Moose Jaw’s Pat Simmons and his Winnipeg Beach, Man. rink of third Colton Lott, second Kyle Doering and lead Tanner Lott took an 8-7 extra-end victory over Quebec’s Michael Fournier in their lone contest, picking up their first win at the event.
Things didn’t get off to the best of starts for the former Brier champion, as deuces n the first and third ends saw Fournier take a quick 4-1 lead. Simmons got right back into it with a three-spot of his own in the fourth, though, and after a steal the next end led 5-4 heading into the break.
Fournier tied things up in the sixth, and after Simmons picked up single points in the eighth and ninth, scored a deuce in the 10th to send things to extras. There, Simmons made no mistake, using the hammer to pick up his single and take the win.
The win vaulted Simmons (1-2) into fourth place in Pool A and puts him in contention for one of the three playoff spots going forward.
Simmons is back in action Thursday against Quebec’s Vincent Roberge (0-2) before finishing their round robin Friday against Edmonton’s Karsten Sturmay (1-1) and Calgary’s Jeremy Harty (0-2).
Penny Barker and her Moose Jaw Ford Curling Centre rink of third Christie Gamble, second Jenna Enge and lead Danielle Sicinski lost their opening match Wednesday to Yellowknife’s Kerry Galusha but rebounded with a 9-8 extra end win over Mississauga, Ont.’s Jestyn Murphy.
Against Galusha in the morning draw, Barker fell behind 3-0 early but got back within one by the fifth end. The teams exchanged single points the next two ends before Galusha took control of things with a deuce in the eighth. Barker got those points back the next frame to get back within one, but Galusha picked up a single in the final end for her two-point win.
Things were downright wacky against Murphy, who scored in the first two ends to take a 2-0 lead, only to see Barker score three in the third to go up by one. Single points the next two frames gave Murphy a 4-3 edge, and she looked to take control of things with a steal of four in the sixth to go ahead 8-3..
Barker wouldn’t go quietly, though, using the hammer to score her second three-ender and get back within two, and followed with steals in two of the next three ends to tie things 8-8 and send the game to extras. Barker finished things off with her third-straight stolen point to earn the win.
Like Simmons, the win throws Barker (2-2) right into the thick of things in the standings, as she could find herself in third place in Pool A and in a playoff spot depending on how things play out in Wednesday’s evening draw.
Barker returns to the ice Thursday against Kamloops’ Corryn Brown (3-1) before closing out the round robin against Thunder Bay’s Krista McCarville (3-0) Friday. Both rinks represented their provinces at the 2020 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Moose Jaw.
The top three teams from each pool advance to the playoffs, with the top two teams from the event advancing to the Roar of the Rings Olympic Curling Qualifier in Saskatoon Nov. 20-28.
