CCA announces nominated curlers and coach for 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games

The Canadian Curling Association (CCA) today announced the four curlers and coach who will be nominated to the Canadian Olympic Committee for participation in the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria, January 13-22, 2012. Emily Gray of O’Leary, Prince Edward Island; Corryn Brown of Kamloops, British Columbia, Derek Oryniak of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Thomas Scoffin of Whitehorse, Yukon have been selected by the CCA, while the coach and team leader will be Helen Radford of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The selection of the athletes was a comprehensive process combining on-ice performance at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax and a formal application process, which included a written essay, academic excellence, involvement in their communities and interest in other athletic and cultural activities. “The Canadian Curling Association is very pleased to have completed our formal selection process for the first ever Winter Youth Olympic Games,” explained the CCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Greg Stremlaw. “This event will offer an incredible opportunity to these four young athletes to represent Canada not only on the ice, but also as ambassadors of Canada and the sport of curling. This will be an experience that these athletes will remember for the rest of their lives.” Sixteen countries will participate in the curling competition. Each country will be represented by two junior men and two junior women, who were born between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1995. Two types of curling competitions will take place at Innsbruck Exhibition Centre. The first will be a regular Mixed event with two pools of eight teams, leading to the playoffs and medal round. The second will feature Mixed Doubles with an international flavour. Teams of two curlers will be chosen, based on a formula involving results from the regular mixed event. However, players from the same country will not play together. The Youth Olympic Games aim to bring the Olympic ideals to young people around the world, and, following the success of the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010, the stage is now set for the first-ever winter version. Created by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Winter Youth Olympic Games will attract 1,058 athletes competing in seven Olympic Winter Sports (15 disciplines). The seven sports are Bobsleigh, Luge, Skiing, Curling, Biathlon, Ice Hockey and Skating, with the age of the competitors ranging from 14 to 18, depending on the sport. In conjunction with this announcement, the Canadian Curling Association has arranged for the introduction of the curlers and coach during the fifth end break of the Page 1-2 Playoff game Friday evening, April 8 at the men’s world curling championship, currently taking place at the Brandt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan. The following websites have event information on the 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games. Host committee: www.innsbruck2012.com/en International Olympic: www.olympic.org/yog World Curling Federation: https://worldcurling.org/youth-olympic-games For further information: Gerry Peckham Director, High Performance Canadian Curling Association 1660 Vimont Court Cumberland, Ontario K4A 4J4 1.800.550.2875 (113) 1.613.863.1880 (cell) [email protected] www.curling.ca Athlete Biographies Thomas Scoffin (Whitehorse, Yukon)

• Age 16
• Grade 11 student at Porter Creek Secondary School (First Class Honours)
• Five time competitor (skip) at the M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors (2007-2011)
• Youngest skip ever to participate in the Canadian Juniors (12 years of age in 2007)
• Three time competitor (skip) at Arctic Winter Games with Silver medals in 2006 and 2010; gold medal in 2008.
• Two time competitor (skip) in Canada Winter Games (2007 & 2011)
• Member of the Yukon High Performance Athlete Assistance Program

Derek Oryniak (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

• Age 16
• Grade 11 student at Miles Macdonell Collegiate (Honours)
• Second stone of the Bronze medal-winning team at the 2011 Canada Winter Games

Corryn Brown (Kamloops, British Columbia)

• Age 15
• Grade 10 student at South Kamloops Secondary (Honour Roll)
• Skip of the Gold medal-winning team at the 2011 Canada Winter Games
• Skip of the 2010 & 2011 BC High School Girls Provincial Champions
• Skip of the 2011 Juvenile Provincial Champions

Emily Gray (O’Leary, Prince Edward Island)

• Age 16
• Grade 11 student at Westisle Composite High School (Honours)
• Provincial under 15 champion (2009)
• 7th place at the 2011 Canada Winter Games