News Canadian Open

YORKTON, Sask. — Kevin Koe carried the momentum from his Canada Cup championship victory to win his first match of the Meridian Canadian Open during Draw 3 action Wednesday. 

Koe, who captured the Canada Cup this past Sunday, cruised to a 7-3 victory in six ends over reigning Brier champion Pat Simmons in an all-Calgary matchup.

Meridian, which also sponsored the Canada Cup, is a major supporter for Koe and the team didn’t want to disappoint. 

“That’s what we said to Meridian, ‘it could be expensive if we keep winning events that you sponsor because then you’re going to be sponsoring a lot of them,’” Team Koe third Marc Kennedy said with a smile. “We want to put on a good performance for our sponsors and so far so good. Just keep the momentum going from Grande Prairie.” 

After the teams alternated deuces in the first couple ends, Koe took two again in the third to go ahead for good and stole three in the fourth to cushion his lead. Simmons blanked the fifth and shook hands after only getting one in the sixth. 

It was a nearly full house in the Gallagher Centre with several groups of school kids packing the stands.

“It’s a big event for us and a good crowd for a Wednesday afternoon,” Kennedy said. “Sometimes after a big event like the Canada Cup you can have a bit of a lull but we’re still pretty excited to be here and we want to do well.” 

Koe advance to the next round of the A-side in the triple knockout while Team Simmons fell into the B-side. 

European Championships winner Niklas Edin of Sweden moved onto the next round of the A-side with a 9-4 victory over American John Shuster. Edin scored two in the first and stole three in the second for an early 5-0 lead. Shuster got back into it with a three-ender in the third, but Edin maintained control adding another deuce in four. Edin held Shuster to a single in five and iced the game with another pair of points in six. 

Scotland’s David Murdoch scored two in the sixth and stole singles in seven and eight to rally back and beat reigning Olympic champion Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., 6-4 in a rematch (but no repeat) of the 2014 Sochi Winter Games gold-medal match. 

Elsewhere, Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen earned a 6-4 win over Sven Michel of Switzerland and Toronto’s John Epping picked up a 4-2 victory against Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher.

NOTES: The Meridian Canadian Open is the fourth stop — and third major — of the 2015-16 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season and runs through to Sunday. … The event features a triple knockout where teams must win three games before they lose three in order to qualify for the playoffs. … Watch live coverage of the Meridian Canadian Open on Sportsnet starting Thursday at noon ET / 9 a.m. PT.