PLAYOFF BOUND!

Late game steals give Team Carruthers top pool spot at Montana’s Brier

It took three tension-filled games in the final round-robin draw at the Montana’s Brier, presented by AGI, in Regina Thursday evening to determine the final playoff teams and top spot in Pool A.

When the final stone had settled, Reid Carruthers and Team Manitoba-Carruthers (7-1, Winnipeg) had taken first place with a 6-3 win over Team Alberta-Bottcher (6-2, Calgary). Team Manitoba-Dunstone finished third.

Pool B playoff spots were determined in the afternoon draw. Team Saskatchewan (7-1, Saskatoon), skipped by Mike McEwen finished first, defending champion Brad Gushue and Team Canada (6-2, St. John’s) took second and Team Northwest Territories (5-3, Yellowknife) skipped by 17-time Brier skip Jamie Koe took third.

Team Manitoba-Carruthers will play Team Canada, while Team Alberta-Bottcher takes on Saskatchewan’s Team Mike McEwen (7-1) in the Page 1-2 playoff qualifying games Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. (all times CST).

“We’re going to have to bring our A game, our absolute best,” Jacobs said of playing Team Canada. “They’re really finding their form now. It should be a really good back and forth battle, a grind for both teams. And some excitement. 

Carruthers, who turned over the skipping role and fourth-stone throwing duties to former Montana’s Brier and Olympic champion Brad Jacobs in December, stole singles in the seventh and tenth ends to earn the victory. They were joined by second Derek Samagalski, lead Connor Njegovan and coach Rob Meakin.

“We kinda looked at the game as a freebie,” said Jacobs. “We were already in the playoffs, and we really decided to come out there and play loose and play free. I said to the guys after the game ‘that felt easy’. That’s a good sign. I think that was the best team game we’ve put together so far. That makes me excited and happy. I’m really proud of the guys in how they performed tonight.”

Bottcher, who won the championship in 2021 and was backed by third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant, lead Ben Hebert and alternate/coach Paul Webster, came up short on his first draw of the game after 13 hits, giving Team Manitoba-Carruthers a game-turning steal of one in the seventh.

“That end we were looking pretty good for a force but Brad came up with two perfect shots,” said Bottcher. “We’re playing well. Whoever gets hot on the final weekend is going to walk away the champion.”

Both teams went into the decisive match riding three-game winning streaks and tied atop the pool with 6-1 records.

While Teams Bottcher and Carruthers were going head-to-head to decide top spot in the pool, Team Manitoba-Dunstone and Team Northern Ontario were on separate sheets of ice looking for wins that could carry one of them to the third playoff spot.

The Matt Dunstone-skipped Team Manitoba-Dunstone (6-2, Winnipeg) beat Newfoundland and Labrador (2-6 St. John’s) 12-4 to secure that position.

“We knew what we were up against. Obviously, we were up for the challenge,” said Dunstone. “We did what we had to do, but we have a lot of work to do here. It’s a must win from here on out or we’re going home early.

“As long as we’re alive, that’s where we want to be. When we’re going, we’re as good as anybody.”

Team Manitoba-Dunstone will play in the Page 3-4 qualifying game 7 p.m. Friday against the loser of Manitoba-Carruthers vs. Team Canada, giving the team a lengthy break to get prepared

“We’re going to get a big break here, which is nice, and some practice time in the morning, and then go out and give ’er hell,” he said. “I like what I’m seeing from this team, where our mentality is at, everything’s really good.”

Team Northern Ontario (5-3, Thunder Bay) skipped by Trevor Bonot bowed 8-7 in extra end to Team Yukon, skipped by Thomas Scoffin (2-6, Whitehorse).

In the other game Team New Brunswick (1-7, Oromocto) skipped by James Grattan, edged Scott Howard’s Team Ontario (3-5, Penetanguishene) 6-5.

The loser of the Alberta-Bottcher vs. Saskatchewan team will play the Northwest Territories in the other Page 3-4 qualifier.

Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2024 Montana’s Brier are available at www.curling.ca/scoreboard/

TSN and RDS will provide complete coverage of the 2024 Montana’s Brier. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule. Live coverage is also available for international streaming on TSN’s YouTube channel.

This story will be available in French as soon as possible at https://www.curling.ca/?lang=fr