Saskatchewan’s McEwen will battle for Brier title after beating Alberta’s Bottcher in semifinal

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Team Saskatchewan has taken the long road, but now Mike McEwen and company have a chance at the 2024 Montana’s Brier title.

The Saskatchewan squad — featuring skip McEwen, third Colton Flasch, second Kevin Marsh and lead Daniel Marsh — beat Alberta’s Brendan Bottcher 7-3 in Sunday afternoon’s semifinal to earn a spot in Sunday night’s final at the Canadian men’s curling championship (6 p.m.) in Regina against two-time defending champion Brad Gushue and Team Canada.

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It’s the first time a team from Saskatchewan has made the Brier final since Brad Heidt and his Kerrobert squad made it to the title game in 1995 before losing to Manitoba’s Kerry Burtnyk. Saskatchewan’s last Brier win came in 1980 courtesy Rick Folk.

In the semifinal, while curling a remarkable 97 per cent as a team, Saskatchewan scored three points in the third end and again in the seventh end — leading to massive eruptions from the 4,854 spectators inside the Brandt Centre.

The win by Saskatchewan — also featuring coach Brent Laing and alternate Pat Simmons — on Sunday was their third straight must-win victory since losing to Bottcher and company on Friday night in the Page 1-2 qualifier. McEwen and company beat Jamie Koe’s Northwest Territories squad on Friday night to advance to Saturday’s Page 3-4 playoff game, where they beat Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone.

Now, Saskatchewan will be looking to make it four in a row as they get set to face Gushue and Canada, a team they beat 7-6 on Day 2 of the event in the Pool B round robin action.

The 43-year-old McEwen — who is skipping in Saskatchewan for the first time in his career as an import — has made the playoffs in eight of the last nine Briers but he’s still looking for his first championship. The Winnipeg product’s best finish came in 2017 when his Manitoba rink won bronze in St. John’s.

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But he will be going up against Gushue, the two-time defending champion who is already the winningest skip in Brier history with five titles.

Gushue and his team — also featuring third Mark Nichols, second E.J. Harnden and lead Geoff Walker — are also trying to become the second team to win three consecutive titles, matching Randy Ferbey’s record from 2001 to 2003.

As a province, Saskatchewan has won seven Briers, with Ernie Richardson (four: 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963), Garnet Campbell (one: 1955), Harvey Mazinke (one: 1973) and Folk (one: 1980) skipping championship teams.

The winner of this year’s Brier will represent Canada at the 2024 World Men’s Curling Championship, which is set to get underway March 30 in Switzerland.

First place at this year’s Brier will also take home $108,000 while second place will receive $60,000. Third place takes home $40,000.

The winners will also be back as Team Canada at next year’s Brier in Kelowna, B.C. with the winner there earning the right to wear the maple leaf in Moose Jaw at the 2025 world championship.

Game summary

Saskatchewan (McEwen) 7, Alberta (Bottcher) 3

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After blanks in the first two ends, Bottcher made a draw behind cover with his first in the third to sit shot rock. McEwen then made a double runback to spill the two Alberta stones out of the house to sit two himself.

Bottcher then made another draw behind cover, forcing McEwen to attempt a draw-weight takeout to score three. And the Brandt Centre erupted as the Saskatchewan skip made a perfect throw to take a 3-0 lead.

In the fourth, after a strong end by Saskatchewan, McEwen made back-to-back takeouts forcing Bottcher to draw for a single point to make it 3-1.

With Alberta sitting one in the fifth, Bottcher drew to the four foot to sit two, forcing McEwen to peel one of the Alberta rocks out, electing to give up a steal of one to make it 3-2 at the break.

In the tight matchup, both skips curled at 100 per cent through the first five ends.

Saskatchewan looked to be in scoring position in the sixth, but McEwen’s takeout was just off the mark with his first, eliminating a second Saskatchewan stone in the process. The miss resulted in Saskatchewan blanking the end.

After Bottcher was light on his first throw in the seventh, it left the door open for Saskatchewan to score two. With Saskatchewan sitting two, Bottcher made a freeze to sit shot rock with his last.

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McEwen then attempted a light takeout of that rock to score three and again, the Brandt Centre erupted when the skip made the shot to put Saskatchewan on top 6-2 after seven ends.

In the eighth with Saskatchewan sitting two, Bottcher was off the mark with his first leaving the door open for McEwen to put more pressure on Alberta. The Saskatchewan skip threw a guard with his last, forcing Bottcher to attempt a draw for one, which he made to make it 6-3.

With Alberta sitting one in the ninth, McEwen made a triple runback to score one, which led to handshakes as Saskatchewan secured the 7-3 victory and a spot in the final.

tshire@postmedia.com

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