer into the final end, recording two points and a 7-5 victory for CCAA bronze.

"The last round-robin and bronze medal games were both won on the last rocks," said Hamilton. "There was a lot of excitement for the players and fans."

The Queens were well represented by Jaycee Bourke (lead), Carmyn Penner (lead/spare), Erica Watts (second), Emily Plett (third) and Hollie Vincent (skip), along with Head Coach Brad Hamilton and Queens coach Eldon Raab.

"It was a great job by all five women and coach Eldon," said Hamilton.

The Douglas Royals, from the Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) picked up a 10-1 decision over the Humber Hawks in the final, winning CCAA gold. The Royals have won consecutive national titles.

The results are available online.