HALIFAX, N.S. — Saskatchewan’s representatives in the men’s draw at the Montana’s Canadian Olympic Curling Trials both found themselves in close games on Sunday but couldn’t come up with the win.
Reigning Tankard champion Rylan Kleiter just missed on a victory against Brier champion Brad Jacobs, dropping a 6-4 decision in an extra end, while Mike McEwen gave up four in the ninth to fall 9-5 to Ontario’s John Epping in the lone men’s draw of the day.
Both Kleiter and McEwen are playing out of the Nutana curling club in Saskatoon.
Kleiter and his rink of third Matt Hall, second Josh Mattern and lead Trevor Johnson gave Calgary’s Jacobs, third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert all they could handle in their contest as the two rinks did a good job limiting opportunities to put points on the board.
There, Jacobs would make a double takeout with his final shot to score a pair and secure the victory.
McEwen and his rink of third Colton Flasch, second Kevin Marsh and lead Daniel Marsh had much better luck in their first game Saturday, defeating Manitoba’s Jordon MacDonald 6-5 with a deuce in the 10th end, and things were just as close early against Epping.
A deuce in the second end and single point in the fourth would give McEwen a 3-2 edge, but Epping, third Jacob Horgan, second Tanner Horgan and lead Ian McMillan — all of whom curled 92 per cent or better — would score two in the fifth to take the lead.
Standings in the Men’s Round Robin through two days are as follows:
Matt Dunstone 2-0
Brad Gushue 2-0
John Epping 1-1
Kevin Koe 1-1
Mike McEwen 1-1
Brad Jacobs 1-1
Rylan Kleither 0-2
Jordon McDonald 0-2
The men play two draws on Monday at 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saskatchewan time, with Kleiter facing Dunstone in the morning draw and Epping in the evening, while McEwen takes on Jacobs in the morning and Koe in the evening.
You can follow along with all the scores from the Olympic qualifier on www.curling.ca.
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