Tour Roundup: Dunstone succesfully defends Sault Ste. Marie title
Winnipeg’s Team Matt Dunstone made it back-to-back championship wins in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Team Dunstone completed a successful title defence with a 7-5 victory over Team Marco Hösli of Switzerland in an extra end during Sunday’s final at the Henderson Metal Fall Classic.
Dunstone held the hammer in the extra and made a short angle raise hit to secure the win.
Team Dunstone went undefeated through the tournament posting a perfect 7-0 record.
Dunstone defeated Team John Epping of Sudbury, Ont., 6-5 in the quarterfinals and Italy’s Team Joël Retornaz 9-2 in the semifinals earlier Sunday.
It was another home win for Team Dunstone lead Ryan Harnden, who is from Sault Ste. Marie.
Hösli, who had also entered the final with an unblemished record, picked up a 7-2 win over Winnipeg’s Team Reid Carruthers in the quarterfinals and a 6-0 victory over Saskatoon’s Team Mike McEwen in the semifinals to advance.
The tournament was the first for Team Brad Gushue since the St. John’s, N.L., crew parted ways with second E.J. Harnden. Brendan Bottcher, who will join the team at second, was absent as he was competing in a mixed doubles tournament in Edmonton. Geoff Walker moved up to second with Adam Casey subbing at lead.
Gushue qualified for the playoffs through the C-side of the triple knockout stage and was eliminated with a 5-4 loss to McEwen in the quarterfinals.