There was a shuffle in the Manitoba curling record books, relating to championship finals appearances and records, when the Dunstone & Carruthers teams faced off in Neepawa.
Jeff Stoughton still has the most final game appearances (12) and that remarkable 11W-1L finals record. Remember he only lost the one final game, in 2004 to Brent Scales.
Two curlers are now only one appearance behind as Reid Carruthers and Mike McEwen now share second place with 11 appearances. Carruthers could still catch Stoughton in the win column but a victory in Neepawa would have been a big help there.
With eight games played and six wins, Carruthers moved ahead of Jon Mead in both number of games played (122) and number of games won at the provincial championship. He moved into a tie in the number of games won (98) with former skip Mike McEwen.
Derek Samagalski was in his ninth final, now tied with Kerry Burtnyk, Jimmy Welsh and Jock Reid with both the same number of appearances and wins (5W). BJ Neufeld, who was also in his ninth final, separated himself from former teammates Denni Neufeld and Matt Wozniak, who are among five with eight finals appearances.
Colton Lott, Matt Dunstone, and Connor Njegovan all now have one Manitoba Men’s Championship win, although Lott has one more finals appearance.
Dunstone: 2 Finals with 1 win & 1 loss (Terry Ursel photo)
MEN’S FINAL APPEARANCES: 12: Jeff Stoughton (11W-1L) 11: Reid Carruthers (7W-4L) 11: Mike McEwen (4W-7L) 9: Derek Samagalski (5W-4L) 9: Kerry Burtnyk (5W-4L) 9: Jimmy Welsh (5W-4L) 9: Jock Reid (5W-4L) 9: BJ Neufeld (3W-6L) 8: Steve Gould (6W-2L) 8: Ken Watson (4W-4L) 8: Grant Watson (4W-4L) 8: Denni Neufeld (2W-6L) 8: Matt Wozniak (2W-6L)
Ryan Harnden also has one Manitoba Men’s championship final appearance and victory….. to go with a 13W-1L Northern Ontario finals record.
MEN’S GAMES PLAYED: 180: Jeff Stoughton 120: Kerry Burtnyk 142: Orest Meleschuk 142: Peter Nicholls 133: Vic Peters 131: Mike McEwen 130: John Usackis 122: Reid Carruthers 112: Keith Fenton
MEN’S GAMES WON: 144: Jeff Stoughton 117: Kerry Burtnyk 98: Reid Carruthers 98: Mike McEwen 93: Jon Mead 92: Vic Peters 90: Derek Samagalski 85: Orest Meleschuk 84: Peter Nicholls 82: Steve Gould
(CurlManitoba Release: Sunday, February 12, 8:PM)TEAM DUNSTONE WINS VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP In a stunning 10th end comeback, Fort Rouge’s Matt Dunstone, BJ Neufeld, Colton Lott, Ryan Harnden and Coach Adam Kingsbury won the 2023 Viterra Manitoba Men’s Curling Championship today in Neepawa.
Dunstone, Neufeld, Lott, Harnden, Kingsbury, Viterra Rep Ray Baloun
Team Dunstone trailed Reid Carruthers (Morris) 7-5 coming home after a brilliantly executed draw on the ninth gave Carruthers a steal of one.
With all the stones in play but one when Dunstone threw his first rock, he was faced with a Carruthers stone so completely buried that he had to blow things up. Dunstone’s hit angled a centre line guard onto a Carruthers stone in the start of a five rock combination. The result – Team Dunstone lying three and Carruthers in big trouble.
Dunstone did not have to throw his last rock in an 8-7 win.
In the now 20 year history of the Page Playoff at the championship, this was only the second time the 2-2 game winner won the title.
On the late draw Saturday, the new champions had beaten Brandon’s Steve Irwin. In the Sunday morning semi-final they defeated Braden Calvert, also of Fort Rouge.
It was the third Manitoba Men’s title for BJ Neufeld and the first for Matt Dunstone, Colton Lott and Ryan Harnden.
#1 seed Matt Dunstone
(CurlManitoba Release: Saturday, February 11, 11:PM)CARRUTHERS, DUNSTONE, CALVERT LEFT IN VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP Three teams will play Sunday in Neepawa for CurlManitoba’s Viterra Championship, the Manitoba Men’s curling championship.
Reid Carruthers and his second seed is in the favorite position as he and his Morris team have advanced to the Sunday 2:30PM final game. Team Carruthers qualified for the 8-team playoff from the “B” Side of the 32-team qualifying round and won their opening game Friday evening over former junior champion JT Ryan (AMCC). Team Carruthers trailed Steve Irwin (Brandon) 7-1 after four ends but fought back to win 10-8 on Saturday morning to move on to the final stage, the 4-team Page Playoff.
On Saturday evening in Neepawa, Carruthers was tied 4-4 playing two-time former world junior champion Braden Calvert (Fort Rouge) when he benefitted from a ‘pick’ on Calvert’s ninth end last stone. A steal of three gave Carruthers a 7-4 lead, the final score, and a spot in the Sunday final. Calvert dropped into the semi-final.
In the final game, Carruthers will play the winner of the Sunday morning 9AM semi-final between Calvert and #1 seed Matt Dunstone (Fort Rouge).
Dunstone had a three game day Saturday. He had reached the 8-team playoff round with an unbeaten run through the preliminary round and a first game win over Corey Chambers (Fort Garry). A Saturday morning loss to Calvert dropped Dunstone to the “B” Side where his team won back-to-back elimination games. The top seed beat #3 Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) in six ends to earn a spot on the bottom side of the Page Playoff Championship and then beat Brandon’s Steve Irwin in five ends to advance to the Sunday semi-final
Irwin reached the Page Playoff with a win over Corey Chambers (Fort Garry).
Ryan and Justin Richter (Beausejour) lost a pair of games back-to-back to be eliminated after reaching the 8-team playoff round. Wiebe and Chambers both posted loss-win-loss records to be eliminated.
(CurlManitoba Release: Friday, February 10, 11:PM)CARRUTHERS, DUNSTONE, CALVERT LEFT IN VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP – Three teams remain undefeated at the 2023 Viterra Championship in Neepawa as the preliminary round ended and the first games of the eight-team playoff round began. The eight qualifiers all start fresh in a new double knock-out phase of the competition.
Top seed Matt Dunstone (Fort Rouge), #5 seed Braden Calvert (Fort Rouge), and Steve Irwin (Brandon) all qualified through the “A” Side of the 32-team preliminary round with three wins. They won their fourth games of the event on the evening draw Friday.
The fourth “A” qualifier, Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge),was beaten 7-4 Friday evening by #2 seed Reid Carruthers (Morris) who had lost in the “A” Q-game to Irwin.
On the 9:00AM draw Saturday, Irwin has a re-match with Carruthers and Calvert meets Dunstone. The winners will advance to the Championship Page Playoff round.
The elimination side of the Playoff Round draw includes #3 seed Wiebe; #4 seed Corey Chambers (Fort Garry), who lost 7-2 to Dunstone; Justin Richter (Beausejour), who lost 9-3 to Calvert; and JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial), who lost 9-2 to Irwin.
The elimination draw at 9:00AM has Richter playing Chambers and Ryan playing Wiebe. The final two Championship qualifiers will be determined on the 2:00PM draw.
Prior to the evening draw, CurlManitoba presented Justin Richter with the annual Pat Spiring Award. Selected by the competitors in the Viterra Championship, the award recognizes the competitor who best exemplifies on-ice ability, competitive spirit, love of the game, and respect for the traditions and spirit of curling.
(CurlManitoba Release: Thursday, February 9, 11:PM)FIRST VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF QUALIFYING GAMES AT 8:30AM FRIDAY The original field of 32 teams from across Manitoba has been cut in half at the 2023 Viterra Championship in Neepawa after two days of play. By end of play Friday, the group will be halved again.
The first four teams into the 8-team payoff round will be identified on the 8:30AM Friday draw. The match-ups in those games are #1 seed Matt Dunstone-Fort Rouge vs Brett Walter-Assiniboine Memorial; #2 seed Reid Carruthers-Morris vs Steve Irwin-Brandon; #3 seed Ryan Wiebe-Fort Rouge vs Riley Smith-Thistle; and #4 seed Corey Chambers-Fort Garry vs #5 seed Braden Calvert-Fort Rouge.
Corey Chambers with sweeper Brendan Bilawka
The 12:15 draw “B” Side match-ups are Sean Grassie-Deer Lodge vs Justin Reynolds-Winnipeg Beach; Jeff Stewart-Gladstone vs JT Ryan-Assiniboine Memorial; Tanner Lott-Fort Rouge vs Steen Sigurdson-Assiniboine Memorial; and Jorden Peters-Fort Rouge vs Justin Richter-Beausejour.
The other four final-eight qualifiers will come from the “B” Side of the draw. The eight teams who go on the ice for the 12:15 draw will have to win two in a row to qualify.
The 8:30AM “A” Side game losers drop into the “B” qualifier games at 4:00PM. The eight team playoff round begins at 7:45PM Friday.
One game every draw, with commentary, is available on the CurlManitoba YouTube Channel.
BJ Neufeld throws with sweepers Colton Lott and Ryan Harnden
(CurlManitoba Release: Wednesday, February 8, 11:PM) TOP FIVE WIN OPENERS; FOUR TEAMS OUSTED FROM VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP The first day of play at the Viterra Championship rolled out very much according to the form chart.
All of the top five seeds advanced through their opening games. Among the top five, Braden Calvert-Fort Rouge was the only one pushed past eight ends. Leading 6-4 playing the ninth end, Calvert used last rock to score a three in defeating Grant Shewfelt-Baldur.
Top seed Matt Dunstone-Fort Rouge (over Tuffy Seguin-Burntwood), #2 Reid Carruthers-Morris (over Rob Van Kommer-Carberry), #3 Ryan Wiebe-Fort Rouge (over Mark Franklin-Granite) and #4 Corey Chambers-Fort Garry (over Wayne Ewasko) all dominated their openers.
Reid Carruthers with sweeper Derek Samagalski
Wiebe, Chambers and Calvert all play their second game on the 8:30AM draw Thursday while Dunstone and Carruthers return to the ice at 12:15 PM Thursday. In the 32-team qualifying round, teams who win three consecutive games advance to the 8-team Playoff Round.
At the other end of the competition spectrum, four teams lost two games on opening day to be ousted from the double knockout event. Ryan Hyde-Portage, Rob Van Kommer-Carberry, Mark Franklin-Granite, and Steve Pauls-Pilot Mound are the four teams whose two loss day earns them an early exit.
Teams drop to the “B” Side of the draw as they lose a game on the “A” Side. Two more teams will be eliminated at 8:30AM, five at 4:00PM, and five at 7:45 Thursday, cutting the original 32 teams to 16 by the end of the second day of play.
(CurlManitoba Release) The five top-ranked Manitoba men’s curling teams on the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) have been seeded into the top five positions in the draw for CurlManitoba’s Viterra Championship which will be played in Neepawa, February 7-12.
In his return to Manitoba championship competition, Matt Dunstone’s Fort Rouge team, currently #2 on the CTRS ranking, has been awarded the top seed.
#1 Seed: (Fort Rouge) Team Dunstone includes the former Manitoba and Canadian junior champion skip along with B.J. Neufeld, Colton Lott, and Ryan Harnden. They earned their CTRS #2 ranking, and a 2022-23 CTRS entry into the Viterra Championship, competing in nine events so far this season. They qualified for the playoff round in eight of those events, with a win in Red Deer and three other finalist finishes. This marks a return to Manitoba championship play for Dunstone after several years of competing at the Brier for Saskatchewan.
#2 Seed: (Morris) Reid Carruthers and Derek Samagalski represent the reigning Manitoba champion team. After line-up shuffles for the new quadrennial, former Manitoba junior and mixed champion skip Reid Carruthers moved back to the tee. Another recent line-up shuffle has Samagalski playing third with Connor Njegovan and Matt Lorenz on the front end. The team earned their CTRS #5 ranking, and a 2022-23 CTRS entry into the Viterra Championship, competing in ten events so far this season. They qualified for the playoff round in five of those events, with a win in Fredericton and two other finalist finishes.
#3 Seed: (Fort Rouge) Ryan Wiebe, Ty Dilello, Sean Flatt, and Adam Flatt were the semi-finalists at the Viterra Championship a year ago in Selkirk. The young team has earned their CTRS #10 ranking, and a 2022-23 CTRS entry into the Viterra Championship, competing in eight events so far this season. They qualified for the playoff round in six of those events, with a win at the Granite Curling Club and two other finalist finishes.
#4 Seed: (Fort Garry) Corey Chambers, Daley Peters, Julien Leduc, Brendan Bilawka, and Michael Martin played a lesser, and mostly local schedule, compared with the three teams ranked above them, They still managed to earn a CTRS #24 ranking. They have played five events and qualified in all five, with a win at Thistle and one other finalist finish to earn a Manitoba Curling Tour berth into the Viterra. A year ago in Selkirk, Chambers and Leduc advanced to the Page Playoff final round before being knocked out. Chambers will enjoy returning to Neepawa where he played third for Sean Grassie in a 2013 championship final game loss to Jeff Stoughton.
#5 Seed: (Fort Rouge) Braden Calvert, Kyle Kurz, Ian McMillan, and Rob Gordon earned this year’s Viterra Championship berth as a result of a high end-of-last-season CTRS ranking. This year, playing a reduced schedule of six events, the team has a #35 CTRS rank. They have played six events and qualified in three but have yet to reach a final. A year ago in Selkirk, the same line-up advanced to the playoff round but did not qualify for the Page Playoff final round.
CurlManitoba’s YouTube Channel will feature the game played on every draw in the centre (Sheet C) of Neepawa’s Yellowhead Community Rec Centre. Given the nature of the Viterra Championship draw, with winners advancing to play winners, it is not possible beyond the opening draws, to identify match-ups. However, curling fans can be assured of great championship curling entertainment each time they tune in.
Neepawa has hosted the Manitoba Men’s Championship three times previously, in 2000, 2002 and 2013. In 2002, Mark Lukowich skipped the winning team. In 2000 and 2013, the championship was won by a Jeff Stoughton team. This year’s #2 seed skip Reid Carruthers was the second on the 2013 champion team which defeated Grassie in the final.
OPENING GAMES: 8:30AM WEDNESDAY Joey Witherspoon, AMCC VS Daniel Birchard, Pembina Reid Carruthers, Morrisw VS Rob Van Kommer, Carberry Justin Reynolds, Winnipeg Beach VS Steve Irwin, Brandon Sean Grassie, Deer Lodge VS Ryan Hyde, Portage Cale Dunbar, Brandon VS JT Ryan, AMCC
OPENING GAMES: 12:15PM WEDNESDAY Riley Smith, Thistle VS Steve Pauls, Pilot Mound Mark Franklin, Granite VS Ryan Wiebe, Fort Rouge Kelly Marnoch, Carberry VS Jeff Stewart, Gladstone David Hamblin, Morris VS Steen Sigurdson, AMCC Corey Chambers, Fort Garry VS Wayne Ewasko, Beausejour
OPENING GAMES: 4:00PM WEDNESDAY Grant Shewfelt, Baldur VS Braden Calvert, Fort Rouge Tanner Lott, Fort Rouge VS Richard Muntain, Granite Justin Richter, Beausejour VS Hayden Forrester, Fort Rouge Matt Dunstone, Fort Rouge VS Tuffy Seguin, Burntwood Jace Freeman, Virden VS Brett Walter, AMCC
OPENING GAME: 8:00PM WEDNESDAY Jay Kinnaird, Virden VS Jordan Peters, Fort ROuge
(CurlManitoba Release) Regional curling competitions across Manitoba on the past weekend have earned 18 teams an invitation to compete in the Manitoba Men’s Viterra Championship in Neepawa, February 7-12, 2023. The teams are from 15 different communities and curling clubs.
Assiniboine Memorial (Brett Walter & JT Ryan), Fort Rouge (Tanner Lott & Jordan Peters), and Beausejour (Wayne Ewasko & Justin Richter) Curling Clubs each won two regional playoff berths.
Single berths were captured by teams from Baldur (Grant Shewfelt), Burntwood (Tuffy Seguin), Deer Lodge (Sean Grassie), Carberry (Rob Van Kommer), Gladstone (Jeff Stewart), Granite (Mark Franklin), Morris (David Hamblin), Pembina (Daniel Birchard), Pilot Mound (Steve Pauls), Portage (Ryan Hyde), Riverview (Cale Dunbar), and Virden (Jace Freeman)
JORDAN PETERS TEAMMARK FRANKLIN TEAMDANIEL BIRCHARD TEAMROB VAN KOMMER TEAM WITH RIVERS CC PRESIDENT DAVE FALKEVITCH
Forty teams representing 28 Manitoba communities and curling clubs entered regional Viterra Championship playoffs. They were competing to join the 10 teams already pre-identified for the 2023 championship in Neepawa.
The pre-qualified teams were Braden Calvert (Deer Lodge), who earned the Canadian Team Ranking (CTRS) berth awarded at the end of last season and the top three Manitoba teams on the CTRS on November 22, 2022 skipped by Matt Dunstone (Fort Rouge), Reid Carruthers (Morris), and Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge). In addition, the four Manitoba Curling Tour (MCT) berth teams are skipped by Steve Irwin (Brandon), Riley Smith (Thistle), Steen Sigurdson (AMCC), and Corey Chambers (Fort Garry).
Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) and Kelly Marnoch (Carberry) won the Minnedosa Viterra Berth bonspiel invitations earlier this season.
The final four entries in the Neepawa Viterra Championship will be berth winners in the Brandon (1 berth) and Manitoba Open (3 berths) Bonspiels in early January.
THE COMPLETE LIST OF QUALIFIED TEAMS TO DATE IS: 2021-22 SEASON CTRS: Braden Calvert (Deer Lodge) 2022 MCT CHAMPION: Steve Irwin (Brandon) 2022 MCT POINTS: Riley Smith (Thistle) 2022 MCT POINTS: Steen Sigurdson (AMCC) 2022 MCT POINTS: Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) NOVEMBER 22, 2022 CTRS: Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) NOVEMBER 22, 2022 Matt Dunstone (Fort Rouge) NOVEMBER 22, 2022 Reid Carruthers (Morris) BERTH: Kelly Marnoch (Carberry) BERTH Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) NORTH REGIONAL: Tuffy Seguin – Burntwood WEST 1 REGIONAL: Jeff Stewart (Gladstone) WEST 2 REGIONAL: Cale Dunbar (Riverview) WEST 2 REGIONAL: Jace Freeman (Virden) WEST 2 REGIONAL: Rob Van Kommer (Carberry) SOUTH 1 REGIONAL: Ryan Hyde – Portage SOUTH 1 REGIONAL: Steve Pauls (Pilot Mound) SOUTH 1 REGIONAL: Grant Shewfelt (Baldur) SOUTH 2 REGIONAL: David Hamblin (Morris) EAST REGIONAL: Justin Richter (Beausejour) EAST REGIONAL: Wayne Ewasko (Beausejour) WINNIPEG REGIONAL: Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) WINNIPEG REGIONAL: Tanner Lott (Fort Rouge) WINNIPEG REGIONAL: Brett Walter (AMCC) WINNIPEG REGIONAL: JT Ryan (AMCC) WINNIPEG REGIONAL: Mark Franklin (Granite) WINNIPEG REGIONAL: Daniel Birchard (Pembina) WINNIPEG REGIONAL: Jordan Peters (Fort Rouge) MANITOBA OPEN: TBD MANITOBA OPEN: TBD MANITOBA OPEN: TBD BRANDON SPIEL: TBD
Neepawa’s Viterra Championship host committee was a winner before the second berth game began today in Minnedosa. Either Kelly Marnoch would be bringing Carberry fans to Neepawa OR Jeff Stewart would be bringing Gladstone fans – a definite win to have a “local” team in the field so early, opening up possibilities of one extra local team later on.
And it was Kelly Marnoch (fourth Bart Witherspoon, Branden Jorgenson, Dean Smith) who earned the berth, joining Jordon McDonald’s Deer Lodge team who had beaten Marnoch earlier in the day to win the first available berth.
The interesting play was almost all at the away end of the rink!
With a string of stones in play up the centre line, and three biting the button, Marnoch played the last stones of the fifth end as if he had two counters. When Stewart’s team was unable to move them, the measuring stick came out and Marnoch was proven correct.
However, the game was won on the seventh end – a completely different end from the fifth. Facing four Stewart counters, Marnoch’s fourth shooter Bart Witherspoon made a triple kill and rolled to count a single point. Up 4-2 at that point, the lead help up. Marnoch led 5-3 coming home.
But – proving he could also throw the delicate shot, Witherspoon broke the Gladstone team’s hearts with an angle tap from the front of the eight foot to the button, nestled against Stewart’s shot stone – leaving Stewart nothing but an unlikely double-angle, double-raise backward through a port. Final score, Marnoch over Stewart 6-3.
In the Scotties Berth event, Beth Peterson’s Assiniboine Memorial team (Jenna Loder, Katherine Doerksen, Melissa Gordon, alternate Robyn Njegovan) won the invitation to compete in the provincial Scotties at East St. Paul in late January.
As top seed, the team had a first round bye in the 7-team ‘spiel and needed to win only three games to earn their provincial entry.
The final, against Abby Ackland’s AMCC team was tied at two after three ends but a Peterson hit through a port scored a three on the fourth end and Team Peterson clogged the centre of the rings on the fifth, scoring another big end and concession.
Earlier in the day, Peterson had beaten Ackland to advance to the final while Ackland had to win over Grace Beaudry to move on to their third game of the day.
Team Peterson joins the defending champion Mackenzie Zacharias team (with Jennifer Jones added to the line-up) as the first two teams in the 12 team provincial Scotties field.
Jordon McDonald, a twice Manitoba champion skip last year, and his young Deer Lodge team have won the first Viterra Championship berth of the season.
(r-l) McDonald, Reece Hamm, Elias Huminicki, Cam Olafson, Coach Blaine Malo defeated Kelly Marnoch (Carberry) in eight ends today in Minnedosa to win the first of two men’s championship berths available this weekend.
An early key shot came from the left hand of third Reece Hamm. The teams had traded singles after a blank first end. With McDonald holding the hammer, Marnoch had half buried his own stone fully in the 8-ft circle behind one of his own stones. Hamm’s runback was perfect, removing the Marnoch counter and guard and they went on to score a deuce. The two opint lead at that point allowed the Deer Lodge team to dictate play and singles in ends 5 and 6 provided a 4-point lead; not insurmountable in some games but today it was.
The McDonald team includes half of both of the young Deer Lodge skip’s TWO champion teams from last season. With Hamm and Huminicki (and Alexandre Fontaine) Team McDonald won the U-18 title and with Huminicki and Olafson (and Jace Freeman) Team McDonald won the U-21 title. McDonald and Hamm (with Huminicki as team alternate) also posted a respectable 2W-2L in last year’s Viterra Championship in Selkirk, winning two before losing back to back qualifying games.
The Marnoch team has a second chance today. A second berth game will pit them against Jeff Stewart (Gladstone) who defeated Jay Kinnaird (Virden) to advance to the berth game.
Trailing by two playing end #8, Kinnaird came oh-so-close on an attempted highlight reel double kill. His hit on a rock in the back eight foot – jumped straight sideways and contacted an opposition stone frozen to the face of his own stone in the back of the rings. He moved it but not far enough and scored only two to tie. Kinnaird stole one on end #9 to lead coming home but a last stone guard overcurled, allowing Stewart a hit on the button without having to stick. He made the shot for two and the win.
In the Scotties berth bonspiel, Beth Peterson (AMCC) will play Abby Ackland (AMCC) for the first provincial Scotties berth to be earned this fall. Both games are scheduled for 6PM in Minnedosa.
Mike McEwen and his West St. Paul team have won the 2022 Viterra Manitoba Men’s Curling Championship. McEwen, with third Reid Carruthers, second Derek Samagalski, lead Colin Hodgson and Coach Rob Meakin won a pair of games Sunday in Selkirk to earn their second title as a team. Team McEwen had previously won the championship together in 2019.
(l-r) Colin Hodgson, Derek Samagalski, Coach Rob Meakin, Reid Carruthers, Mike McEwen CurlManitoba Photo
Entering the championship as the #1 seed and favourite to win, Team McEwen had lost the Page 1-1 Playoff game Saturday evening to Colton Lott and his Winnipeg Beach team. Lott was supported by his brother Tanner at third, with second Kyle Doering and lead Emerson Klimpke.
The loss put them in the Sunday morning semi-final game which they won, with a last shot draw, 10-9 over Ryan Wiebe – Fort Rouge, with Ty Dillello, Sean Flatt and Adam Flatt.
Colton Lott`s finalist team impressed those watching at the Selkirk CC as a young team with a great future.
The afternoon final against Team Lott opened in the Winnipeg Beach team’s favour with a two on the first end. McEwen came back to score two on the second end and began to take control when the veteran team forced their younger opponents to a single on the third.
After blanks on the fourth and fifth ends, Team McEwen scored a three on the sixth end to lead 6-3 enroute to an 8-3, eight end victory.
This year’s victory is the fourth Manitoba men’s title for Mike McEwen, who won as skip in 2016, 2017 and 2019, and Hodgson, who was at lead for Carruthers in 2015 and 2018 as well as for McEwen in 2019. For Samagalski, it is a fifth Manitoba men’s title after he won as lead for Rob Fowler in 2012 and as second for Carruthers in 2015 and 2018 as well as for McEwen in 2019.
It is a seventh Manitoba men’s title for Carruthers who won three times at second for Jeff Stoughton, including a Brier and World title in 2011 followed by Manitoba wins in 2013 and 2014. He also won as skip in 2015 and 2018 and as McEwen’s third in 2019.
In addition, McEwen owns a pair of Manitoba Junior Men’s titles and a Manitoba Mixed title; Carruthers has a Junior Men’s and a Mixed championship and Samagalski has won a Mixed and a Mixed Doubles final game.
Team McEwen earns the opportunity to represent Manitoba at the Tim Hortons Brier in Lethbridge in March.
(CurlManitoba Release – Saturday Evening) Colton Lott and his Winnipeg Beach team-mates) Kyle Doering, Tanner Lott, and Emerson Klimpke are a win away from representing Manitoba at the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier as Manitoba champions.
Team Lott posted a pair of wins Saturday at the Viterra Championship in Selkirk; a 9-3 victory over William Lyburn (Granite) on the morning draw to advance to the Page 1-1 Playoff game and then a late 8-7 victory in that game over 2019 champion Mike McEwen (West St. Paul).
The Winnipeg Beach foursome was tied 4-4 with McEwen after five ends and led 6-5 after seven ends but trailed 7-6 coming home. They blanked the ninth to hold last rock coming home but didn’t need to throw it. They will play in the Manitoba Men’s Curling Championship final game, Sunday at 2:00PM.
Ryan Wiebe
In the 9AM semi-final, McEwen will take on Ryan Wiebe and his Fort Rouge team who won three games Saturday in Selkirk. Qualifying through the “B” side of the Playoff Round, Team Wiebe defeated 2020 champion Jason Gunnlaugson and 2015 World Junior champion skip Braden Calvert. They defeated Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 7-4 in the Page 2-2 Playoff game.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP PAGE PLAYOFF PAGE 1-1 GAME (Winner to the final, Loser to the semi-final) Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) 8-7 over Mike McEwen (West St. Paul)
PAGE 2-2 GAME (Winner to the semi-final, Loser eliminated) Ryan Wiebe (Ft. Rouge) 7-4 over Corey Chambers (Ft. Garry)
PLAYOFF ROUND – 2PM SATURDAY “B” Side (Winners advance to Page Playoff Championship Round – Losers eliminated)) Ryan Wiebe (Ft. Rouge) 6-5 over Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) Corey Chambers (Ft. Garry) 7-2 over William Lyburn (Granite)
PLAYOFF ROUND – 9AM SATURDAY“A” Side (Winners advance to Page Playoff Championship Round – Losers to “B” Side) Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) 7-6 over Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) 9-3 over William Lyburn (Granite)
“B” Side ( Winners move on – Losers eliminated) Corey Chambers (Ft. Garry) 5-4 over Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) Ryan Wiebe (Ft. Rouge) 7-4 over Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris)
Braden Calvert
(CurlManitoba Release – Friday Evening) PLAYOFF ROUND UNDERWAY IN VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP: A pair of World Junior champion skips faced off Friday night in Selkirk in the opening game of the 2022 Viterra Championship Playoff Round. The game between Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial), the 2015 world champion, and clubmate Jacques Gauthier, the 2020 world champion, saw Calvert score deuces each of the first four times he had last rock. The third of them, on the fifth end, gave Team Calvert a 6-5 lead as they went on to a 9-5 victory.
Mike McEwen
For Mike McEwen and his top seeded West St. Paul team, the score sheet shows all singles. It was the fourth one, a steal on the extra end, which gave the 2019 champions a 4-3 win over Corey Chambers (Fort Garry).
Jason Gunnlaugson’s Morris foursome gave up a pair of deuces to start their game against Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach). Team Lott never trailed in their 8-3 win over the 2020 champions.
William Lyburn won three Friday
In the fourth game, William Lyburn (Granite) never led in his game with Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) until Team Lyburn stole a pair coming home to win 7-6.
At 9:00AM Saturday in Selkirk, on the “A” side of the Playoff Round, Lyburn will play Lott and Calvert will play McEwen. Winners of these two games will move on to the Page Playoff format Championship. In the last chance “B” side games, Gunnlaugson will play Wiebe and Gauthier will play Chambers.
Following are the Friday results in the 2022 Viterra Championship.
PLAYOFF ROUND – First Games (New Double Knockout)
7:45PM: William Lyburn (Granite) 7-6 over Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) 7:45PM: Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) 8-3 over Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) 7:45PM: Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) 9-5 over Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 7:45PM: Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) vs Corey Chambers (Fort Garry)
“B” Side Qualifying Games (Winners advancing to the Friday evening playoff round – losers eliminated) 4:00PM: Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 7-2 over Justin Richter (Beausejour) 4:00PM: William Lyburn (Granite) 7-6 over Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial)
4:00PM: Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) 8-4 over JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) 4:00PM: Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 6-3 over Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge)
“B” Side (Winners play on – Losers eliminated) 12:15PM: Justin Richter (Beausejour) 10-4 over Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) 12:15PM: Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 7-6 over Brett Walter (Assiniboine Memorial) 12:15PM: William Lyburn (Granite) 8-5 over Daniel Birchard (Pembina) 12:15PM: JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) 9-4 over Jack Hykaway (Pembina)
“A” Side Qualifying Games (Winners advancing to the Friday evening playoff round – losers to “B” Qualifying Games) 8:30AM: Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) 7-5 over Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial) 8:30AM: Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) 5-4 over Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) 8:30AM: Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) 4-2 over Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 8:30AM: Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) 7-1 over Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge)
(CurlManitoba Release) VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP NOW A FIELD OF SIXTEEN: An even dozen teams have been eliminated from the 2022 Viterra Championship in Selkirk, leaving 16 teams still in the chase for the Manitoba Men’s Curling Championship.
The first four qualifiers for the Playoff Round will be identified on the early morning draw Friday. The other 12 teams will play the 12:15PM and 4PM draws with four of them advancing as well.
There are still eight unbeaten teams, including all four of the top four seeds. They’ll meet in the Friday 8:30AM draw. The match-ups are:
#1 seed Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) vs Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) #2 seed Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) vs Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) #3 seed Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) vs Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial) #4 Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) vs Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge
Two of the most dramatic games of the day involved William Lyburn and his Granite team. On the 12:15 draw, Riley Smith needed to win measures on the tenth end, for two to tie, and again on the eleventh, for a steal of one and a 7-6 victory over Lyburn. On the late draw, trailing 6-0 after three ends, Lyburn bounced back to tie Dean North (Carman) 7-7 coming home and stayed alive with a steal of two for a 9-7 win.
Following are the Thursday results in the 2022 Viterra Championship.
“A” Side (Winners advancing to the Friday morning qualifying game) 12:15PM: Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 7-3 over Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) 12:15PM: Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) 11-6 over Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 12:15PM: Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial) 7-6 over William Lyburn (Granite) 12:15PM: Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) 5-4 over JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial)
8:30AM: Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) 7-2 over Richard Muntain (Granite)
“B” Side (Winners play on – Losers eliminated) 8:15PM: Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) 8-2 over Sam Antila (Burntwood 8:15PM: Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 9-3 over Jeff Stewart (Gladstone) 8:15PM: William Lyburn (Granite) 9-7 over Dean North (Carman) 8:15PM: JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) 8-1 over Randy Neufeld (LaSalle)
4:00PM: Jack Hykaway (Pembina) 7-4 over Grant Shewfelt (Baldur) 4:00PM: Daniel Birchard (Pembina) 10-9 over Ryan Thomson (Morden) 4:00PM: Brett Walter (Assiniboine Memorial) 8-1 over Graham Freeman (Virden) 4:00PM: Justin Richter (Beausejour) 11-2 over Richard Muntain (Granite)
8:30AM: Ryan Thomson (Morden) 9-2 over Kelly Marnoch (Carberry) 8:30AM: Graham Freeman (Virden) 11-4 over Graham Freeman (Virden) 8:30AM: Justin Richter (Beausejour) 9-6 over Kyle McCannell (Pilot Mound)
(Thursday, February 10: 3:30PM)DRAMATIC WINS FOR WIEBE & SMITH ON DRAW #6 IN SELKIRK: The noon draw at the 2022 Viterra Championship in Selkirk had four “A” side games so no eliminations but among the four a last shot victory and a dramatic extra end victory.
JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) and Ryan Wiebe (Ft Rouge) were tied coming home in their match. Former Junior Champ JT Ryan made a fine last rock hit and roll to the button, buried. Ryan Wiebe won the game 5-4 with his last shot past the centre guard, a tap-back for victory.
Second victory for Ryan Wiebe (foreground)
On the sheet beside, Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial) stole an extra end on a measure to beat William Lyburn (Granite). Smith blanked the ninth with a big weight double kill then needed a measure for the tie 6-6 on end ten when his last draw slid deep into the 12 foot circle. On the extra end, Smith drew the back half of the four foot behind Lyburn’s stone. A rock in front of it meant Lyburn needed to gently move two stones but his draw-tap was light and Smith won his second measure and the game.
Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) was a 7-3 winner over Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) and Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) beat former Grassie teammate Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 11-6.
Top seed Mike McEwen and third Reid Carruthers look on as Richard Muntain calls line. Team McEwen won their opener Thursday morning
On the early draw Thursday, top seeded Mike McEwen and his West St. Paul team won their opening game of the 2022 Viterra Championship in Selkirk. With the first day bye thanks to their top seed position, Team McEwen played Richard Muntain (Granite) who had won their opener yesterday but didn’t mount a significant challenge. McEwen blanked the first two ends and took control of the game with two on the third enroute to a 7-2 win.
Three early “B” side games saw three teams eliminated. Kelly Marnoch (Carberry) bowed out in 9-2 loss to Ryan Thomson (Morden), Kyle McCannell (Pilot Mound) lost to 9-6 to Justin Richter (Beausejour), and Mark Lukowich (Ft Rouge) lost 11-4 to Graham Freeman (Virden).
(CurlManitoba Release) PAST CHAMPIONS LEAD THE WAY ON DAY ONE OF THE VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP: Among the 28 teams who began play Wednesday in the Viterra Championship in Selkirk, there are no fewer than 13 skips who have won at least one previous Manitoba championship. Eleven skipped those earlier championship teams. Two won Manitoba championships at the third position.
Twelve of those former champions played on Day #1 of the Manitoba Men’s Championship and collectively posted a record of 9 wins and 5 losses.
On the late draw Wednesday, three of the top four seeds played their first games after the seeding by the competing teams gave them a first round bye.
Defending Manitoba champion and #2 seed Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) opened his defense of the title with a 9-1, 6-end victory over Grant Shewfelt (Baldur)
Former Manitoba Mixed Doubles champion and #3 seed Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) jumped out to a 4-1 lead over Daniel Birchard (Pembina) at the 5th end break and went on to a 7-3 victory.
A first game win for Braden Calvert (foreground) while Brett Walter had a win and a loss on Day #1
Tied 3-3 after eight ends with clubmate Brett Walter, former World Junior champion and #4 seed Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) scored a deuce on the ninth end but Walter forced an extra end with two of his own coming home. With last rock, Calvert won the game 6-5. Walter, who is the reigning Manitoba Junior champion, had a win and a loss in his two games on opening day.
Top seeded Mike McEwen and his 2019 Manitoba Viterra Championship winning team will play their first game Thursday morning on the 8:30AM draw against Richard Muntain (Granite).
In the fourth late draw game, the first “B” side game; Jack Hykaway (Pembina) bested Evan Martin (Fort Rouge) by a 7-4 score. The second loss of the day for the Martin team, skipped by Travis Bale, means they are eliminated.
Throughout the first three draws of the day, reigning World Junior Champion Jacques Gauthier (who was a Manitoba Junior champion third but won the World Juniors after winning Canada as a Wild Card entry); Manitoba Junior Champions Brett Walter, JT Ryan and Riley Smith (also a Manitoba Junior champion third); U-18 Champion Jordon McDonald; and former Canadian Mixed champion (and World Mixed Doubles Bronze Medallist) Sean Grassie; all won their first games of the competition.
Former World Senior silver medallist Randy Neufeld and former Manitoba Men’s champion Mark Lukowich lost their first games. Former Manitoba Junior champion Travis Bale, skipping the Evan Martin entry, lost a pair of games.
Following are the results of the first three draws on the first day of play in the 2022 Viterra Championship.
4PM DRAW: Richard Muntain (Granite) 10-4 over Sam Antila (Burntwood) Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) 7-4 over Justin Richter (Beausejour) Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) 7-5 over Graham Freeman (Virden) Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 8-3 over Kyle McCannell (Pilot Mound)
12:15PM DRAW: Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 8-3 over Mark Lukowich (Fort Rouge) Brett Walter (AMCC) 7-6 over Jeff Stewart (Gladstone). Riley Smith (AMCC) 8-3 over Ryan Thomson (Morden) William Lyburn (Granite) 6-5 over Kelly Marnoch (Carberry)
8:30AM DRAW Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) 9-3 over Jack Hykaway (Pembina) JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) 6-2 over Evan Martin (Fort Rouge) Daniel Birchard (Pembina) 8-3 over Dean North (Carman) William Lyburn (Granite) 6-5 over Kelly Marnoch (Carberry)
(February 9, 8PM)FIRST ROUND WIN EARNS MUNTAIN A DATE WITH MCEWEN: Richard Muntain and his Granite team opened play today in the 2022 Viterra Championship in Selkirk with a victory over Sam Antila and his Thompson team. The first round victory advances Muntain and his team to a Thursday morning game against top seed Mike McEwen (West St. Paul).
Richard Muntain (foreground) will play top seed Mike McEwen Thursday morning
Muntain will be hoping there is an advantage for him in the fact his team has now played a game on the Selkirk Curling Club ice while McEwen’s top seed position got his team bye and they’ll therefore be playing their first game.
Muntain will also be hoping the McEwen foursome’s practice schedules has been disrupted by last week’s coaching assignments at the national Scotties for both Reid Carruthers and Colin Hodgson.
He’ll know by 11AM Thursday!
A first round win for Jacques Gauthier (foreground)
In other games on Draw #3 at 4PM in Selkirk, a pair of Deer Lodge teams posted victories. Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge), a former Manitoba finalist, won 7-4 over Justin Richter (Beausejour) and Jordon McDonald (Der Lodge) beat Graham Freeman (Virden) 7-5.
In the fourth 4PM game, Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) defeated Kyle McCannell (Pilot Mound) 8-3. Due to pandemic cancellation, Gauthier is still the reigning world junior champion. It has rarely occurred that a world junior champion has held that title and next-level provincial title at the same time.
Mackenzie Zacharias accomplished the feat with her Manitoba Scotties win in Carberry in December. Gauthier has taken the first step along the difficult road to matching the accomplishment.
A first round win for Daniel Birchard (foreground)
(February 9, 5PM) VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP UNDERWAY: FIRST GAME WINNERS ADVANCE TO PLAY TOP SEEDS: For the first time in almost a quarter of a century, the Manitoba Men’s Curling Championship is underway on curling club ice. The Viterra Championship, usually played in an arena and scheduled this year for the Selkirk Recreation Centre, was moved to the Selkirk Curling Club in a covid-related decision.
The last time curling rink ice was used was 1998 in Virden when teams played their first day games split between the curling rink and arena. In 1999, in Portage, all games in the event were played in that community’s arena.
After the first two draws of preliminary round play in the 2022 Viterra Championship, general assessment is that CurlManitoba Ice Technician Greg Ewasko and his crew of Matt Rankine, Dale Lott and club volunteers have been able to approximate arena conditions. The ice is keen with a predictable curl – all you need to determine a champion.
The first two draws went pretty much according to the form chart with only one game of eight which might be considered an upset. On the opening draw, former World Senior silver medallist Randy Neufeld and his LaSalle team were defeated 7-6 by Grant Shewfelt and his Baldur team. Tied coming home, Shewfelt had an open centre line hit for the victory.
Ryan Wiebe (Ft Rouge) jumped out to a 7-0 three end lead over Jack Hykaway (Pembina) and cruised to a 9-3 win. The Hykaway foursome, with Richard Hawkins throwing first and calling the game, will be back on the ice on the late draw Wednesday in their “B” side elimination game as they got the cruel spot in the draw which will eliminate one team on day one fo the competition.
Former provincial champion JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) beat Evan Martin (Ft Rouge) 6-2 and Daniel Birchard beat Dean North (Carman) 8-3. The Martin drops in that evening draw elimination game against Hykaway.
A first round win for Corey Chambers (foreground)
On the noon draw, Corey Chambers (Ft Garry) Brett Walter (AMCC), Riley Smith (AMCC), and William Lyburn (Granite) were first game winners.
Chambers posted an 8-3 win over former Manitoba Men’s champion Mark Lukowich (Ft Rouge). Walter was a 7-6 victor over Jeff Stewart (Gladstone). Smith beat Ryan Thomson (Morden) 8-3.
In their first game playing together Lyburn and his new third Scott McDonald were tied 5-5 coming home and didn’t need their last rock in beating Kelly Marnoch (Carberry) 6-5. The game was the kind of close affair which Lyburn would have wanted for the first playing with McDonald. They scored a deuce on the third end and played with a one or two point lead for the entire game, until Marnoch’s deuce on the ninth tied the game and gave Lyburn last rock coming home.
The early results set up 8:15PM Wednesday “A” side games against the top seeds. Grant Shewfelt (Baldur) will play #2 seed Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris), Daniel Birchard (Pembina) will play Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach), and Brett Walter (Assiniboine Memorial) will play #4 Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial). Top seeded Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) will play his first game at 8:30AM Thursday against the winner of the 4PM game between Sam Antila (Burntwood) and Richard Muntain (Granite).
(Tuesday, February 8)DRAW SET FOR VITERRA CHAMPIONSHIP, MCEWEN TOP SEED: The draw has been published for the Viterra Championship, the Manitoba Men’s Curling Championship which gets underway Wednesday (Feb 9) in the Selkirk Curling Club. (Check the complete draw at curlmanitoba.org)
The draw format is identical to recent past years – double knockout preliminary round; 8-team double knockout playoff round; 4-team Page Playoff championship round. Because the event is being played with 28 teams rather than the usual 32, the top four seeds will all get a first round bye and will play their opening games at 8:15PM Wednesday against teams who win their openers earlier in the day.
The top four seeds are skipped by Mike McEwen (West St. Paul), Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris), Tanner Lott (Winnipeg Beach), and Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial).
The match-ups on the first three draws Wednesday follow.
8:30AM: Randy Neufeld (LaSalle) vs Grant Shewfelt (Baldur) 8:30AM: Jack Hykaway (Pembina) vs Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) 8:30AM: JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) vs Evan Martin (Fort Rouge) 8:30AM: Dean North (Carman) vs Daniel Birchard (Pembina)
12:15PM: Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial) vs Ryan Thomson (Morden) 12:15PM: Jeff Stewart (Gladstone) vs Brett Walter (Assiniboine Memorial) 12:15PM: William Lyburn (Granite) vs Kelly Marnoch (Carberry) 12:15PM: Mark Lukowich (Fort Rouge) vs Corey Chambers (Fort Garry)
4:00PM: Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge) vs Graham Freeman (Virden) 4:00PM: Sam Antila (Burntwood) vs Richard Muntain (Granite) 4:00PM: Kyle McCannell (Pilot Mound) vs Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 4:00PM: Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) vs Justin Richter (Beausejour)
8:15PM: #2 Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) vs Winner (Shewfelt-Neufeld) 8:15PM: #3 Tanner Lott (Winnipeg Beach) vs Winner (North-Birchard) 8:15PM: #4 Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) vs Winner (Stewart-Walter)
THURSDAY: 8:30AM: #1 Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) vs Winner (Antila-Muntain)
A limited number of spectators will be allowed in the upstairs clubrooms of the Selkirk Curling Club. Tickets can be purchased via the CurlManitoba website at https://curlmanitoba.org/viterra-championship/ . Spectators will be required to leave the building between draws. All spectators are expected to be fully vaccinated and to follow all health protocols requested by the Selkirk Curling Club, including the wearing of masks.
SUPPOSED TO START TODAY but announced earlier in the month…CurlManitoba’s Viterra Championship will be played in the Selkirk Curling Club, February 9-13.
At the time of cancellation, 28 teams had qualified for the Viterra Championship. Only the Brandon Bonspiel (one berth) and Manitoba Open (three berths) had yet to be determined. The championship will go ahead with the 28 teams already identified – logical to assume the top four seeds will get first round byes. Hard to say if that’s a good thing or not – ice conditions will dictate whether there is an advantage to playing a lesser team in the opening round as a chance to acclimatize!
The championship carries with it an invitation to represent Manitoba at the Tim Hortons Brier in Lethbridge in early March. A very few Manitoba teams have a chance to move up the CTRS list to earn a shot at one of the three available wildcard entries in the Brier.
Brad Gushue’s Olympic team is currently #1 and appears to be so far ahead on the CTRS list that they would be a certain wildcard entry. However, the standing rule is that it is highest ranking CTRS teams after provincial playdowns and Team Gushue opted out. However, the Nfld-Labradon provincial men’s was canceled. If not re-scheduled, it would seem to open the door for them to come home from the Olympics and play the Brier as either the appointed NL rep or as a wildcard team.
Kevin Koe (#2) has already won Alberta and Brendan Bottcher (#7) is Team Canada so they are not part of the wild card discussion.
Status of Brad Jacobs (#4) and Glenn Howard (#5) is up in the air. Currently they are certain wild card selections. The Northern Ontario playoff has been postponed with no re-schedule date. When the Scotties starts this week Krista McCarville’s team has been selected as the Northern Ontario rep – the parallel men’s decision would be to select Team Jacobs and remove them from the wildcard discussion.
Howard may still have to play the Ontario Tankard. It has been re-scheduled to February 9-13, the same time as Manitoba’s Viterra event.
Jason Gunnlaugson’s team is currently ranked #5 so they currently hold the third wild card position. Mike McEwen’s foursome is #8 behind Matt Dunstone (#6). Dunstone’s status will also be determined February 9-13 when the Saskatchewan Tankard playoff occurs. If he doesn’t win Saskatchewan, he needs a high finish to move up the CTRS into a wild card spot.
John Epping is currently #9. Like Howard in Ontario, Dunstone in Saskatchewan, and McEwen in Manitoba, if they don’t win they need a high finish to be in the wildcard conversation.
Of the lesser ranked Manitoba teams, it seems likely only one has even a remote shot at the wild card spots. Tanner & Colton Lott, Kyle Doering and Emerson Klimpke, still listed as Team Pat Simmons, are at #13. If they were to lose the Manitoba final, depending on results in other provinces, they might (but seems unlikely) jump far enough up the list.
The others, starting with Braden Calvert (#18) and Riley Smith (#19) have one chance of a trip to Brier – they have to win in Selkirk.
The teams qualified for Manitoba’s Viterra Championship represent curling clubs and communities across Manitoba. They are:
Assiniboine Memorial: Braden Calvert Assiniboine Memorial: Jacques Gauthier Assiniboine Memorial: JT Ryan Assiniboine Memorial: Riley Smith Assiniboine Memorial: Brett Walter Baldur: Grant Shewfelt Beausejour: Justin Richter Burntwood: Sam Antila Carberry: Kelly Marnoch Carman: Dean North Deer Lodge: Sean Grassie Deer Lodge: Jordon McDonald Fort Garry: Corey Chambers Fort Rouge: Mark Lukowich Fort Rouge: Evan Martin Fort Rouge: Ryan Wiebe Gladstone: Jeff Stewart Granite: William Lyburn Granite: Richard Muntain LaSalle: Randy Neufeld Morden: Ryan Thomson Morris: Jason Gunnlaugson Pembina: Daniel Birchard Pembina: Jack Hykaway Pilot Mound: Kyle McCannell Virden: Graham Freeman West St. Paul: Mike McEwen Winnipeg Beach: Colton Lott
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