Defeating some of the top ranked men's curling teams in the world, the Bears selects earned their second tournament win of the season earlier this week, capturing the 2021 Vesta Energy Curling Classic in Red Deer.

The Bears, led by skip Ryan Jacques, defeated Colton Flasch's rink 6-5 in the final on Monday afternoon, after they elimiated Yannick Schwaller's Switzerland rink 8-5 in the semifinal. 

Flasch's rink out of Saskatchewan is ranked #15 in the World Curling Federation rankings, while Schwaller is ranked 9th. The Bears also won the Okotoks U25 Championship in September. 

Jacques, along with third Desmond Young, second Andrew Gittis, and lead Gabe Dyck, went 7-0 in Red Deer, going 4-0 in the triple-knockout format, before earning three-straight playoff wins. 

It's the second WCT title for Jacques and the Bears selects, who also won the McKee Homes fall Classic in 2020. The win gives the Bears 39.808 WCT points, and a $9,000 first place prize.

Former Panda Selena Sturmay, along with current student-athletes Abby Marks, Catherine Clifford, and Paige Papley finished third on the women's side with a 6-2 record. 

The first collegiate event for the Bears will be the 2022 Canada West Championship, which will be hosted by the Regina Cougars on February 5th and 6th. 
 

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