Jefferson Hagen, MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Entering the weekend atop the ACAC women's curling standings, MacEwan's Ashton Simard rink is primed to punch its ticket for the ACAC Championship.
Of course, they'll be in it to win as much as they can at this weekend's ACAC Winter Regional, hosted by MacEwan at the Avonair Curling Club Friday through Sunday.
But, given the math of other playoff possibilities, they'll qualify for the Feb. 22-24 championship in Olds with as little as three wins this weekend. Two might even be good enough.
That's the minimum, however, and head coach Tom Kitagawa expects the team to come out ready to continue the winning momentum they've been building all season.
"Just to continue on," said head coach Tom Kitagawa of the rink's goals at their home club this weekend. "They've been playing very well, they've been doing well in the league. Harmony's really good.
"Let's be honest, if they go 4-2, they're guaranteed to go to provincials. That's the big thing, just make provincials. Once you get there, it starts all over again."
Simard and her rink of third Erin Wells, second Andie Kurjata, and leads Taitan Hagglund and Rebecca Bartz went 5-1 through the Fall Regional. That tops on the table ahead of NAIT (4-2), Red Deer College (4-2), Olds (3-3), Concordia (2-4), UAlberta-Augustana (2-4) and Lakeland (1-5).
They'll open this weekend's bonspiel with Friday draws against Concordia (3:30 p.m.) and RDC (7 p.m.). On Saturday, they'll meet UAA (9 a.m.), NAIT (4:30 p.m.) and Lakeland (8 p.m.). And then MacEwan will finish up play on Sunday against Olds (9 a.m.).
MacEwan's men's team is in a tougher spot in their attempt to qualify for provincials. After the all-rookie squad went 1-5 through the Fall Regional, they will need a big rally to crack the top four.
"My hope is to go 4-2," said Kitagawa. "If we go 4-2, we have a chance if the other teams win and lose the right way. Anything worse than 4-2, I don't know if realistically we'll be able to qualify after going 1-5 in the first round."
NAIT sits atop the standings at 6-0, followed by Concordia (4-2), RDC (4-2), Olds (3-3), Lakeland (2-4) and fellow basement dweller UAA (1-5).
MacEwan enters the Winter Regional with a bit of different lineup, though.
Riley Ross, who wasn't academically eligible to compete first semester, brings plenty of junior experience to the fore as he takes over skipping duties.
"He has lots of experience," said Kitagawa of Ross, who works part-time as the icemaker for the Crestwood Curling Club. "He has curled at the junior competitive level. We'll see what happens going forward.
"Realistically, the whole team is first-years. They're kind of getting used to the level of play at the ACAC."
So, anything they can accomplish this season would be a bonus for a program growing for the future. The rink also includes third Jordan Geiger, second Brandon Rubisch, lead John Semashkewich and alternate Zale Zabolotniuk.
"The men are steadily getting better," said Kitagawa. "Riley calls a good game, reads the ice well."
MacEwan's men will open play on Friday at the Avonair against Lakeland (3:30 p.m.) and Olds (7 p.m.). On Saturday, they'll play RDC (12:30 p.m.) and UAA (4:30 p.m.) before finishing up on Sunday against NAIT (9 a.m.) and Concordia (12:30 p.m.).
For the full event schedule, click here.
