KELOWNA -- Mike McEwen has seen his run at the Montana’s Brier come to an end.
McEwen and his Saskatoon Nutana foursome of third Colton Flasch, second Kevin Marsh and lead Daniel Marsh dropped a 6-4 decision to Manitoba’s Reid Carruthers in the Page Playoff 3-4 qualifier game on Friday night.
It was a tough loss for the Saskatchewan foursome, too, as if not for one awful turn of events in the sixth end, the score could have been much different.
As it stands, Carruthers, third B.J. Neufeld, second Catlin Schneider and lead Connor Njegovan will now move on to the Page 3-4 game against Alberta’s Brad Jacobs, with that contest taking place at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Things were once again close in the early going of the qualifier, with McEwen picking up a pair in the second end and Carruthers replying with a pair of his own in the third.
Back-to-back blanks by McEwen in the next two ends would see things tied 2-2 at the break, setting up what would turn out to be a crucial turn of events in the sixth.
McEwen had a chance for three with his final shot, but came in a touch thin and had disaster strike, with his shot rock and one of the Saskatchewan counters rolling out and giving Carruthers a surprise steal of two.
The swing was especially tough as McEwen had a draw or hit for two, but opted for the higher-risk, higher-reward opportunity.
Saskatchewan had a draw to the four foot for one with McEwen’s final shot in the seventh, and he’d grab a piece of the button to make it 4-3 heading into the eighth.
Things were set up for a double take-out for four on Carruthers’ final shot that end, but it would be McEwen’s turn to catch a break when the Manitoba skip’s shot came in a touch thin, and he’d settle for two and the 6-3 lead.
The ninth end was setting up well for McEwen to tie the game, but Carruthers third B.J. Neufeld would make an excellent double with his final shot to get his rink out of trouble. McEwen had a shot at a double for two with his final shot, but would miss by a millimetre, only get one and settle for the single point.
That left McEwen in the unenviable position of being down two without hammer coming home, and Carruthers would make a double with his final shot to run Saskatchewan out of rocks.
Jacobs took a 10-6 win over Nova Scotia’s Owen Purcell in the other 3-4 qualifier.
The winner of the contest between Carruthers and Jacobs will advance to the semifinal on Sunday, where they’ll face the loser of the Page Playoff 1-2 game between Canada’s Brad Gushue and Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone. That contest takes place at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The semifinal goes at 1 p.m. Sunday, followed by the Montana’s Brier final at 7 p.m.
Be sure to keep an eye on www.curling.ca for up to date results from the remainder of the playoffs, and you can catch all the action live on TSN.
