Stoughton foursome headed to Brier

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This article was published 13/02/2011 (5432 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BEASEJOUR — Jeff Stoughton is the 2011 Manitoba men’s curling champion.

Stoughton, supported by third Jon Mead, second Reid Carruthers and lead Steve Gould, defeated Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen 5-4 here at the Sun Gro Centre Sunday afternoon to capture what is Stoughton’s ninth Manitoba men’s curling championship and third in a row.

Stoughton scored a deuce in the third end but the decisive point proved to be in the fourth, when McEwen came up light on a draw to the four-foot and gave Stoughton the only steal of the game.

“It doesn’t get any better,” said Stoughton. “Right from the get-go, the nerves were there, the fun was there, I think the guys were relaxed and ready to play this game,” Stoughton said.

Stoughton was asked if it ever gets old. “Not at all — I wouldn’t be playing this game if I didn’t think I could compete and have a chance to be the best. That’s why I’m doing this thing — the thrill is to try and be your best in your province and in Canada. We’re going to keep on plugging away and try to win that Brier.”

McEwen, who’s been the best team in the world on the money circuit this winter, said the loss was hard to swallow and one that he’d take full responsibility for.

“They didn’t out-play us but Jeff read the ice a little better than I did today,” McEwen said. “That was the difference. One or two shots that we lost that we couldn’t.”

Stoughton and his team will now represent Manitoba at the 2011 Tim Hortons Brier in London, Ont., March 5 to 13.