Koe, Dunstone and Mouat clinch playoff berths at Boost National
CHESTERMERE, Alta. — Calgary’s Team Kevin Koe, Regina’s Team Matt Dunstone, and Team Bruce Mouat from Scotland have punched their playoff tickets in the Boost National.
Team Koe defeated Switzerland’s Team Peter de Cruz 6-5, Dunstone downed Team Glenn Howard of Penetanguishene, Ont., 7-2, and Mouat moved on with a commanding 8-2 victory over compatriots Team Ross Whyte during Friday’s B-qualifiers at Chestermere Recreation Centre.
Koe, who is a National title away from completing a career Grand Slam, was ahead by two points with the hammer coming home in the eighth end. Team de Cruz didn’t make it easy sitting three counters, but Koe fired a double takeout with the last rock of the match to secure his team’s playoff berth.
Dunstone trailed 2-1 to Howard and jumped into the lead with a count of three in the fourth end then sprinted away stealing two in the fifth and one in the sixth.
Meanwhile, Mouat stole the game away from Whyte by breaking up a 2-all tie and pirating a pair of points in the third, one in the fourth and three in the fifth end for early handshakes.
Boost National: Live Scores and Standings | Draw Schedule | Broadcast Schedule
Howard, de Cruz and Whyte all have one last opportunity to advance through Saturday morning’s C-qualifiers at 8 a.m. MT.
Whyte plays Team Yannick Schwaller of Switzerland and de Cruz goes up against Winnipeg’s Team Mike McEwen.
Howard will take on Edmonton’s Team Brendan Bottcher, who eliminated Winnipeg’s Team Braden Calvert 5-4 in an extra end.
Schwaller ousted Winnipeg’s Team Jason Gunnlaugson 7-6 and McEwen bounced defending champions Team Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., 4-3 in an extra end during the morning draw.
UP NEXT
The triple knockout stage continues with the women’s C-qualifiers at 10 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. MT on Sportsnet East, Ontario, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international). The featured game is Ottawa’s Team Rachel Homan vs. Team Hollie Duncan of Woodstock, Ont.
TRIPLE KNOCKOUT EXPLAINED
The triple knockout consists of three brackets: A, B and C. Teams must win three games in order to qualify for the playoffs. Each loss drops a team to a lower bracket until they lose three games and are out of the tournament. Two A teams (3-0 records), three B teams (3-1 records) and three C teams (3-2 records) advance to the quarterfinals.
NO TICK ZONE
Teams cannot tick guards off of the centre line while the five-rock, free guard zone is in effect during the eighth and extra ends.
NOTES
The Boost National is the second of five events on the 2021-22 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling schedule and features 16 of the top men’s teams and 16 of the top women’s teams from around the world with a combined $300,000 prize purse. … The winning teams earning $33,000 plus spots in the season-ending KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup. … Triple knockout play runs through to Saturday morning. The quarterfinals and semifinals are also Saturday with both finals set for Sunday. … Tickets are available at boost.goigniter.com.
