Page 37 - Sports Energey News - Issue No 99, Cornwall, Mike Piquette

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Continued from page 36 bridesmaid the past 3 times, many wondered if
he’d seal the deal this time around. This matchup
proved to be another hard-fought game with great
shot making. After a couple of missed shots by
Koe in the 7th, Botcher took 3 to go ahead 3-1.
Facing an improbable shot in the 10th end on
their final throw, Koe and his crew conceded and
congratulated the new Briers Champs - Team
Alberta. They will represent Canada at the World
Curling Championships taking place at the same
venue from April 2nd to 11th. Brier Champs
L to R; Brendan Butcher, Darren Moulding, Brad
Team Einarson / Gushue Wins Thiessen, Karrick Matin Photo Submitted
Home Hardware Mixed Home Hardware Mixed
Keri Einarson, Brad Gushue Photo Submitted 3-4 game, Laura Walker and Brett Gallant played
Scotia team. There were 13 curlers making their Next on the curling agenda was the Home Keri Einarson and Brad Gushue with Einarson and
Brier debut. Hardware Mixed Doubles competition being held Gushue advancing to the semi-final and Walker
at the same curling bubble as the Scotties and Brier, and Gallant being eliminated.
Early in the competition, the difference seemed
that being Winsport Arena in the Calgary Olympic The semi-final had page 1-2 loser Schmeiman
to be that the teams who had access to practice ice
Park in Alberta. Eighteen curlers that participated in and Morris taking on Einarson and Brad Gushue
prior to the event and the teams who were able
the Brier and Scotties were staying in the bubble to and in a very close game with some great shot
to figure out the playing surface early on had an
play in the Mixed. A total of 35 teams participated. making, going right down to the final shot in the
advantage. Following the round robin stage, the
Fourteen teams were selected from the Provincial/ 8th end. Einarson and Gushue advanced to the
elite teams were at the top of the standings. The
Territorial Championships and fourteen teams championship game against Sahaidak and Lott.
pleasant surprise was the play of the Middaugh
came from the Canadian Mixed Doubles Ranking
skipped team going 7-1 in the preliminary round. The interesting fact is that this was the first time
System. The other 7 teams were those teams that
Keri Einarson played in Mixed Doubles. Sahaidak
Following the preliminary round, Middaugh were unable to compete this season due to COVID.
and Lott had captured Silver in 2018 and Bronze
was tied for 3rd among skips, throwing a fabulous
The format saw 5 pools of 7 teams each. At the in 2019 and were looking to capture Gold and the
85%. Wayne had not played in the Brier since
end of the round robin stage, the top team in each Mixed Double title this time around. Sahaidak and
2013. Wayne’s thoughts of curling had pretty well
pool advanced to the playoff round with the other Lott had a great opportunity to score a 4 ender
ended following a serious leg injury in a skiing
7 teams with the best record advancing as well, in the 1st, however a missed takeout allowed the
accident in 2016. His ice reading, shot selection,
allowing 12 teams to continue in the playoff round. Einarson/Gushue team to steal a single in the 1st
and shot making were as good as anyone in the
Most teams with players that had participated in the end. Einarson and Gushue continued their strong
Brier. The play of Scott Howard and the power
Scotties and Brier rose to the top of their respective play leading 7-1 after 4 ends and 9-2 after 6 ends
sweeping of Tim March certainly contributed to
pools. of play. The Sahaidak/Lott team made the game
the team finishing on top of pool “A”. The top 4
teams in each pool advanced to the championship Following the playoff round, the top 8 teams interesting, taking a 4 ender in the 7th to narrow
round that saw each team play the other 4 teams in advanced to the quarter finals, with the teams of the score to 9-6; however, they were run out of
the opposite pool. Einerson/Gushue easily handling Jones/Laing to rocks in the 8th and Einarson and Gushue will be
advance to the final four. Kadriana Sahaidak, who going to Scotland to represent Canada at the World
Following the championship round, Kevin Koe Mixed Championships.
played with Catlin Schneider, made a fabulous shot
ended with the bye into the final with a 10-2 record,
to bite the pin in the 9th, eliminating defending The Canadian Mixed Champions will try to
awaiting the winner of the semi-final between 9-3
champs Peterman/Gallant. The other two teams secure a Canadian entry in the Olympics; however,
Saskatchewan’s Matt Dunnstone and Alberta’s
to advance were Walker/Muyres and Schmeiman/ they may not be Canada’s entry in the Olympics as
Brendan Botcher.
Morris. Three out of the four teams in the final 4 had they would have to win the trials.
The semi-final was a hard-fought and very close medalled before in Mixed Doubles competition.
The World Mixed Curling Championships
game with some great shot making right to the last
All 4 teams advanced to the page playoff system will be held in Aberdeen, Scotland in mid-May.
rock resulting in Botcher hitting a game winning qualifying game, with winning teams Schmeiman/ Seven teams participating in the tournament will
angle raise to win 6-5 and earn another shot at Morris and Sahaidak/Lott winning their games qualify for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing,
Curling’s elite prize.
and getting to the 1-2 game. Losing teams Walker/ China. The Canadian Mixed Olympic Trials will
The final saw two teams from Alberta competing Muyres and Einarson/Gushue earned spots in the be held December 28th, 2021 at a venue yet to be
for the elite Brier title. Wild card entry Koe faced 3-4 game. The page 1-2 game saw Sahaidak and determined.
off against Botcher, who found himself playing Lott defeat Schmeiman and Morris, which sent Until next time, stay safe and hopefully we will
off for the fourth time in a row. Having been a them right the championship game. In the page see everyone in the fall at the Shorty’s.