Trojans prepare for Curling Championships
We're Back.
After a hiatus of many years, since 2006-2007, the SAIT Trojans have returned to Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) curling.
During the 2019-2020 ACAC Curling Fall Regional-(November 29 - December 1, 2019, Lloydminster Golf & Curling Club, hosted by Lakeland College Rustlers) the Trojans men's team, despite not having a full contingent of four curlers, went 3-3.
At the ACAC Curling Winter Regional ( January 24-26, 2020, Edmonton, Alberta hosted by NAIT Ooks) they had a full team and an impressive 5-1.
With an overall record of 8-4, they tied with the NAIT Ooks with the Concordia University of Edmonton Thunder No. 1 in regular-season standings at 9-3.
Lakeland College Thunder was in fourth, beating MacEwan University 6-4 in a tiebreaker to see who would advance to the 2019-2020 ACAC Curling Provincials to be held Feb. 28 - Mar. 1, 2020 in Red Deer at the Red Deer Curling Club Pidherney Centre.
Also not making the cut in men's competition are the Red Deer College Kings and Olds College Broncos.
The Trojans are no strangers to championship curling as the archives show that they won ACAC men's curling banners in 1978-1979, 1982-1982, 1985-1986 and 1990-1991.
Also along the way was gold in women's curling 1964-1965, 1980-1982 and 1984-1985.
Trojans did not enter a women's team for the 2019-2020 campaign.
They did however for mixed curling, with the 2019-2020 final result a 1-9 show which will keep them from post-season.
Past Trojans mixed teams swept to ACAC titles in 1974-1975, 1976-1977, 1977-1978 and 1982-1982.
The Trojans men's team is led by skip Andrew Manson with third Riley Helston, second Benjamin Helston and lead Miki Becker.
Benjamin Helston, who has curled in past Canada Games competition, is no stranger to Manson as he is part of Team Manson away from the school along with the second Pace Anderson and lead Nicholas Warkman, also a Canada Games veteran.
Of the adjustment to two new teammates in Riley Helston and Becker, Manson, 19, said: "I have curled against them a lot and have known them for four or five years now. The Junior circuit in Alberta is quite tight and we know of each other and we had a good connection before we started playing together."
Asked what it means for the Trojans to be back on the curling sheets after such a long hiatus: "It's really fun to be part of it," replied Manson. " It has a good culture at our school and more kids are learning about the sport and it is giving the sport more exposure. It is also great to have the Trojans (sports) behind us."
Growing up in Brandon, Manitoba and later in St. Albert, Alberta, Manson said, "I played just about every sport in the book...baseball, football, hockey, diving...the whole nine yards. I picked up skills from each sport that I can apply to curling."
Of the upcoming ACAC Curling Championships, Manson said: "We do not feel the pressure. Personally, I try to play each game the same... if it is a provincial final or a Wednesday night league game. You go in with the same mentality and have fun and try to make winning shots."
Enrolled in Aircraft Maintenance Technology, Manson is currently "rebuilding a 1992 Mazda Miata convertible," in his spare time.
"I'm currently putting in a whole new engine and rebuilding some of the suspension parts."
It is the fifth fixer-upper for Manson the last two years with previous challenges provided by a Toyota Celica, minivan and jeep to name a few.
So don't be surprised if Manson shows up to the curling rink with some garage grit and grime on his hands.
"My hands are all scuffed up and pretty beat up but I usually try to soap up the best that I can but sometimes they are a bit dirty."