News Masters

TRURO, N.S. — Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen captured his sixth career Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling title with a 5-3 victory over Jim Cotter of Vernon, B.C., in the Masters men’s final Sunday at Rath Eastlink Community Centre.

McEwen led by one with the hammer coming home and made a sharp open draw to the four-foot circle for shot rock while facing two counters to ice the game.

The team of McEwen, third B.J. Neufeld, second Matt Wozniak, lead Denni Neufeld have earned all six titles together — claiming their first at the Masters in 2010 when the event was known as the World Cup of Curling — and collected $24,500 CAD.

“To get one of these early in the season, it feels really good,” McEwen said. “You definitely can’t count on winning a Grand Slam any given year with the quality of teams we play against in these events. Any time you can get one early, you take it. It feels really good.” 

McEwen’s wife Dawn returned to action this week from maternity leave, rejoining reigning Olympic and Canadian champions Team Jennifer Jones after missing the season-opening Tour Challenge. Both Dawn and baby Vienna were among the spectators during the final and McEwen said it was an amazing feeling having them on hand. 

“To see Dawn even out here playing already at a high level, she’s a trooper,” he said. “I wasn’t sure she was going to be ready to play this week. It’s a full family affair, grandma and daughter will be following around the countryside most of the season. It definitely keeps things into perspective. If you have a really hard day, a smiling baby makes you feel pretty good.”

Cotter opened with hammer and was forced to draw to the button for a single in the first while facing a pair of counters in the four-foot circle. McEwen fired his final rock in the second through the port to hit and stick to tie it and stole one in the third to take a 2-1 lead after Cotter whiffed his runback attempt to blank. Cotter held shot stone prior to his last in the fourth and needed a piece of the button for two but his shooter rolled heavy and he took just one to tie it.

McEwen blanked the fifth and grabbed the lead for good in the sixth with a soft tap to score a deuce. Cotter was forced to hit and stick for a single in seven as McEwen, who threw an outstanding 99 percent, continued to make key shots to hold on. 

“To get them at the right time that’s what you need to do at this level,” B.J. Neufeld said. “If you don’t it’s awfully hard. Every game comes down to maybe two misses. You have to be right on point and to win those games you’ve got to make some big shots at the right time otherwise you’ll be at the other end.” 

Cotter, third Ryan Kuhn, second Tyrel Griffith, and lead Rick Sawatsky won the Tour Challenge Tier 2 event in September to earn a berth at the Masters and took home $15,500. 

McEwen has now earned a spot in the season-ending Champions Cup, running April 26 to May 1, 2016, in Sherwood Park, Alta., and featuring the top winners of the curling year.

“That’s awesome, I’m very excited to play,” McEwen said. “I have no idea what it’s going to feel like playing in something May 1st, give or take a day or two there, but I’m really looking forward to that type of event. It’s such a unique setup. I’m happy to be in there.” 

Next up on the 2015-16 Pinty’s GSOC schedule is the National, running Nov. 10-15 at the General Motors Centre in Oshawa, Ont. Not only is McEwen the defending National champion, he also won the previous Grand Slam event held at the General Motors Centre: the 2010-11 Canadian Open.

“That was probably the most thrilling Grand Slam win of our career. I remember it pretty vividly,” McEwen said. “We were playing Team Howard and Glenn made a crazy shot to force me to have to follow him, basically, and through a tiny port to win. The crowds were great. We were actually holding up the TV from switching to the NHL All-Star broadcast. It was probably one of our most exhilarating wins in an extra end so I remember it pretty clear.”