By Jonathan Brazeau
NISKU, Alta. — Mike McEwen knew he needed not only the win but the full three points against Rylan Kleiter during Draw 10 Thursday of the CO-OP Tour Challenge.
After losing his first two games in the Grand Slam of Curling tournament, another defeat would have meant elimination. Based on how the standings shook down during last month's AMJ Masters, two points from a draw-to-the-button shootout win wasn't going to cut it either.
Team McEwen pulled it off with a pivotal 7-4 victory over Team Kleiter in the showdown of Saskatoon-based squads.
"It feels good. They're a provincial rival, they're a Canadian team that we’ve got to beat in the (Olympic) trials in a month's time, and we know we need full points," McEwen said. "It does change some of the decision-making going into the final ends that you know going to a shootout is not good enough. Maybe that actually makes decision-making easier, because you don't have the option."
The key moment of the match came in the fourth end. With the game tied, Kleiter rolled heavy on his last, allowing McEwen to make an open draw for three critical points and a 4-1 lead.
After the teams alternated deuces in the fifth and sixth, the new blank rule affected how the seventh end unfolded. Teams are allowed to blank only once per game, with a second blank resulting in a loss of hammer.
Kleiter already used up his blank back in the second, and was forced into a situation where he take one in the seventh. That gave McEwen control coming home, and he tacked another point on the board.
McEwen said his team held a training camp before the event in Saskatoon and during the long drive into the Edmonton area, the new blank rule came up in conversation with coach Pat Simmons.
"We went through a whole bunch of scenarios and we reframed it," McEwen said. "Using a blank strategically is less of an option now. It doesn't mean that you can't (blank), but we've reframed it as maybe you get a redo.
"It changed what we did out there today. Rather than trying to sit two in the second end, I just made sure I got rid of it and said, 'OK, go ahead, take the blank.' I didn't mind them burning it in an even end early in the game, so it can change some decision-making. Even in the seventh end, we knew they couldn't blank and try to be down with the hammer playing the last end to try to tie. They had to take a point."
McEwen isn't in the clear yet as he still needs another win and three points against good friend and former teammate Reid Carruthers.
The connections continue as McEwen previously played with Team Carruthers third B.J. Neufeld, winning seven Grand Slam titles together. Neufeld also spent time with current Team McEwen third Colton Flasch during their stint with skip Kevin Koe.
"They stung us in the Brier last year. We had a really good run out of the gate, 7-1. Lost a tough one to (Matt Dunstone) in the first round of the playoffs and then Reid, he had our number," McEwen said. "He got us, so I don't need any more motivation than usual. Former teammate, you always want to have the upper hand on teammates and head-to-head, so I'm looking forward to it.
"And obviously, B.J., too. There's lots of former teammates out there, and B.J. played with Colton when they won their Brier with Koe. They probably want to beat us as bad as we want to beat them. It's gonna be fun. I'm looking forward to that."
KEEPING IT 100 PER CENT
McEwen was slow out of the barn this fall as he was still recovering from off-season knee surgery.
Although he wasn't fully up to speed during the AMJ Masters in London, Ont., McEwen is rounding into top form now.
"This is event two where I feel 100 per cent or close to that," McEwen said. "The rhythm feels good, I feel like my strength is there, mobility is pretty good. So right now I'm in maintenance mode, just keep this feeling good for the rest of the season and that does involve keeping on top of it.
"I've got decades of probably doing things not the way. Tuck sliding is not the easiest thing on your body, and I've had some injuries. It's just my life. I have to keep on top of it — regular physio, mobility, stretching — and I'm older. Things aren't as pliable as they used to be."
CARRUTHERS CLAIMS SECOND WIN
Carruthers is back in the top flight at the CO-OP Tour Challenge and out to a 2-1 record in preliminary play.
The Winnipeg club has already surpassed its win total from the AMJ Masters Tier 2 event in St. Thomas, Ont., but sometimes the numbers don't tell the whole story.
"To be honest, I know we went 1-3 (in the Tier 2), but we lost on a draw to the button, so we could have been 2-2," Carruthers said. "We had a close game with Koe, too, and obviously, they're a very good team.
"Sometimes the numbers, the wins and losses, don’t exactly showcase how you’re playing because we played against good teams. I would say we’re playing pretty darn solid."
Carruthers earned his second win with an 8-4 victory over Marco Hösli's Swiss squad in Draw 9.
"We’ve had three absolute burner games so far, so it feels good to be 2-1," Carruthers said. "That was a really good game, actually, with Hösli. They put lots of pressure on us. We got the deuce in the first end and just kind of slowly kept that control of the game, but they made it really interesting."
The team has different goals this season after backing out of its Olympic pre-trials spot. While Carruthers will continue to pursue his Olympic dream as coach of Team Einarson, he's also keen on returning to the Brier following a solid run late last season with the addition of Neufeld.
"For our team, we’re focusing on having a solid season, trying to play as much as we can based on a busy schedule with both teams going, but obviously, we’re gearing up to try to get to the Brier," said Carruthers, who finished fourth in the Brier last season. "This may or may not be my last year. We’re trying to get back to the Brier and give her one more run because even after two bonspiels with B.J. last year and playing the Brier, it felt really good. We want to see what we can do together again."
PLAYOFF PICTURE TAKING SHAPE
Matt Dunstone and his Canadian club continue to cruise in the CO-OP Tour Challenge.
The recently crowned AMJ Masters champions clinched a playoff spot with a 3-0 record following a 6-3 win over Sweden's Team Edin in Draw 11.
"Mission accomplished," Dunstone said. "Our draw to the button is very far from good, so we had to have this one today.
"It feels good. We’re in the playoffs. We’ve got one more game tomorrow night and then just see what we can do come Saturday once again."
Three teams locked up playoff berths earlier during Draw 10 after improving to 3-0.
Scotland's Team Mouat booked a spot on the men's side following a 9-4 win over Team Dropkin of the United States.
Team Epping locked down a place after defeating Team Koe 6-5 in a clash of Canadian clubs.
On the women's side, Italy's Team Constantini, Switzerland's Team Tirinzoni and Sweden's Team Hasselborg are guaranteed spots in the quarterfinals.
EARLY SHOT OF THE DAY CONTENDER
The day is still young, but early bird Xenia Schwaller pulled off a clutch shot on her last against Eun-ji Gim in Draw 9.
Schwaller's shooter avoided the guards, with sweeper Selina Gafner holding the line, and tapped her other stone to the button to score the winning point.
THURSDAY'S RESULTS
Watch every game live online at rockchannel.com.
Draw 9
• Carruthers 8, Hösli 4
• Waddell 8, Muskatewitz 5
• X. Schwaller 5, Gim 4
• Black 7, Ha 5
Draw 10
• McEwen 7, Kleiter 4
• Mouat 9, Dropkin 4
• Constantini 7, Kim 4
• Tirinzoni 7, Tabata 3
Draw 11
• Dunstone 6, Edin 3
• Retornaz 5, Whyte 3
• Lawes 8, Yoshimura 7 (shootout)
• Einarson 8, Skrlik 3
Draw 12
• Y. Schwaller 7, Gushue 4
• Epping 6, Koe 5
• Homan 6, Wranå 5
• Hasselborg 6, Fujisawa 4
UP NEXT
Round-robin play wraps up Friday, beginning with Draw 13 at 8:30 a.m. local time (10:30 a.m. ET).
Tickets are available at the box office and online at GSOCtickets.com.
Broadcast coverage in Canada on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ resumes with Draw 14 at 2 p.m. ET / Noon MT.
