News National

Mike McEwen can instantly recall the dramatic final moments of the 2010-11 Canadian Open held at the General Motors Centre in Oshawa, Ont.

The Winnipeg skip told the adventurous finish to reporters Sunday shortly after winning the Masters in Truro, N.S., the fifth major and sixth career Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling championship for the team.

McEwen was in the midst of a banner year on tour in 2010-11 — having captured his first Grand Slam title earlier that season at the World Cup of Curling (now known as the Masters) — and was looking to win No. 2 when he faced Glenn Howard in the Canadian Open final that went into an extra end.

“That was probably the most thrilling Grand Slam win of our career,” McEwen said. “I remember it pretty vividly. We were playing Team Howard and Glenn made a crazy shot to force me to have to follow him, basically, through a tiny port to win. The crowds were great.”

“We were actually holding up the TV from switching to the NHL All-Star Game broadcast,” he added with a smile. “It was probably one of our most exhilarating wins in an extra end so I remember it pretty clear.”

Team McEwen now shift their attention to the National, starting Tuesday at the General Motors Centre. McEwen is the odds-on favourite thanks to a triple threat combo being fresh off of capturing the Masters, winner of the previous Grand Slam held at the venue as well as the defending champion of the event.

McEwen defeated Brad Jacobs in last year’s National final in the reigning Olympic champion’s hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

“We’ll have a good vibe going in there,” Team McEwen third B.J. Neufeld said. “Another big event. It’ll be a great field and we’ll just go home and get some reps and a little bit of practice and be ready to go for Oshawa.”

The National had been a men’s invitational since the inaugural Grand Slam of Curling season of 2001-02, but has now expanded to include a women’s field starting this season.

This means it’ll be another family affair with Mike’s wife Dawn McEwen, who throws lead stones for the reigning Olympic and Scotties champions Team Jennifer Jones, also competing at the National. Dawn returned to the Pinty’s GSOC series at the Masters after giving birth to daughter Vienna over the summer and missing the season-opening Tour Challenge.

Considering Vienna was in attendance at the Masters, could she be the good-luck charm for Team McEwen?

“Well, she’s coming to Oshawa so we’ll see what happens,” McEwen said with a laugh.

The National is the third event and second major on the coast-to-coast 2015-16 Pinty’s GSOC tour. A new incentive for this year’s National winners is they will earn berths to the season-ending Champions Cup, running April 26 to May 1, 2016, in Sherwood Park, Alta. The all-new event features all of the top winners over the course of the curling season from Grand Slam champions to Brier and Scotties winners to the world junior champions.

Team McEwen will not have to worry about missing out on the Champions Cup as they’ve already booked their spots as winners of the Masters.

Neufeld expressed how key it was for them to lock up a spot early in the season.

“It’s going to be a little bit different event but it’s going to be a great one,” he said. “We definitely wanted to be there badly so we’re excited to have our ticket.”

McEwen added: “I have no idea what it’s going to feel like playing in something May 1st, give or take a day or two there, but I’m really looking forward to that type of event. It’s such a unique setup. I’m happy to be in there.”