WEEK # 9 to 11 UPDATE – TEAM HARDLINE CONTINUES TO WIN

It’s been an interesting last couple of weeks in the curling world.  We thank you all for your emails, tweets, phone calls and texts of support for Hardline and the icePad.  It is very much appreciated!  We’re hoping cooler heads will prevail, and a decision will be made shortly.

But for now, let’s get back to some great results for Team Hardline!

Week # 9

The big event in men’s play was in Portage MB for the Canad Inns Curling Classic.  It featured several Hardline teams in action, including Steve Laycock, Reid Carruthers, and Charley Thomas who all qualified for playoffs.  Mike McEwen, 2 time defending champion and 4 of the last 5 years surprised everyone by not qualifying for playoffs for the first time since joining Team Hardline.  Laycock defeated Carruthers in one quarterfinal, while Thomas defeated Morozumi of Japan to also reach semis.  Laycock then beat Thomas in that semi final and went on to claim their first win with Hardline defeating Kevin Koe in the finals!  Congrats Team Steve Laycock!

(Matt Hermiz/TheGraphic/Postmedia Network)

In Kamloops, Team Dean Joanisse continued their great play reaching the finals of the Hub International Crown of Curling, defeating Kim of South Korea, and Jim Cotter to get there.  In the finals, they lost to Sean Geall by a close 5-4 score! 

In women’s play, Team Allison Flaxey reached the finals of the Stroud Sleeman Cash Spiel.

Week # 10

Week # 10 action saw the top men’s teams playing in Gatineau QC, including one of the hottest teams this year Team Brad Gushue.  Surprisingly, many of the top favorites did not qualify for playoffs, including Edin, Simmons, and Murdoch.  Team Gushue ran the table going a perfect 7-0 to win their 4^th event of the season!  Congrats Team Gushue!

Team Gushue (Photo Challenge Chateau Cartier Facebook page)

In Red Deer AB, the Red Deer Curling Classic was played, and teams Dean Joanisse and Charley Thomas both reached the quarterfinals.

In Champery SUI, Team Peter De Cruz qualified for playoffs in the Champery Masters event, losing in the quarterfinals.

In women’s action, the Canad Inns Women’s Classic was played in Portage MB, and teams Kristy McDonald and Kerri Einarson reached the quarterfinals, and Tracy Fleury made it to the semi finals! Great playing by all!

In Red Deer AB at the Red Deer Classic, Kalynn Park reached the quarterfinals, while teams Chelsea Carey and Nadine Chyz both reached the semi finals!  A nice showing for our teams.

In Moncton NB, Team Theresa Breen were finalists of the Lady Monctonian Invitational.

Week # 11

Week # 11 had all eyes watching the GSOC Masters in Truro NS.  The top 15 men’s and women’s teams were placed in 3 groups of 5 for round robin play. 

In men’s play, defending champion Team Brad Gushue went 4-0 and secured their spot in the playoffs.  Team Mike McEwen went 3-1 and also secured their spot.  Team Reid Carruthers finished 2-2 and qualified direct to the quarter finals with a good shootout score.  Team Steve Laycock also finished 2-2, but had to play Glenn Howard in a tiebreaker, and defeated them to reach the quarterfinals.

In the quarterfinals, it was 2 Hardline battles, with Gushue playing Laycock, and McEwen playing Carruthers.  In the 4^th end of the Gushue v Laycock quarterfinal, Brad Gushue slipped and fell face first onto the ice, suffering a cut just above the eye.  It was a very scary situation and play on all 4 sheets came to a stop.  Thankfully, he was ok.  He was taken to hospital for stitches, while the rest of the team played 3 players.  Laycock continued his great play, and Gushue returned in the 7^th end, but in the end, Laycock won by a 5-2 score.   In the other Hardline battle, McEwen defeated Carruthers by a 7-4 score.

In the semi finals, Laycock faced a tough Jim Cotter team and went down to defeat by an 8-3 score.  In the other semi final, McEwen faced Kevin Koe, with McEwen scoring a big 3 in the 6^th end to take a 5-3 lead.  In the 7^th end, McEwen made two great shots to remove all of Koe’s rocks in the house, which led to a blank end.  In the 8^th, with time running short for both teams, Koe released his rock with 1 second left on their time clock, but missed his shot to score 2, and McEwen took home the victory.

In the finals, McEwen scored a big deuce in the 6^th end, and then forced Cotter to take one in the 7^th end.  In the 8^th end, McEwen calmly drew to the 4 foot against two counters, and took home the Masters trophy for their 3^rd win this year, and 6^th GSOC title of their career.

Photo Anil Mungal - GSOC

In women’s action, Silvana Tirinzoni and Kristy McDonald both finished with 3-1 round robin records and qualified for playoffs.  Tirinzoni faced Kerri Einarson in the quarterfinals, and it was an exciting high scoring game, but in the end, Einarson won by a 10-7 score.  McDonald faced hometown favorite Mary Anne Arsenault in another quarterfinal winning 5-2 to reach the semi finals.  In the semis, skip Kristy McDonald came down with the flu and was unable to play.  Kate Cameron assumed skip duties and the team played with 3 players against Team Homan.  They gave it a valiant effort, but Homan eventually won the game 8-5.  Congrats to all Team Hardline for their great play at The Masters.

In other men’s action, in Sarnia ON, Team John Shuster captured the Huron RepoGraphics Oil Heritage Classic, continuing their strong play!  In Medicine Hat AB, Hardline supporters Shaun Meachem won the Medicine Hat Charity Classic, Jason Jacobson reaching semis, and team Peter De Cruz made the quarterfinals.

In women’s action, Team Jacqueline Harrison captured the Gord Carroll Curling Classic for their 2^nd win of the season!  Well played ladies!   Team Allison Flaxey also qualified for playoffs, reaching the quarterfinals. 

Hardline WIN Count after Week # 11:  21

Brad Gushue – Stu Sells Oakville

Silvana Tirinzoni – GSOC Tour Challenge Tier 1

Kerri Einarson – GSOC Tour Challenge Tier 2

Jacqueline Harrison – OCT Oakville Fall Classic

Brad Gushue – AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic

Shaun Meachem – HDF Insurance Shootout

Dean Joanisse – Cloverdale Cashspiel

Mike McEwen - Point Optical Curling Classic

Allison Flaxey - KW Fall Curling Classic

Michelle Monford - Mother Club Curling Classic

Theresa Breen - Appleton Rum Cashspiel

Tyler Tardi - Anita Cochrane Memorial Junior Cash

Brad Gushue - Swiss Cup Basel

Mike McEwen - Stu Sells Toronto

Tyler Tardi - Abbotsford Junior Cashspiel

Steve Laycock – Canad Inns Men’s Classic

Brad Gushue – Challenge Chateau Cartier Gatineau

Mike McEwen – GSOC Masters

John Shuster – Huron ReproGraphics Oil Heritage Classic

Shaun Meachem – Medicine Hat Charity Classic

Jacqueline Harrison – Gord Carroll Curling Classic