Winter Regional Recap | January 25-27, 2019

The Lakeland Rustlers Curling Teams were in Edmonton over the weekend, participating in the ACAC Curling Winter Regional, hosted by Avonair Curling Club and the Grant MacEwan Griffins. The Rustlers had three teams competing, one in each of the men's, women's and mixed divisions.

The men's team started off the Winter regional taking on the Griffins in the 3:30 pm draw on Friday afternoon. The Griffins would defeat the Rustlers 7-3. The Rustlers had to bounce back quickly, as they faced the NAIT Ooks in the 7:00 pm draw Friday night. The Rustlers ended up on the wrong end again, losing 9-3. Saturday morning, the Rustlers took on the Olds College Broncos.

Lakeland was able to get their first win of the weekend, defeating the Broncos 11-9. The Rustlers second game of the day had them facing the Concordia Thunder, which the Rustlers lost 8-1. Sunday morning, the Rustlers faced the Red Deer Kings and won 8-3 for their second win of the weekend.  The Rustlers faced the University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings Sunday afternoon in their final game of the weekend. Lakeland came away with the 8-0 win over the Vikings, finishing the weekend with a 3-3 record. 

The women's team played just one game Friday night, taking on the University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings in the 7:00 pm draw. The Rustlers struggled against the Vikings and dropped their first match of the weekend, 10-4. It was a busy Saturday for the Rustlers as they played three games, facing the Concordia Thunder, Olds College Broncos and Grant MacEwan Griffins.

The Rustlers started the day with a tough loss to the Thunder, losing 7-1, but the Rustlers didn't get down on themselves. The Rustlers bounced back to defeat the Broncos 8-3 but lost to the Griffins 9-2 in their last game of the day. It was a tough day Sunday for the Rustlers, as Lakeland lost both of their games on the day. The Rustlers were defeated by the Red Deer Queens 10-4 Sunday morning and then defeated by the NAIT Ooks 7-1 Sunday afternoon.

The women's team finished the Winter Regional with a 1-4 record, failing to qualify for the ACAC Curling Championships.

The Rustlers mixed team got off to a good start on Friday, defeating the Portage Voyagers 6-4, in their only game of the day. The Rustlers continued their winning ways Saturday morning, defeating the Olds College Broncos 9-3.  Saturday night, the Rustlers would lose their first game of the weekend, being defeated by Red Deer College 9-4.

The Rustlers would split their two games on Sunday, losing to the University of Alberta – Augustana Vikings 5-3 in the morning, before defeating the NAIT Ooks 5-3 in the afternoon, to finish the weekend with a win. Lakeland finished the weekend with a 3-2 record.

After two regionals, 2 out of 3 Lakeland Rustlers curling teams have qualified for the ACAC Curling Championships. The men's team finished the regionals with a 5-7 record, while the mixed team finished the regionals with a 7-3 record.

The ACAC Curling Championships will be hosted by Olds College from February 22-24.