2026 ACAC Curling Rookies of The Year

Edmonton, AB (February 3, 2026) – 

FEMALE CURLING ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, KAILY SPARKS:

Kaily Sparks of the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens has been selected as the 2026 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s Curling Rookie of the Year.

In her debut season, Kaily Sparks has made an immediate impact on the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens and the broader Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Curling landscape.

“For Kaily to step into the skip position as a first-year student-athlete, lead her team to an ACAC silver medal and earn Rookie of the Year honours speaks volumes about her poise, competitiveness and leadership,” says Randy Stewart, Manager, Athletics and Student Life, Red Deer Polytechnic. “We are incredibly proud of what she has accomplished and we look forward to following her progress at nationals.”

Sparks helped lead the RDP Queens to a 6-6 combined record at both ACAC Tournament #1 and #2. Then at the ACAC Championships, Sparks, a Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies student, and her teammates elevated their play to earn silver. At the championships, the Queens earned hard-fought victories over the Portage College Voyageurs 7-6 and the SAIT Trojans 6-4 in the semi-final. In a tightly contested gold medal match, the Concordia University Thunder edged the Queens 4-3.

Hailing from Sexsmith, Alberta, Sparks has played a pivotal role in formulating the Queens’ strategy throughout the season. Her calm presence, sharp decision-making and ability to deliver clutch shots under pressure were instrumental in securing ACAC hardware and punching the team’s ticket to nationals.

Sparks and the Red Deer Polytechnic Queens will vie for a medal at the 2026 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Curling Canada College Championships held in Regina from February 17-21.

 MALE CURLING ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, CODY MILLER:

The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) is proud to announce Cody Miller of the NAIT Ooks has been named the 2026 ACAC Men’s Curling Rookie of the Year.

In his first season of collegiate competition, Miller made an immediate impact as a member of the NAIT Ooks mixed curling team. Competing against experienced programs across the conference, the rookie helped guide the Ooks to a strong start, finishing the first ACAC bonspiel with a 3–1 record, with their lone loss coming against the undefeated SAIT Trojans. The team followed up with a 4–2 showing at the second bonspiel, finishing the regular season at 7–3 and positioning themselves well heading into the ACAC Championships.

At the ACAC Mixed Curling Championship, Miller and the Ooks delivered a strong performance, advancing to the gold medal match. Despite a hard-fought final against a talented SAIT squad, the team earned an ACAC silver medal, marking a successful debut season for Miller and the program’s mixed team.

“Cody’s work ethic and commitment stood out in his first year with the Ooks, never missing a practice,” said head coach Karynn Flory-Simmons. “As second on the mixed team, he contributes through strong sweeping, smart tactical input, and a clear determination to keep improving.”

Miller is a first-year student from Edmonton, Alberta, and is currently enrolled in the Software Development program at NAIT. His dedication, consistency, and growth throughout the season have established him as a strong foundation piece for the Ooks curling program moving forward.

This prestigious award will be recognized at the 2026 ACAC Curling Championship hosted by Portage College in Lac la Biche, Alberta.

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About the ACAC: The ACAC is the governing body for intercollegiate athletics in Alberta. Its mission is to provide competitive collegiate sport experiences, promote academic achievement and be a leader of sport development in Canada.

For more information on the ACAC, please visit our website: www.acac.ab.ca 

For additional information, contact:

Mark Kosak, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Chief Executive Officer
403-875-7329
markk@acac.ab.ca

Emily Peterson, Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference
Marketing & Communications Coordinator
emilyp@acac.ab.ca

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