NextGen Program
The intake to our NextGen (“Next Generation”) Program for the 2023-2024 Season is now OPEN. Please click the button below to access the application document. Please download that document. All required links and forms are within it. Applications are due July 17 at 9 am. Late submissions will not be considered. The application window is now CLOSED. Thank you to all who submitted an application.
The Ontario Curling Council’s NextGen Program is designed to support athletes who have proven competitive success over time and help advance them along the LTCD pathway as individual athletes and teams.
Please note the guide has an INCORRECT contact email for Sean Turriff. The email SHOULD be sturriff@ontcurl.com for inquiries OR Jen Ferris jennifer@ontcurl.com. Sorry for the inconvenience.
NextGen is about development!
NextGen Program Scope
In 2023-2024, the Ontario Curling Council will support ten (10) teams through its NextGen Program.
The Ontario Curling Council (OCC) and its member associations, the Ontario Curling Association (CurlON) and the Northern Ontario Curling Association (NOCA) are committed to the growth and development of competitive athletes with the intent of putting Ontario and Northern Ontario athletes on national and international podiums for years to come.
The OCC is also working closely with Curling Canada and the Canadian Sport Institute of Ontario (CSIO) to identify athletes who are specifically tracking towards potential Olympic podium performances in the next 2-3 quadrennials. The OCC will work in concert with Curling Canada to develop athletes and feed Curling Canada’s National Next Gen Program.
Already recognized as a National Best Practice, the OCC is continually reflecting on its programming to ensure a best-in-class system. Feedback is considered from:
- Curling Canada’s High Performance Plan
- Survey results obtained from this year’s High Performance Survey
- General survey results obtained during Strategic Planning Initiatives
- Feedback from our membership (CurlON and NOCA)
- Performance/Engagement of teams within the program
- Feedback and input from our funding partners (Canadian Sport Institute of Ontario, Curling Canada, Membership).
Selection criteria has been approved by the OCC Board of Directors. The Operations team then applies the criteria for team selection.
2022-2023 NextGen Teams
The Ontario Curling Council (OCC) wishes to recognize the continued support of our stakeholders to this program and others: The Government of Ontario, Canadian Sport Institute of Ontario(CSIO), Curling Canada, CurlON, Northern Ontario Curling Association (NOCA) and the Coaches Association of Ontario.
Congratulations to the teams selected to the NextGen Program for the 2022/23 season:
Tier 1 - U18/U21 Women - Team Emily Deschenes
Skip: Emily Deschenes; Third, Adrienne Beliveau; Second, Emma Artichuk; Lead, Evie Robert; Coach, Greg Artichuk.
Tier 1 - Adult Women - Team Hollie Duncan
Skip: Hollie Duncan; Third, Megan Balsdon; Second, Rachelle Strybosch; Lead, Tess Bobbie; Alternate, Julie Tipping; Coach, Barry Westman.
Tier 2 - U25 Women - Team Rozon
Skip: Breanna Rozon; Third, Calissa Daly; Second, Michaela Robert; Lead, Alice Holyoke; Coach, Bill Rogers.
Tier 2 - U18/U21 Women CurlON - Team Ava Acres
Skip: Ava Acres; Third, Aila Thompson; Second, Liana Flanagan; Lead, Mya Sharpe; Coach, Gord Butler.
Tier 1 - U18/U21 Men - Team Niepage
Skip: Dylan Niepage; Third, Kibo Mulima; Second, Gavin Lydiate; Lead, Riley Fung-Ernst; Coach, Will Hamilton.
Tier 1 - Adult Men - Team Kean
Skip: Mark Kean; Third, Cameron Goodkey; Second, Wes Forget; Lead, Edward Cyr.
Tier 2 - U18/U21 Men CurlON - Team Dobson
Skip: Jacob Dobson; Third, Noah Garner; Second, Daniel Del Conte; Lead, Nolan Galardo; Coach, Steve Flanigan.
Tier 2 - NONT Adult Women - Team Krista McCarville
Skip: Krista McCarville; Third, Kendra Lilly; Second, Ashley Sippala; Lead, Sarah Potts; Coach, Rick Lang.
Frequently-asked Questions
Question: Can our team apply to two categories if we qualify?
Answer: Yes, but a team will only be awarded a single NextGen spot. A single team cannot be awarded NextGen funding in two different categories.
Question: Some players on my team are coming to Ontario for school but their home is in another province. Can our team still apply?
Answer: In order to be considered, all athletes must be residing in and training in Ontario for the majority of the season (May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023). Exceptions to this criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Question: My team has a few coaches working with us. When outlining the coach development plan who does this refer to?
Answer: Please outline the development plan for the coach who will generally be managing the team on a day-to-day basis.
Additional questions should be forwarded to Sean Turriff – sturriff@ontcurl.com – and we’ll make sure we include the answers here as well.