McEwen leading the way for Team Einarson at KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup
REGINA — Just when Dawn McEwen thought she was out, they pulled her back in.
The eight-time Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling title winner stepped back from the sport following last year’s KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup.
But when Kerri Einarson’s team needed a super spare to fill in for lead Briane Harris (maternity leave) in this year’s Grand Slam season finale, McEwen gladly accepted the call to come out of retirement.
“If I play one event a year that would be perfect whether it’s a bonspiel, mixed doubles or whatever it is,” McEwen said. “We’ll see. Maybe I’ll feel different next year.”
McEwen was the longtime lead for skip Jennifer Jones and also won an Olympic gold medal, two world championships and five Scotties Tournament of Hearts titles. The Winnipeg native clashed often against Gimli-based Team Einarson as Manitoba rivals but things are different this week.
“I’m having a great time with the girls,” McEwen said. “I’m just enjoying it and not taking anything for granted.”
McEwen added she’s also enjoying just getting to know the four-time reigning Canadian champions as a group.
“They welcomed me, they’re really easy to be around, so it’s been really fun,” McEwen said. “(It’s been) pretty light on the ice and allows you to be loose out there and make some shots. We’re just having fun, so it’s good. It’s a nice setting.”
Quick Links: Tickets | Scores/Standings | Draw Schedule | Broadcast Schedule
DRAW 5 ROUNDUP
Team Einarson improved to a 2-0 record with a 7-3 victory Wednesday afternoon over Vancouver’s Clancy Grandy (1-1).
Einarson broke a 2-2 tie by scoring another deuce in the fourth end then stole one in the fifth to establish a three-point hold.
Grandy was forced to just a single in the sixth and shook hands after Einarson added another pair of points in the seventh.
“Some key shots were made, Kerri made a couple of beauties that game,” said McEwen, who shot 91 per cent. “We’re just figuring the sheets out. There are different paths out there, so we’re just figuring that out, locking in on the speed and learning the ice game by game. Lots of sweeping so it’s good, and it’s good for me.”
Elsewhere, Tabitha Peterson of the United States beat Anna Hasselborg’s Swedish squad 9-5.
Peterson improved to a 1-1 record while Hasselborg is now at 0-2.
Team Peterson are playing as a trio minus third Cory Thiesse, who just captured gold in the world mixed doubles championship with Korey Dropkin.
Anna Hasselborg is away on maternity leave and third Sara McManus is now throwing last rocks. Second Agnes Knochenhauer, who is also expecting a baby, has moved up to third stones and is handling skip duties. Alternate Johanna Heldin is filling in at second.
In men’s play, Canada’s Brad Gushue scored three in the seventh to close out a 7-2 win over Italy’s Joël Retornaz and Scotland’s Bruce Mouat scored two sets of three-enders during an 8-2 victory against Canada’s Kelly Knapp.
Gushue and Mouat hold 2-0 records while Retornaz and Knapp both dropped to 0-2.
UP NEXT
Round-robin action continues at the Co-operators Centre with Draw 6 at 4 p.m. local time (6 p.m. ET).
Broadcast coverage begins Thursday at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT on Sportsnet, Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international).
NOTES
The KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup is the sixth and final event of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season featuring 12 men’s teams and 12 women’s teams who have won top tour titles to qualify. … Both divisions are split into two pools of six teams for round-robin play. The best six teams overall qualify for Saturday’s quarterfinals with the top two receiving byes to the semifinals. … The finals are scheduled for Sunday.
