The Trent University Curling philosophy is to support each student athlete in their academic endeavors and also engage them in the pursuit of excellence on ice. Apart from the obvious physical attributes of coordination, endurance, balance and sensitivity, competitive curling develops mental toughness and team-building skills – invaluable personal traits in many other walks of life.
Each year, varsity tryouts take place near the beginning of October. The selection process usually includes on-ice video assessments, and individual evaluations conducted by the coaches. As with most Canadian universities, Trent’s depth of competitive experience in any given season is a function of new talent arriving for their first year versus the vacancies left by graduating veterans. In the past, Trent curling teams have included players who have competed and won at provincial and national championships. Other graduates of the program have gone on to play at the highest levels of professional competition, including Peterborough’s own, John Epping. https://www.trentu.ca/news/story/33683
At the other extreme, a few varsity curling alumni began playing at Trent with little experience and have developed into competitive curlers. Put another way, a solid resume of competitive experience doesn’t always guarantee selection to the varsity team; yet a background with little exposure to the game doesn’t automatically exclude anyone from varsity consideration. So, players at all levels of development are encouraged to participate in tryouts.
Experienced competitive players entering Trent in their freshman year may be considered for the ‘Green & White’ athletic scholarship, worth up to $1500.
In most years, five-or six men and five-or-six women are selected to the varsity teams (four “regulars” and one-or-two alternates). Trent varsity teams play in a Thursday night competitive league at the Peterborough Golf & Curling Club, located in close proximity to Trent’s Symons Campus.
The Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Curling Championships (mens and women’s teams) take place annually in a three-day event held in February. The most recent annual competition had participating Ontario universities (fifteen schools) play a modified round robin series. There were three pools of five with the top two teams from each pool and the two next best teams advancing to playoffs. The top three men’s and women’s teams will earn the right to play in the USPORTS Canadian Championships in March.
On February 21st 2011, Trent’s varsity men won the university’s first-ever OUA championship curling banner, defeating Wilfrid Laurier in the gold medal final.