2021/22 Varsity Curling Recap from head coach Rob Krepps
 

The 2021-2022 season was an extremely successful one for Bears and Pandas Curling with our teams winning a total of 12 events. And, just as significantly, all four of our regular teams (Bears Selects, Pandas Selects, Bears Juniors, and Pandas Juniors) earned at least one title each. 

Our Bears Juniors (Johnson Tao, Jaeden Neuert, Ben Morin, and Andrew Nowell; skip to lead) led the way by winning an amazing six events. Included here were two Alberta Junior Championships, a Men's Provincial Qualifier, and three AJCT bonspiels. They then capped off the season with an impressive runner-up finish at the 2022 Canadian Junior Championships in Stratford, ON.

Our Bears Selects (Ryan Jacques, Desmond Young, Andrew Gittis, and Gabe Dyck; skip to lead) also had an excellent season, with two ACT bonspiel victories, including the Red Deer Classic. This earned them a berth in the season-ending Champions Cup in Olds, AB. The Bears Selects also competed in the Alberta Men's Provincials, where they bowed out one game short of the playoffs.

Ryan, Desmond, Andrew, and Gabe were the starters on our Bears Varsity team, which also included Jaedon as the alternate. This team was dominant in winning the 2022 Canada West Championship with a perfect 4-0 record. And, despite the cancellation of the 2022 U SPORTS Championship, they will still have the opportunity to compete in a Special Universiade Qualifier in September.

On the women's side, our Pandas Juniors (Serena Gray-Withers, Zoe Cinnamon, Brianna Cullen, and Anna Munroe; skip to lead) won an AJCT bonspiel early in the season and then went on to capture the 2022 Alberta Junior Championship. The Pandas Juniors then finished up their U20 careers in style by making the playoffs at the 2022 Canadian Junior Championship.

Our Pandas Selects (Selena Sturmay, Abby Marks, Catherine Clifford, Kate Goodhelpsen, and Paige Papley; various positions) qualified for the Women's Provincials and finished first on Curling Alberta's Excel Points Race. This latter achievement was secured with a victory at the ACT Championship, where Abby, Catherine, and Kate were joined by Emma Wiens, who had played all season with the Pandas Juniors in women's events.

Abby, Catherine, Brianna, and Paige were the starters on our Pandas Varsity team, which also included Serena as the alternate. This team finished the Canada West Championship in a three-way tie for first, but lost out on the title due to LSD distance. However, they rebounded win a tiebreaker game to earn silver, along with a berth in next September's Special Universiade Qualifier.

So, by any measure, 2021-2022 was an outstanding year for Bears and Pandas Curling. I am extremely proud of what our curlers and coaches have accomplished, and I think that they should be as well.