McEwen two wins short at trials

By: Jason Bell Posted: 10:42 PM CST Friday, Nov. 26, 2021

SASKATOON — The smart money was on Brad Gushue, Brad Jacobs and Kevin Koe — the sultans of the Canadian Team Ranking System standings — to endure here.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

SASKATOON — The smart money was on Brad Gushue, Brad Jacobs and Kevin Koe — the sultans of the Canadian Team Ranking System standings — to endure here.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/11/2021 (1600 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SASKATOON — The smart money was on Brad Gushue, Brad Jacobs and Kevin Koe — the sultans of the Canadian Team Ranking System standings — to endure here.

The gods of rocks and rings made it so.

The trio of Canadian Olympians qualified Friday for the men’s playoffs at the Canadian Olympic Trials. Gushue and Jacobs, gold medallists in 2006 and 2014, respectively, finished with identical 7-1 records but the curling crew from St. John’s, N.L., earned a spot in Sunday’s 7 p.m. final (TSN) by way of its round-robin win over the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., squad.

Liam Richards / The Canadian Press
Team McEwen Skip Mike McEwen said his team wanted to make Brad Gushue's team earn its victory. — Liam Richards / The Canadian Press Team McEwen Skip Mike McEwen said his team wanted to make Brad Gushue's team earn its victory.

Jacobs and Calgary’s Koe (6-2) play in Saturday’s semifinal, moved up to 2 p.m. (TSN).

Gushue was relieved to gain a pass to the grand finale.

“I’ll take the break any day because it means we’re in there,” said Gushue, following a 6-4 triumph over Mike McEwen. “If we can get directly in there, I’ll take that day even if you’re thinking about it. And that’s OK if we think about it. But not dwell on it. You can’t go down that rabbit hole. We’ll talk about it. Mark (Nichols) and I have been through it before.”

McEwen reached the Trials finish line two wins short. His West St. Paul crew (4-4) burst from the gate with a 3-1 record but lost three of four down the stretch, including a 9-5 defeat to Jacobs on Friday morning and the loss to Gushue.

Two things had to happen on side-by-side sheets on the late draw for the Manitobans to force a tie-breaker. Neither scenario transpired.

Koe exploded to a 6-0 lead through three ends over Toronto’s John Epping (3-5), a gut punch to McEwen, third Reid Carruthers, second Derek Samagalski and lead Colin Hodgson. They needed a win over Gushue and an assist from Epping. Koe registered a 9-3 triumph.

“I mean, you know it’s over,” McEwen said with a laugh and a shrug of his shoulders, referring to the moment Koe posted an early steal of four on Epping. “I’ll be honest, though. We tried to win that game to the bitter end. Despite that four going up, I knew what was on the line for Brad (Gushue). Myself and all my teammates knew we had to make him earn it.”

Jacobs will have to contend with a determined Koe, who is on a road to redemption. The veteran skip wore the red and white in Pyeongchang in 2018 but returned home without a medal.

“Coming in, if we’d said we’re playing on the weekend and win two games to go (to the Olympics), I think we’d have taken it, for sure,” said Koe. “You’re looking at the three teams with best year, the three highest-ranked teams.”

Jason Gunnlaugson of Morris (2-6) was tripped up 8-4 by Saskatchewan’s Matt Dunstone, who started out winless in five before posting three straight victories.

Colton Lott stood tall while filling in with Dunstone’s team. The Gimli-based curler was recruited by his friend and former junior teammate to replace third Braeden Moskowy just days before the Trials, and the 26-year-old put up some flashy numbers.

He generated a 91-per-cent shooting accuracy over eight games, behind only Marc Kennedy (92) of Team Jacobs at his position.

Lott said he’s cherished every moment at the nation’s most prestigious event.

“It’s been just phenomenal, being able to get out there and play on this kind of stage,” he said. “I’ve just truly enjoyed every minute of it. This is something I’ll remember forever. Pretty proud of how I’m performing, just being able to come in with short notice and give it my all.”

Those in the know on the Manitoba curling scene believe Lott is a rising star on the national front.

“I think there will be more to come. Just keep doing what I’m doing and enjoy every minute of it,” Lott said. “Every game, every shot, it’s all a learning curve. This is my first Trials, so to be able to bring that in the future will be great.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell