The NAIT Ooks Curling Team is poised for an exhilarating ACAC season with a focus on skill development and team unity under the leadership of Head Coach Karynn Flory-Simmons.
As they approach the ACAC season, Coach Flory-Simmons expresses confidence in her team's readiness, noting, "The team has been training hard on and off the ice to hone the skills we will need to succeed this season."
The anticipation is high for the two regional bonspiels during the regular season. The Fall Regional, hosted by Lakeland College, unfolds from November 24-26 at the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre in Lloydminster. The second bonspiel, the Winter Regional, is slated to take place from January 19-21 at the Thistle Curling Club in Edmonton, hosted by NAIT.
Coach Flory-Simmons outlines her strategic approach to preparation. "We have taken a new approach to training this season with a focus on mindset and team unity," she explains. The team's off-ice training incorporates essential topics to enhance their training modalities. Game experience is also a key component, with teams participating in a league at their training club to ensure a well-rounded preparation for the season.
The aspirations for the season go beyond victories on the ice. Coach Flory-Simmons places team camaraderie at the forefront, stating, "With team camaraderie at the forefront of our season, come February, our goal is to have all three (men's/ladies/mixed) teams competing at ACAC Championships and ultimately travel with both the men's and ladies' teams to Fredericton in March for CCAA Championships."
The ACAC Championships, a pinnacle in the curling season, are scheduled for February 23-25 at the Airdrie Curling Club, hosted by SAIT. The CCAA National Championships are set to take place from March 12-16 in Fredericton at The Aitken University Centre at the University of New Brunswick and the Capital Winter Club. This national stage provides an opportunity for the NAIT Ooks to showcase their skills on a broader scale and compete against top-tier teams from across the country.
As the teams fill out their rosters and scout the competition's stats from the previous year, Coach Flory-Simmons is excited to see how they will fare in the first spiel. "We are really excited to see how the teams fare in our first spiel this weekend, and from there, we can make the necessary tweaks needed to come out stronger in January," she concludes. The strategic and adaptable approach sets the stage for a promising and competitive season for the NAIT Ooks Curling Team.