HAWKS WOMEN HEAD NORTH TO DEFEND 2017 CURLING CROWN

ETOBICOKE, ON: The Humber Hawks women's curling team, 2017 OCAA gold medalists, will look to defend their title this coming week in the same place that they won last year.

They will travel to Sault Ste. Marie on Tuesday evening in preparation for the 2018 OCAA Curling Championships that kick off on Thursday morning. The championship banquet and coaches meeting will take place on Wednesday night.

The venue, as it has been on numerous occasions for provincial and national championships is the Community First Curling Centre.

HAWK NOTES

Of Significance:
2017 OCAA Gold Medalists

Returning:
Cassandra Paccanaro – 2017 First Team All-Star Skip
Kacie Ransom
Brittany Elson
Quinn Walsh
Nadia Marrast – 2017 Mixed First Team All-Star Lead

Gone:
Heidi Beck

New:
None

Outlook:
With the entire squad returning, less five-year star Heidi Beck who has been replaced by Nadia Marrast from the mixed team, the Hawks will be favoured to advance to the medal round on Sunday and perhaps a shot at defending their 2017 title. Beck added an experienced hand to the team last year, but with another season under their belts this crew should be able to battle through all roadblocks that come up in games this week. The Hawks have strong players on the broom, and an experienced skip in Paccanaro. As with all curling matches, the skip will need to make shots at the conclusion of each end. And by winning the title on a shot to the button last year, Paccanaro proved she will not panic in big time situations.

THE MATCH-UPS

Thursday, February 8

Friday, February 9

Saturday, February 10

Sunday, February11

TOURNAMENT WEBSITE

http://ocaachampionships.com/championships/curl/2017-18/index