The first rocks of the 2015 Niagara College Knights curling season are set to be thrown, and for the first time in team history, the Knights will have the opportunity to compete in an OCAA sanctioned event on home ice.

Saturday, January 24th will see the Knights play host the first annual Niagara College Invitational Bonspiel.

OCAA curling consists of men's, women's, and mixed team divisions competing in various province wide exhibition bonspeils, culminated by a four day provincial championship scheduled for February 12-15.  At the CCAA level however, only men's and women's divisions compete for a National Curling Championship

The Niagara invitational will see competition in all three curling divisions at the Welland Curling Club.

"Hosting a bonspiel is a great opportunity for our student-athlete curlers to gain valuable post-secondary level experience on their home ice" commented Niagara College Director of atheltics & recreation Matthew Davies. "The event should help prepare the teams for competition at the provincial championship in a few weeks time."

The Knights have finalized their roster in the men's division. Andy Hein (Omemee, ON), of the Knights men's soccer and cross country teams, has added intercollegiate curling to his already impressive athletics' resume. The second year Broadcasting student will serve as the Knights men's curling skip.

Rounding out the roster is vice Michael Corner (Orangeville, ON), second Robert Taylor (Barrie, ON), lead Gavin Moore (Caledon, ON), and alternate Michael Caldwell (Beamsville). 

All five men's curlers are in their first year with the Knights curling program.

On the women's side, the Knights still have some roster decisions to make as the team enters the event with six atheltes. The team currently consists of Bronte Chin (Toronto, ON), Megan Droog (Harrison, ON), Samantha Lees (St. Catharines, ON), Allison Mondloch (St. Thomas, ON), Lindsay Smith (Stouffville, ON), Amanda Lieau (Fenwick, ON).

Teams competing in the Niagara College invitational include:

Men's Division
Niagara Knights 
St. Clair Saints
Fleming Knights
Seneca Sting
Mohawk Mountaineers
Humber Hawks

Women's Division 
Niagara Knights 
St. Clair Saints
Fleming Knights
Seneca Sting
Mohawk Mountaineers
Humber Hawks

Mixed Division
St. Clair Saints
Humber Hawks
Mohawk Mountaineers
John Abbott Islanders