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UPDATE: 8:30 NST
Brad Gushue (Team Canada) and Brendan Bottcher (Alberta) won their opening playoff rounds today at the Canadian Brier to shorten theirs trip to the finals.
Gushue defeated Manitoba’s Reid Carruthers 9-7 and Bottcher was an 8-7 winner of Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen.
Gushue and Bottcher will face each other on Saturday in a playoff round that sees the winner advance directly to the finals on Sunday and the loser to the semifinal earlier that day.
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REGINA, SK – 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.
“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.”
Big Game for Gushue
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.
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.
–report by Curling Canada
