The Great Western Original 16 Cash League returned to action for the 2021-22 season on Wednesday night at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre, and there were plenty of familiar names finding the win column right off the hop.
Leading the way was perennial league contender and championship finalist from last season Matt Froehlich, who battled to a 5-3 victory over league ‘newcomer’ Rod Montgomery. The two teams exchanged deuces the first two ends before Montgomery took a 3-2 lead in the third. Froehlich blanked the fourth and put up a three-spot in the fifth, and the two teams decided to shake hands.
Montgomery is the two-time former Tankard provincial men’s champion, having won the title in 1996 and 1998.
EMJ Marketing (Joe Gunnis) also picked up a win on opening night, and they wasted little time getting going against ProTec Studios (Tyler Krupski) -- a single in the first end, three in the second and one in the third gave Gunnis a quick 5-0 lead. Krupski battled back with three in the fourth and another in the fifth to get back within one, but after the two teams exchanged deuces the next two ends, Gunnis would use the hammer to put up a single in the eighth and take the 8-6 win.
KMS Construction (Ben Gamble) also took the ice against a debuting rink in Barry Silk and needed a late-game rally to secure his win. Silk built a 4-1 lead through four ends, but a deuce in the fifth, single in the sixth and another steal of two in the seventh would give Gamble a 6-4 win.
John’s Music (Ryan Wenarchuk) had the most comfortable win on the evening, using a second-end five-ender to pace his way to an 11-3 victory over Pro-Tec Electric (Stan Barnsley). Wenarchuk had a 7-0 lead through three ends thanks to his fast start and tacked on four in the fifth for an 11-1 edge. Barnsley got two back in the sixth and the teams called it a night.
BTN Chartered Accountants (Penny Barker) took a default win over RK Sunview Farms (Dayne Heisler) and Paws ‘N’ Play (Jaedon Miller) also took a victory by default over Kal Tire (Dustin Woloschuk).
Great Western Original 16 Cash League action continues every Wednesday night at the Moose Jaw Curling Centre.
