News National

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., advanced to the Syncrude National semifinals with a 7-3 win over Edmonton’s Kevin Martin during Saturday afternoon’s quarterfinals.

Howard curled an outstanding 98 percent to oust his longtime rival while third Wayne Middaugh posted a perfect 100 percent.

Winning the draw-to-the-button shootout proved to be key as Howard converted for a deuce in the first, forced Martin to one in the second, and added another two count in the third. A steal in the fourth made it a 5-1 advantage for Howard heading into the halftime break. Martin, who has won a record 17 Grand Slam titles, was forced to a single in the fifth and added a steal of one in the sixth, but shook hands early after Howard tacked on two more points in the seventh.

Howard, a winner of 13 Grand Slams as a skip, now faces Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock in the semifinals. Laycock ousted previously undefeated Mike McEwen of Winnipeg 5-2. Laycock scored three in the second, one in the fifth and added a single steal in the sixth. McEwen, who posted a perfect 5-0 record in pool play, was limited to singles in the first and third ends. The three-time Grand Slam champion McEwen blanked the seventh to retain the hammer coming home but ran out of rocks.

Switzerland’s Sven Michel, who also went 5-0 in the round-robin portion, kept his unbeaten streak intact scoring three in the seventh and stealing one in the eighth to eliminate Brier champion Kevin Koe of Calgary 9-6.

Michel will now meet Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L. Gushue scored three in the eighth to lift his team to a 7-5 win over Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson and avenge a humbling 8-1 defeat during pool play.