Manitoba moves into tie for third at Brier

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This article was published 03/03/2015 (4147 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY — Manitoba’s Reid Carruthers won his third game in a row here at the Tim Hortons Brier Tuesday morning, thrashing Northwest Territories 11-2 to improve to 3-2.

The win vaults Manitoba into a four-way tie for third place with Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue, BC’s Jim Cotter and Alberta’s Kevin Koe. Koe kept pace with Manitoba Tuesday morning with an 8-4 win over Prince Edward Island, while Cotter kept pace with an 8-3 win over Ontario. Newfoundland was idle.

Saskatchewan, meanwhile, remains alone in second place with a 4-1 record, following a 7-4 victory this morning over New Brunswick.

Carruthers said Tuesday morning that he likes what he’s seen in his team since an 0-2 start. “I feel like we picked (up) where we left off. Started off well, got control of the game and the guys hit really well,” said Carruthers.

Already leading the Territories 3-1, MB busted open the game when Carruthers drew paint for a five-ender in the fourth end.

Manitoba fifth Steve Gould was inserted into the lineup for the second half of the game in place of lead Colin Hodgson. It was Gould’s eighth career appearance in the Brier.

Manitoba is idle here Tuesday afternoon, but returns to the ice tonight when they face Northern Ontario.

Northern Ontario was in the news earlier Tuesday when they released a statement on their Facebook page overnight regarding an incident during their game Monday night versus Ontario during which a Northern Ontario sweeper struck the leg of an Ontario thrower.

Posted to the team’s Facebook page, the Brad Jacobs foursome said they had asked Ontario players during their game to stop leaving knee-prints on the ice. Alberta players reportedly also complained about the same thing to Ontario, a young foursome skipped by Mark Kean who are making their first Brier appearance here this week. Alberta and Ontario played Sunday night — Alberta won 7-3.

When the Ontario behavior apparently continued Monday night, the Jacobs foursome confirmed that one of their sweepers struck the leg of an Ontario thrower with a broom and “it might have been harder than intended since the person was reaching when it happened & an apology was extended for that.”

Northern Ontario went on to win the game 8-3 and the Ontario team filed a protest after the game with Curling Canada. Curling Canada officials announced Tuesday morning they were taking no action but did have the Chief Umpire speak to both teams and remind them to take any on-ice issues up with the officials.

Ontario skip Mark Kean said Tuesday morning that his team harboured no ill will towards the Jacobs team.

“I have no hard feelings, just as long as everyone learns from the experience,” said Kean. “I don’t think it’s right. But if everyone can learn from the experience and the officials are on top of that kind of stuff — and they’re on top of the knees on the ice too — then there’s no issue between either team.”

Carruthers laughed when he asked if he’d be watching his ankles tonight against Jacobs. “It’s not our first time being here so it’s not one of those things where we’re laying on the ice,” said Carruthers. “I’m not too worried about it. I’m also good friends with (the Jacobs team) so I’m not too worried about getting a broom tap.”

Carruthers also made a bold prediction, although with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek. “(We’re) feeling good. I’d say Northern Ontario has no chance.”

email: paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek