The NAIT Ooks curling team is ready to compete in the 2022/23 season. Due to the uncertainty of the pandemic last season, the CCAA announced early on that the 2021/22 CCAA National Curling Championship would be cancelled. Although the team wasn't gunning for Nationals, that didn't stop the Ooks from bringing their A-game all season in hopes of medalling in the ACAC Curling Championships. The Ooks brought home an ACAC silver medal in mixed curling, and both the women's and men's teams brought home an ACAC bronze. Head Coach and curling alumni Karynn Flory-Simmons is back coaching the team for her second season.
"I am confident our teams will do well this season. We have had time to practice, prep, and come together before this first spiel of the season," said Flory-Simmons.
Several new names have been added to the roster this season. The new student-athletes are Sean Borkovic, Rebecca Carriere, Grady Mackintosh, Ryan MacMillan, Anthony Ogg, Rachel Kraft, Alana Mawhinney, and Rowan Ozipko.
"Our new student-athletes this season have come in with positive attitudes and a drive to want to play well. We have a handful of student-athletes, all with quite a bit of past curling experience, which will be a nice fit with our veterans," said Flory-Simmons.
Last season, the curling team only competed in the second semester because of the return-to-play protocol. This season has gone back to normal, with bonspiels hosted in both the fall and winter.
"I am most excited to see how the athletes progress over the course of a whole season. Watching them get to experience a full season and truly appreciate what a student-athlete experience is like is super rewarding. Curling Nationals were cancelled last year, and I truly think our athletes missed out on one of the best events of the season, so we are working hard in hopes that we can qualify this year," said Flory-Simmons.
The NAIT Ooks begin their season this weekend at the fall regional hosted by SAIT. The event runs from Friday, November 25th, to Sunday, the 27th. The team gets a break for final exams before returning for the winter regional hosted by Concordia University of Edmonton from January 20-22. The team is then off to the ACAC Championships, hoping to qualify for Nationals. The ACAC Curling Championships will be hosted by Lakeland College from March 3-5. The curling season will come to a close in Sudbury, Ontario, from March 16-23 for the CCAA National Championship.