Calvert foursome books spot in Viterra final

Posted: 9:50 PM CST Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024

STONEWALL — Braden Calvert is heading to his first Manitoba men’s curling final.

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STONEWALL — Braden Calvert is heading to his first Manitoba men’s curling final.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/02/2024 (923 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

STONEWALL — Braden Calvert is heading to his first Manitoba men’s curling final.

The product of Carberry skipped his Winnipeg-based crew to a thrilling 8-7 extra-end triumph over the Viterra championship’s top seed, Reid Carruthers, on Saturday night in the 1 vs. 2 Page playoff game.

“We’re feeling really good, confident heading into the final based on how well we’re playing,” he said.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Braden Calvert (above) beat Reid Carruthers Saturday to earn his first trip to the provincial final. — RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Braden Calvert (above) beat Reid Carruthers Saturday to earn his first trip to the provincial final.

Calvert made a double-takeout with his final stone to score the decisive point.

The final is slated for 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Calvert’s third-seeded squad out of Fort Rouge now awaits the winner of the 9 a.m. semi-final, which pits Carruthers against Jordan McDonald of Assiniboine Memorial.

McDonald outlasted Jeff Stewart of Gladstone 4-3 in a tight 3 vs. 4 game Saturday night.

The Manitoba titleists qualify for the Brier national championship next month in Regina. Matt Dunstone of Winnipeg has already qualified, based on his lofty status on the Canadian Team Ranking System.

Calvert, with third Corey Chambers, second Kyle Kurz and lead Brendan Bilawka, built leads of 6-2 after five ends and 7-4 after seven before a late collapse.

Skipped by former Olympic champion Brad Jacobs, the Carruthers squad from the Granite trailed by a pair heading home but managed to hide three yellow rocks behind a corner guard, forcing Calvert into a pressure-packed last draw.

And he came up heavy to surrender a steal of a two, deadlocking things at 7-7.

“I think all four of us thought it was good and half of (the Carruthers) team must have thought so, too, because they were raising their brooms (to signal a good shot),” Calvert said. “But it’s like it started going downhill and wouldn’t stop.”

But in the 11th and facing a pair of rocks lined up in the house, the former world junior champion used the hammer to spill them both.

“The team kept it clean for me and it’s nice to have a nose hit like that to win,” he said.

— Staff