News National

OSHAWA, Ont. — Calgary’s Kevin Koe prevailed again over Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., 9-6 in a rematch of September’s Tour Challenge Tier 1 men’s final during Draw 7 of the National on Thursday afternoon at the General Motors Centre. 

Koe improved to a 2-1 record in pool play while Gushue is now at 1-1.

The heavyweight tilt opened with a bang as Gushue missed a double takeout allowing Koe to capitalize with a gentle hit and stick to count three in the first. Gushue tapped for a deuce in the second, but Koe matched in the third to retake the three-point advantage.

Koe fell into trouble in the fourth end and made a double takeout to limit the damage somewhat as Gushue drew to the four-foot circle to grab the equalizing three points and knot it up 5-5 heading into the break.

“It was pretty crazy,” said Brent Laing, who throws second stones for Koe. “We came out and made eight really good shots in the first end and they missed a couple and we got a three. The next end looked like we were giving a whole bunch back and they got two. Then we got two and then they should have got four but Kevin made a great double to hold them to three so it was a wild first four ends. Lots of good shots.” 

Gushue forced Koe to draw to the button for a single in five but gave up a deflating steal of three in six that all but iced the game when his draw came up light and well short of the house. The handshakes came out the following end after Gushue drew to the button for just a single in seven.

“Just each end one or two shots were missed badly and that set up the team with the hammer and then it settled down a little bit,” Laing explained. “Fortunately for us, Brad missed a draw that he never misses and that was kind of the end of the game.” 

Elsewhere in Draw 7 action, Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers also climbed to a 2-1 record scoring three in the fourth end during a 5-3 win over American John Shuster, who has been eliminated from playoff contention with a 0-3 record. 

Toronto’s John Epping (2-0) picked up a three-ender in the seventh to break a four-all tie and held on for a 7-5 victory over Masters winner Mike McEwen (1-1) of Winnipeg. 

Reigning world champion Niklas Edin of Sweden got one in the win column after making the draw for a single in the eighth end to edge Sven Michel of Switzerland 7-6. Both rinks hold 1-2 records and are still in the mix for now.

In the lone women’s division match, Ottawa’s Rachel Homan became the first to qualify for the playoffs after defeating Winnipeg’s Kerri Einarson 9-4 in six ends. Homan, fresh off of winning the Masters women’s title, counted three in the second, two in the fourth and four in the sixth to bring out handshakes. Einarson, the Tour Challenge Tier 2 winner, holds a 1-1 record.

The National is the third stop — and second major — on the 2015-16 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season. Previously a men’s invitational, the National expanded this year to include a women’s division for the first time. TV coverage continues at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sportsnet.