Curling feature Portage College Voyageurs

by ACAC Sports Writer Curtis J. Phillips

Starting the sport of curling when she was a six years-old, many years later Cassie Kotyk is now part of the Portage College Voyageurs mixed curling team that sits atop of the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) standings with a perfect 5-0 record.

"My aunt was big into curling and she watched a lot of it, so she introduced me to it," recalls Kotyk, who plays lead for the Voyageurs curling team.

Attending Fort Saskatchewan High School, she would add the sport of rugby to her athletic resume as part of a Sting team that won a city championship.

"It (rugby) kept me active throughout the summer when curling would end. I did not consider the aspect that I might get hurt playing rugby and that it would affect my curling. I was pretty fit."

Following high school graduation, Kotyk would enroll at NAIT, where from 2015-2017, she was the lead on the Ooks mixed curling team under the guidance of legendary coach Jules Owchar.

They would place fourth at the 2015-2016 ACAC provincials with the Ooks men's side winning an ACAC gold and the women's team bronze.

For the 2017-2018 school season, Kotyk enrolled at Portage College to continue her studies in 4th Class Power Engineering.

"I was fortunate to get the last enrollment spot," recalled Kotyk. "When I got accepted into the program, I had to do an interview and after it, Jim Knight (Voyageurs Athletic Director) happened to be in the hallway. He did not recognize me at first but he said I was familiar. I told him that I had curled for NAIT.  He then told (Voyageurs curling coach Maurice Richard) and I was invited to try out for the team."

Voyageurs Curling Head Coach, Maurice Richard

The rest, as they say, is history.

Of the early team success, Kotyk says: "The chemistry was there. Everyone fit well together and we are very fortunate. We all had different levels of curling experience and we have gotten to know each other quite well and bonded quite well at the last regionals (November 24-26, 2017 hosted by the Voyageurs at the St. Paul Curling Club)."

Kotyk also attributes their performance to Richard's coaching.

"The school is smaller and there is only one curling team (mixed) and it is more close knit. Our coach is able to give more one-on-one attention. He was able to focus on my slide. At NAIT, Jules was a great coach and knows how to play the game, but he had to go between 12 players and (Richard) only has four."

Rounding out the team are fifth year student/athlete and Lac La Biche native Kyle Leach (3rd Class Power Engineering); first-year (Natural Resources Tech) Connor Nikipelo at second from Boyle, Alberta and at third Kayleigh Zacharuk (first year, Practical Nurse, Myrnam, Alberta) and Mackenzie St. Denis (second year, University Studies, Bonnyville, Alberta).

St. Denis was lead on the Grant MacEwan University Griffiths team that won the 2015-2016 ACAC women's curling championship.

Portage Voyageurs Curler, Kyle Leach

"I wouldn't have thought that we would be at 5-0 at this point but I am not surprised that we are doing that well," said Richard, of the Voyageurs record-to-date.. "Part of our success is that  they all have some curling experience. Kyle is a great leader and a great curler and he knows the game quite well and that helps."

It was announced November 2017 that Richard will be inducted into the inaugural Lac La Biche County Sports Hall of Fame along with Barry Chwedoruk, Omer Moghrabi, Rene Bourque, Bonnie McDonald, Rene Schaub and Eugene Lebas.

Also being recognized is Jules Owchar, NAIT Ooks curling coach.

"It was an honour," said Richard of the selection. "It was unexpected.

"I guess it is because I have been coaching a long period of time (guesstimate 40 years). I have had some success but not internationally. Not that I haven't done well in the curling area but I think it was more for my involvement with coaching (J.A. Williams High School and club) volleyball."

Richard was also inducted into the 2018 Alberta Schools Athletic Association Hall of Fame in the Athletic Administration category.