The Niagara College women's curling team wrapped up the 2016-17 season this weekend at the CCAA National Championship being hosted by the University of Alberta-Augustana, in Camrose, Alberta. The Knights finished the event with a record of 2-5 and outside of the medals.
The Knights stormed out the gates, going 2-1 in their first three games including victories over the OCAA Champion Humber Hawks, and ACAC (Alberta) champion Concordia Thunder.
With a pair of victories over top ranked teams to open the event, the Knights seemed poised to challenge for a spot on the podium.
The afternoon draw of Day two saw the Knights drop a heartbreaking 8-6 game to the NAIT Ooks, before being defeated 7-2 by the Red Deer Kings in the 7:00pm game.
Sitting with a record of 2-3 heading into the final day, the Knights entered a must win scenario against the Lakeland Rustlers to open Day 3. The two teams traded points early in the game, with the turning point coming in the fifth end, when a few missed shots by Niagara saw Lakeland steal two crucial points. The steal stretched the Rustler lead to three, and the Knights were unable to battle back, eventually losing the game 8-6.
Eliminated from medal contention, the Knights lost their final game 7-5 against Augustana to finish the event in sixth place.
Despite losing some tough matches to close out the season, 2016-17 saw the Knights capture an OCAA silver medal, the first women's curling medal for Niagara College since 2013.
The team also saw first-year skip Emma Caldwell (St. Catharines) named an OCAA second team all-star. Caldwell, along with vice Courtney Smith (St. Catharines) and second Renee Boyce (St. Catharines) are all eligible to return for the 2017-18 season, giving the team high hopes for medal finishes at the OCAA and CCAA championships.