News Canadian Open

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Defending champion Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., is heading into the Canadian Open playoffs on a four-game winning streak following a 7-5 victory Friday afternoon over Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud.

Howard ran the table 7-0 at the past two Grand Slam of Curling tournaments capturing the Players’ Championship in April to finish last season and sweeping the first-leg Masters just two weeks ago. An opening-round loss Tuesday to Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson snapped the undefeated streak, but Howard has been red-hot since in his quest to claim all four Grand Slams this season and earn the $1-million bonus.

Things went sideways for the 2010 Olympic silver medallist Ulsrud (1-3) in the fourth end. Tied 1-1, Ulsrud looked to a score three but wrecked his final shot, clipping his stones just enough to knock them off the button and give up a costly steal of four. Ulsrud managed to rally from the deficit with a deuce in the sixth followed by a steal of two in the seventh after Howard’s final shot clipped a counter in the four-foot circle and curled away. Howard recovered in the final frame to tack two points on the board.

Elsewhere, Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen stole two in the sixth and one in the seventh in a 9-6 victory over John Morris of Vernon, B.C., team. McEwen improved to a 2-2 record while Morris dropped to 1-3.

Three-enders were wild in the first half with field goals aplenty as McEwen scored three in the first followed by Morris matching in the second and stealing three in the third to take the lead. McEwen replied with yet another three-ender in the fourth to knot it back up heading into halftime.

Team Morris, with their skip at third and Jim Cotter throwing last rocks, struggled in the second half. Cotter’s final shot of the sixth end picked on a piece of debris on the ice and stopped short in the 12-foot circle to give up a steal of two and his last stone of the eighth sailed clear through the house to hand McEwen another point.

Switzerland’s Peter de Cruz (3-1) scored two in the final end to win 7-5 and hand Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton (3-1) his first loss of the tournament.

Toronto’s Mark Kean (3-1) broke a tie with a four-ender in the seventh for an 8-4 victory over Rob Rumfeldt (2-2) of Guelph, Ont.

Toronto’s John Epping (3-1) scored a three-ender in the second and deuces in the fourth and seventh for a 7-4 win against Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher (1-4).