The Ontario Curling Council, crowned its champions for the Canada Winter Games Trials, at the Community First Curling Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, on Sunday, January 6, 2019.
In the Men’s final – Team Del Conte (Hamilton Victoria Curling Club) took on Team Leung (Whitby Curling Club) – Del Conte took the gold with a 6-5 win over Team Leung.
In the Women’s final – Team Croisier (Idylwylde Curling Club, Sudbury) played against Team Vivier (Navan Curling Club) – Croisier scored one in the last end, to take the match 7-6.
The final games were terrific matches with both men’s and women’s skips needing to make their last shots to win the games.
Teams Croisier and Del Conte will now represent Ontario at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer Alberta on February 15-March 3, 2019.
Members of the Winning Teams include:
Men: Team Del Conte – Hamilton Victoria Curling Club, Hamilton
- Skip – Daniel Del Conte
- Vice – Nykolas Moore
- Second- Sam Guilbeault
- Lead – Vincent Barbon
- Coach- David Del Conte
Women: Team Croisier – Idylwylde Golf and Country Club, Sudbury
- Skip – Bella Crosier
- Vice – Jamie Smith
- Second – Piper Croisier
- Lead – Lauren Rajala
- Coach – Shawn Croisier
The Ontario Curling Council would like to thank the Community First Curling Centre for hosting the Canada Winter Games Trials – with special thanks to their staff and volunteers who provided this important developmental opportunity to these young athletes. As a thank you for welcoming these provincial curling athletes to the city of Sault Ste. Marie, a donation of warm weather clothing was made to a local homeless shelter by the athletes, coaches and parents who attended.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
About the Canada Winter Games
The Canada Winter Games were first held in 1967 in Quebec City as part of Canada’s Centennial celebrations. These games are held every two years, alternating between Canada Winter Games and Canada Summer Games. Provincial level athletes from ages 12 to 18 qualify through a regional selection process conducted by the Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs).
Featuring 19 sports, over 150 events and a major arts and cultural festival, the 2019 Canada Winter Games will welcome up to 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches and more than 20,000 visitors.
The 2019 Games will be the largest event ever hosted in Red Deer and central Alberta and one of the largest events to be hosted in Alberta in over three decades, since the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
Notable Curling Alumni – Historically, the Canada Winter Games has been an important stepping stone in an athletes’ development – 38% of athletes at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics had previously competed at the Canada Winter Games including – Ontario’s – World Champion and Olympian, Rachel Homan. Other notable curling athletes who have competed in the Canada Winter Games include; Kaitlyn Lawes, John Morris, Mark Kennedy and Mark Nichols.
