Eight Ends: Team Koe on a roll at world championship
Canada’s Kevin Koe is cruising through the field at the world men’s curling championship in Basel, Switzerland.
Koe scored three in the eighth to close out a 7-2 victory Tuesday over Russia’s Alexey Tselousov and climb to a 7-0 record in the round robin.
Team Koe’s strong start at the worlds kicks off this week’s Eight Ends rundown:
1st End: Team Koe on a roll at world championship
Kevin Koe and his Calgary crew are the lone undefeated team at the worlds topping the leaderboard at 7-0.
The wins didn’t come easy at first needing an extra end to edge Denmark’s Rasmus Stjerne 11-8 Sunday, and they caught a lucky break stealing in an extra to beat John Shuster 10-9 after the American skip missed his final shot.
They’ve been in the zone ever since picking up wins over Scotland, Japan, Germany and Russia.
Four round-robin games remain for Canada with their final three thought to be the toughest stretch as they face Sweden’s Niklas Edin, Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud and Switzerland’s Sven Michel. Of those three Ulsrud is in fine form — and could be a playoff preview for Koe — while Edin and Michel have struggled.
2nd End: Sweden in a slump?
Niklas Edin and Team Sweden were also hot out of the gate starting 4-0 ala Canada. However, they have now dropped three straight and are tied for fifth place in the standings with Japan’s Yusuke Morozumi.
The reigning champs can’t afford any more losses with their title defence possibly in jeopardy.
3rd End: Peterman and Gallant win Canadian mixed doubles
Jocelyn Peterman has won her second national title in the span of a couple months.
The second for reigning Scotties Tournament of Hearts winners Team Chelsea Carey captured the Canadian mixed doubles curling championship with Brett Gallant, second for Team Brad Gushue.
Peterman and Gallant defeated Laura Crocker and Geoff Walker 12-8 for the title Sunday in Saskatoon.
The world mixed doubles curling championship runs April 16-23 in Karlstad, Sweden, conflicting with the Players’ Championship. So …
4th End: Kasner/Kalthoff to represent Canada
National bronze medallists Marliese Kasner and Dustin Kalthoff with head to Sweden as Team Canada for the world mixed doubles curling championship.
The Saskatchewan-based team finished with an overall 7-2 record falling to Crocker/Walker 10-6 in the semis. They earned the bronze medal after Ryan Fry and Emma Miskew defaulted due to an injury, according to Curling Canada.
The qualifying process for the 2018 Olympics in South Korea starts at the event. The results of the worlds in Sweden combined with next year’s worlds in Lethbridge, Alta., will determine the seven other countries competing at the Winter Games alongside the host nation.
Canada has never won the world mixed doubles title and has earned just one medal — bronze in 2009 — since the event began in 2008. The defending champion is Hungary with Sweden winning silver at the past four mixed doubles worlds.
5th End: Nova Scotia’s Jones takes Everest Canadian Seniors title
Colleen Jones was back on the podium Saturday.
The two-time world and six-time Canadian women’s champion captured the Everest Canadian Seniors championship for Nova Scotia with a 5-2 win over Saskatchewan’s Sherry Anderson in the final.
Ontario’s Bryan Cochrane won the senior men’s title defeating Manitoba’s Randy Neufeld 6-3.
6th End: Muirhead wins in Perth
Scotland’s Eve Muirhead defeated Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland 5-4 to claim the City of Perth Ladies International title Sunday in Perth, Scotland.
Team Muirhead posted a perfect 7-0 record in the event with super spare Mairi Milne filling in for Anna Sloan.
Happy team! #winners @PerthLadiesCCT pic.twitter.com/YD0AgdX7St
— Team Muirhead (@Team_Muirhead) April 3, 2016
Quarterfinalists Team Alina Paetz of Switzerland also called upon a sub with coach Mirjam Ott sparing for injured second Marisa Winkelhausen.
7th End: One week to the Players’ Championship
The Players’ Championship is just around the corner starting next Tuesday at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.
The full field has been confirmed and the draw schedule is out for the fourth major and sixth event of the 2015-16 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season. Tickets are available, visit thegrandslamofcurling.com/tickets for details.
8th End: Humpty’s Champions Cup also on the horizon
The curling season is winding down with the season finale Humpty’s Champions Cup set for April 26 to May 1 at the Sherwood Park Arena Sports Centre in Sherwood Park, Alta.
The Players’ Championship is the last qualifying event for entry with the field almost set.