Alberta captures men’s and women’s titles at 2018 U SPORTS/Curling Canada Curling Championships

LEDUC, Alta. (U SPORTS) – For the second time in school history, the University of Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas captured both U SPORTS men and women’s curling titles, winning their respective championship finals on Wednesday at the Leduc Recreation Centre. Both the Bears and Pandas also earned the right to represent Team Canada at the 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. The national title for the Bears is their third in program history, and first since 2015. The Pandas’ title is also their third overall, with all three coming in the last four years. “It’s surreal. The feeling of what just happened hasn’t even set in.” said Bears skip Karsten Sturmay, whose sister Selena plays second on the Pandas. “I couldn’t be prouder of my team and my sister’s team. All of us, we’ve done a great job here.” Sturmay’s Bears defeated the Winnipeg Wesmen 6-4, while the Pandas beat the Thompson Rivers Wolfpack 6-3. The UNB Varsity Reds captured the men’s bronze medal, while the Brock Badgers claimed the women’s. “It’s been fantastic to be the host school, literally playing 30 feet from where I threw my first curling rocks,” continued Sturmay, who was part of back-to-back silver medal-winning teams. “That’s so special. We’ve had so many friends and family to come out and watch us and the level of support Leduc has shown, it has been unbelievable.” The Golden Bears jumped out to an early 4-2 lead over the Wesmen, before both teams exchanged singles in the later stages of the game. Alberta scored a single in the 10th to seal the national championship. Meanwhile, the Pandas fell behind 2-0 early to TRU, before scoring in three consecutive ends to take a 4-2 lead after six. After allowing one in the seventh, Alberta added another two in the ninth, before running the WolfPack out of rocks in the 10th. “It was so cool to have the boys playing two sheets over from us and we were kind of feeding off each other’s energy from the crow,.” said an excited Kristen Streifel, skip of the Pandas. “It was a tough week. We really had to grind it out, but we continued to improve every game. I’m just so proud of our programs. ” This is the second consecutive time the Pandas have represented Canada at the Winter Universiade, after Kelsey Rocque’s 2016 U SPORTS winning squad captured gold in Almaty, Kazakhstan last winter. “It’s such an amazing feeling for it to come true. To be able to wear that Maple Leaf and represent Canada on a world level is so special,” said Selena Sturmay, who captures a national title in her rookie season. “Karsten and I had a chance to curl on a national level together and we’ve both been Team Alberta at the junior level, but to now wear the Maple Leaf together is even better.” INDIVIDUAL HONOURS MEN First Team All-Canadians Skip: Karsten Sturmay, Alberta Third: *Kyle Doering, Winnipeg and Tristan Steinke, Alberta Second: Jason Ginter, Alberta Lead: Rob Gordon, Winnipeg * Tie Second Team All-Canadians Skip: *John Willsey, Waterloo and J.T. Ryan, Winnipeg Third: none Second: Michael Brophy, Dalhousie Lead: Benjamin Hughes, Brock * Tie Coach of the Year: Lindsey MacKnight, UNB Varsity Reds R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award: Kyle Doering, Winnipeg Wesmen WOMEN First Team All-Canadians Skip: Terri Weeks, Brock Third: Danielle Schmiemann, Alberta Second: Kelly Middaugh, Wilfrid Laurier Lead: Samantha Fisher, Thompson Rivers Second Team All-Canadians Skip: Corynn Brown, Thompson Rivers Third: Erin Pincott, Thompson Rivers Second: Shelby Brandt, Regina Lead: Jesse Iles, Alberta Coach of the Year: Jim Nix, Mount Allison Mounties R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award: Lauren Barron, Memorial Sea-Hawks