NAIT Ooks Recap - Jan 30 - Feb 1
February 2, 2026
Curling
With the ACAC Curling Championship now wrapped up, the Ooks curling teams can proudly reflect on an outstanding showing. The men's team captured ACAC gold in dominant fashion, defeating the SAIT Trojans 8–3 in an exciting championship match. Congratulations to the Ooks men's team on a well-earned title! The mixed team also made an impressive run, once again facing the SAIT Trojans in the gold medal match. Despite a strong effort, the Ooks came away with a silver medal after falling short in the final. The NAIT Ooks men's team will go on to the CCAA Nationals in Regina later this month.
Basketball
Men's: It was a challenging weekend on the road for the men's Ooks basketball team as they took on the Keyano Huskies. In Friday's matchup, the Ooks battled hard but ultimately fell 74–56 against a strong Huskies squad. Owen Weaver led the way with 15 points, while Kohl Kedman followed closely with 10. Looking for redemption, the Ooks returned to the court Saturday with renewed energy and high expectations. Despite their efforts, Keyano once again came out on top, securing a 66–53 victory to complete the weekend sweep. Kohl Kedman paced the Ooks with 17 points, and Serhat Chen added 11. The men's Ooks basketball team will look to bounce back in a big way when they return to action in a couple of weeks against the Lakeland Rustlers. Go Ooks!
Women's: The Ooks women's basketball team also hit the road this weekend to take on the Keyano Huskies. Friday night proved to be a tough battle, as the Ooks fell 62–53. Center Laila Wright led the team with 15 points, while Mikah Reed added 11 in a strong effort. Determined to respond, the Ooks came back with purpose on Saturday and delivered an impressive performance, earning a convincing 73–44 victory to split the weekend. Four players reached double digits in scoring, helping seal the win and showcasing the team's depth. The strong bounce-back effort was a testament to the team's resilience and determination.
Futsal
Men's: With the futsal season finally back this weekend, the Ooks men's futsal team opened play at Northwestern Polytechnic with an impressive showing, finishing the weekend with two wins and a draw. Action got underway Saturday evening as the Ooks battled the Northwestern Polytechnic Wolves to a hard-fought 1–1 draw. The team bounced back later that day, shutting out conference rivals Concordia Thunder 2–0 to close out Saturday on a high note. On Sunday, the Ooks carried that momentum forward, earning a decisive 3–0 victory over the Red Deer Kings to cap off a strong opening weekend before heading home.
Women's:
Just like their male counterpart, the Ooks women's soccer team had a successful weekend in Grande Prairie as the team came out undefeated. On Saturday morning, they faced the host NWP Wolves, beating them 3-0. On Saturday evening, they faced off against their cross-town rivals, the Concordia Thunder, and came out victorious with a 2-0 win. On Sunday, the team looked to keep the streak alive, and they did; they won 4-0, winning all three games and letting in no goals throughout the first tournament.
Hockey
Men's: The Ooks men's hockey team went head-to-head with the Portage Voyageurs in an exciting weekend matchup and came away with a pair of wins. Friday night was a nail-biter, as the Ooks edged out Portage with a 5–4 victory. The opening period was a back-and-forth battle that saw seven goals scored, with Portage holding a narrow 4–3 lead after the first. After a scoreless second period, the Ooks stormed back in the third with two unanswered goals to seal the comeback win. Tyler Blocha led the charge with two goals, showcasing the team's heart and determination. Riding that momentum, the Ooks closed out the weekend in strong fashion with a 7–4 win over the Voyageurs on Saturday.
Women's:
The Ooks women's hockey team took on the SAIT Trojans this past weekend and delivered a strong performance, earning back-to-back wins. On Friday night, the Ooks opened the series with a 3–1 victory, with goals coming from Caitlyn Tong, Brielle Banton, and Madison McCullough. Looking to solidify their position heading into Provincials, the team carried that momentum into Saturday, securing another hard-fought win over SAIT, this time by a 3–2 score. The Ooks are back in action this upcoming weekend as they face Olds College. Go Ooks!
