Greg SkaugeSA国际影视传媒檚 streak as the best menSA国际影视传媒檚 curling rink in the NWT ends at one.
ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 because Jamie Koe regained the title on Sunday evening at the Yellowknife Curling Centre by beating Skauge in the final by a score of 7-3. It capped off a perfect event for Koe and his rink of Shadrach McLeod, Cole Parsons and Glen Kennedy as they won all eight of their contests.
It was a tight start in the final as both teams traded singles in the opening two ends before Skauge stole one in the third to take a 2-1 lead. Koe would score a deuce with the hammer in the fourth to go back out in front, 3-2, and stole another in the fifth to make it 4-2. After a blank in the sixth, Skauge would score a single with the hammer to cut the deficit to 4-3 but Koe would score two in the eighth to extend his lead to 6-3, followed by a steal of one in the ninth.
Koe would run Skauge out of rocks in the 10th to claim victory and punch his teamSA国际影视传媒檚 ticket to the Tim Hortons Brier in Lethbridge, Alta., next month.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was a tight first half of the game,SA国际影视传媒� said Koe about the final. SA国际影视传媒淲e weathered the storm in the early going but we got stronger as the game went on and we caught some breaks to put the game away.SA国际影视传媒�
It wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a complete walkover for Koe and company as they were pressed in more than one contest along the way, especially the first meeting between both he and Skauge on Friday morning. The final score was 10-5 in favour of Koe SA国际影视传媒� Koe literally stole his way to victory in that game SA国际影视传媒� but Skauge threw down the gauntlet early, putting up a four-spot in the opening end with the hammer.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou never want to give up four, especially to those guys,SA国际影视传媒� said Koe. SA国际影视传媒淲e just had a bad first end but 10 ends is a long game and we had a lot of time to battle back.SA国际影视传媒�
Four teams in total were in contention with Hay RiverSA国际影视传媒檚 DSA国际影视传媒檃rcy Delorey and InuvikSA国际影视传媒檚 Mason MacNeil also in the field with Koe and Skauge. The teams played a double round-robin with all four teams entering the Page playoff format. Koe and Skauge finished first and second respectively and played one quarter-final with the winner going right to the final, which Koe claimed. Skauge went to the semifinal to await the winner of Delorey and MacNeil, which went DeloreySA国际影视传媒檚 way, and Skauge would beat Delorey to get back to the final.
With the spot in Lethbridge clinched, Koe said the goal now is to try and find as much practice time as possible to get ready for the big show.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a quick turnaround for us so weSA国际影视传媒檙e making plans to see what we can get in terms of practice,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e have our plan in place and we know what worked for us so itSA国际影视传媒檚 all about working on our weaknesses. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be a mix of serious on and off-ice training.SA国际影视传媒�
Like in past years, there will be the chance of Koe vs. Koe at the Brier as Kevin Koe already qualified for Lethbridge by winning the Alberta Boston Pizza Cup last month and will represent Alberta. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 also the possibility of Glen Kennedy facing off against his brother, Marc Kennedy, who plays with Brad JacobsSA国际影视传媒� outfit from Northern Ontario. Jacobs won the Northern Ontario qualifier over the weekend over Sandy MacEwan in an extra end.
And with Alberta opening things up in terms of gatherings, that means families and fans will most likely be allowed in to watch for the first time in quite some time and Koe said thatSA国际影视传媒檚 something heSA国际影视传媒檚 looking forward to.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think youSA国际影视传媒檒l see a lot of fans in attendance and having our families there will be great,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淢y folks are making plans to be there but the players will still be cautious. WeSA国际影视传媒檒l still have testing to do because weSA国际影视传媒檙e still in a pandemic so safety is the big thing.SA国际影视传媒�
