News Masters

NORTH BAY, Ont. — Thievery was the name of the game Wednesday night in the Masters at Memorial Gardens with steals playing a factor across the sheets.

Team Robyn Silvernagle and Team Brad Gushue, in particular, pirated their way into the win column for the first time stealing singles throughout the final four ends of their games to bring their records level to 1-1.

Silvernagle, from North Battleford, Sask., swiped a 7-4 victory from Team Kerri Einarson, of Gimli, Man.

“It always feels good to get a win, get your feet under you and play well,” Silvernagle said.

Gushue, from St. John’s, N.L., pocketed a 6-2 win from Sweden’s Team Niklas Edin.

“We knew it was pretty important, we didn’t want to get down 0-2 to start,” Team Gushue second Brett Gallant said. “We still have two really tough games left.

“It was good. We started trusting the curl on the ice today better and started making a few more shots. We got a few breaks in the second half to get a couple steals.”

Einarson, who won the Players’ Championship last season, appeared to be in control leading 4-3 at the break after making an open hit to score three points in the third end and forcing Silvernagle to hit for a single in the fourth while facing five counters.

The Saskatchewan provincial champion Silvernagle rallied by making Einarson throw risky shots that didn’t pay off. During the pivotal sixth end with the game tied, Einarson had to hit off one of her own from the side and roll in but missed the shot rock in the centre and handed over the lead to Silvernagle.

“The steals were timely, I guess you could say,” Silvernagle said. “Giving up a three-ball early, the game’s never over and just keep plugging away and get steals.”

Tied 2-2 after four and without the hammer, Gushue also forced his opponent into making desperation manoeuvres.

“We strung eight shots together and just got a couple misses out of them and made him take on a few tough shots,” Gallant said. “He doesn’t miss a lot of them so we got a little fortunate but it’s always good to get the lead and hold on.”

Einarson also now holds a 1-1 record while the double defending world champion Edin fell to 0-2.

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Silvernagle and her teammates are playing with heavy hearts following the news Saskatchewan curler Aly Jenkins passed away Sunday at the age of 30 due to complications while giving birth to her third child.

Jenkins, who most recently played for skip Sherry Anderson, is in the thoughts of Team Silvernagle this week.

“It’s definitely a very, very sad situation,” Silvernagle said. “We played against Aly, we beat them in the final last year when she played with Sherry. It’s devastating, having a couple of mums on the team, you just never know when things like that are going to happen.

“It’s just unpredictable and it’s really sad. I think we’re all carrying a little piece of Aly with us and we’re playing for her.”

A GoFundMe page that was set up to help the family has already raised $120,920 showing how close the curling community is, especially in Saskatchewan.

“It’s definitely a very tight community and we’re very supportive in any time of need or not, just all the time,” Silvernagle said. “It really shows how you can come together.”

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Elsewhere in Draw 5, Regina’s Team Matt Dunstone moved up to the top of the pool at 2-0 following a 7-2 victory over Edmonton’s Team Brendan Bottcher in only five ends. No surprise, steals played a factor here, too, as Dunstone pilfered four points in the third and one more in the fourth. Bottcher is now even with a 1-1 record.

Team Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland stole singles in the seventh, eighth and extra ends to clip Team Casey Scheidegger of Lethbridge, Alta., 6-5.

The reigning world champion Tirinzoni improved to a 2-0 record with both victories coming in overtime.

Regina’s Amber Holland is subbing at skip for Scheidegger, who is expecting her second child soon. Team Scheidegger went level on the day at 1-1.

Japan’s Team Satsuki Fujisawa (1-1) scored a 7-4 win over Winnipeg’s Team Theresa Cannon (0-2).

The Masters action resumes Thursday at 8 a.m. ET with broadcast coverage beginning at Noon ET on Sportsnet and streaming online at Sportsnet NOW (Canada) and Yare (international).

NOTES: The Masters is the first of six Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling events on the season and one of four majors in the series. … The total prize purse is $300,000 and is split evenly between the men’s and women’s divisions. Winners receive $35,000 plus berths towards the season-ending Humpty’s Champions Cup taking place April 29 to May 3, 2020, in Olds, Alta. … Also up for grabs at the Masters are Pinty’s Cup bonus points. The leaders following the conclusion of the Players’ Championship in April will capture the Pinty’s Cup with additional prize money awarded.