McEwen rink named top seed

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This article was published 24/01/2018 (3126 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Reigning provincial champion Mike McEwen, whose Fort Rouge team came within a whisker of representing Canada at next month’s Winter Olympics, will be the No. 1 seed when play opens at next week’s Viterra Championship.

McEwen third, B.J. Neufeld admitted his team will be hoping to kick into another gear when they defend their Manitoba men’s curling crown starting Wednesday, Jan. 31 in Winkler.

“Just plodding along, I would say,” Neufeld said Wednesday, when asked to assess his team’s current play.

“It’s been a good year, we’ve been consistent. We’ve had some really good performances. We haven’t had any great performances outside of the (Olympic) trials — at the trials, we were very close to being that team going to Korea.”

McEwen’s crew lost 7-6 to Kevin Koe of Calgary in the men’s final of the Roar of the Rings national Olympic trials back in December in Ottawa. Koe needed to draw the four-foot with the last rock of the game while facing two McEwen counters to emerge with the slim victory.

“That was a pretty special week for us,” Neufeld said.

“We showed a little something we haven’t shown on that big stage… able to hang with those experienced teams like (Brad) Gushue and Koe.”

The rest of the top-five seeds for the Manitoba men’s championship are: Reid Carruthers of West St. Paul; Jason Gunnlaugson of the Granite; Pat Simmons of the Granite; and, William Lyburn of Assiniboine Memorial.

The 32-team Viterra runs until Sunday, Feb. 4, with the semifinal and final to be televised on Sportnet at 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, on the final day. Wedneday’s opening draws are slated for 8:30 a.m.

“To be the No. 1 seed and to be recognized by your peers, we’ve had a good year,” said Neufeld, whose squad also includes second Matt Wozniak and lead Denni Neufeld.

“It’s always nice and we’ve been in this spot before… it’s not something we’re uncomfortable with.

“Being the No. 1 seed doesn’t mean a whole lot once the competition gets started. It’s a great field and it’s a grind and it’s going to take a special performance to be the winning team at the end. But we’re ready for that.”

Carruthers, another established heavyweight on the provincial scene, lost last year’s provincial final to McEwen after being seeded first to begin the 2017 event in Portage la Prairie.

“I’m not sure if the feeling changes,” said Carruthers, who is joined by Braeden Moskowy, Derek Samagalski and Colin Hodgson.

“What the seed only changes is what time your first game is. Your bracket changes a little, you have a little bit different seed after playing well.”

Carruthers said he is wary of any opponent and doesn’t assume the provincial final will be a rematch of ’17.

“That’s the beauty of this bonspiel,” Carruthers said. “There’s lots of great teams. We open up the field to 32 teams. Can all 32 win this tournament? Maybe not, but there’s a lot of really great teams in this and you really only have to focus one game at a time because anyone can beat you here. I’ve beat some of the best and I’ve also lost to some of the best.”

Gunnlaugson, who skips Alex Forrest, Ian McMillan and Connor Njegovan, appreciated how difficult it will be to earn a Brier berth this year.

“Teams like Mike, Reid and ourselves — the seeds here today who are all top-10 teams in the world and playing in the same province,” Gunnlaugson said.

“We’re (top 10) in the world right now in this year’s rankings and we’re three in our province. That’s pretty amazing for Manitoba curling. One of the big takeaways of this event — at the top end it’s not that far off from what a Brier would be and way more depth at the top than any province out there.”

The provincial champion advances to the Brier in Regina, March 3 to 11. A revamped format will include 16 teams, including Gushue — the defending champion from Newfoundland-Labrador and his teammates who will compete as Team Canada — plus representatives from all provinces and territories.

In addition, one wild-card entry gets in by way of a special playoff on the eve of the Brier between the top-two teams from the Canadian Team Ranking System (CRTS) that didn’t qualify out of their province or territory.

“My initial thought is I’m probably not crazy about it,” Neufeld said of the new format.

“A lot of teams. I dunno, maybe the Brier is starting to lose that integrity of province against province. We’re probably one of the only teams that has four guys originally from one province.”

The reality, however, is Manitoba squads likely benefit from the wild-card system more than all others this year.

And, just like in Pentiction, B.C., this weekend when local teams Michelle Englot and Jennifer Jones and, possibly, Kerri Einarson, will compete at the Scotties Canadian women’s event, the Regina Brier could also feature more than one foursome from Manitoba.

Here’s why: McEwen, Gunnlaugson and Carruthers are all in the top five of the CRTS rankings.

McEwen is No. 1, Gunnlaugson is No. 4 and Carruthers is No. 5. While anything’s possible, the good money’s on one of them winning in Winkler, leaving the other two in the wild-card game on the eve of the Brier.

That’s because No. 2 Koe is focusing on the Olympics, while Gushue, No. 3, is already locked in for the Brier as the reigning champ.

The only other team in the conversation is Ontario’s Brad Jacobs, ranked sixth and less than a point behind Carruthers. However, the 2014 Olympic gold medallists are heavily favoured to prevail in that region in two weeks and return to the Brier, anyway.

Gunnlaugson said he certainly doesn’t mind the super-sized Brier.

“Once you’re having all the provinces and territories in there, then the best number to get to is 16,” Gunnlaugson said.

“So, I think it makes a lot of sense.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @sawa14