The World Curling Tour stayed in Canada this past week with four events on the men's tour and three for the women.
Men's Tour
Canad Inns Men's Classic from Portage la Prairie, MB (Oct 16-19)
Purse: $60, 000
Saskatchewan’s Steve Laycock grabbed his first win of the season by beating Calgary’s Kevin Koe 8-5 in the final. The 32-year-old skip, vice Kirk Muyres, second Colton Flasch and lead Dallan Muyres went a perfect 7-0 over the four day event. They beat Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen, 8-6, in the round robin, Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers, 5-2, in the quarterfinals, Calgary’s Charley Thomas, 7-4, in the semifinals and finally Koe in the championship game. Team Laycock had lost two semis this season prior to the Canad Inns Men's Classic.
twitter embed
twitter embed
The field featured 32 rinks from across Canada and Europe. Notable names included Brendan Bottcher (lost to Koe in the quarters) Brad Jacobs (lost to Koe in the semis), Sweden’s Niklas Edin (4-3, failed to make playoffs), Mark Kean (3-3, failed to make playoffs), Glenn Howard (3-3, failed to make playoffs) and Mike McEwen (3-3, failed to make playoffs). Team McEwen were the defending champs at this event.
Hub International Crown of Curling from Kamloops, BC (Oct 16-19)
Purse: $26, 000
Sean Geall of New Westminster, BC won his first event of the season beating Dean Joanisse, also of New Westminster, 5-4 in the final. The foursome lost only once over the four day event.
The 16-rink field featured teams mostly from British Columbia. Jim Cotter, who played in the Brier last year, fell to Joanisse 5-6 in the semis.
Stroud Sleeman Cash Spiel from Stroud, ON (Oct 15-18)
Purse: $12, 380
Codey Maus and his foursome from Toronto won their second event of the season with a 9-6 victory over Denmark's Rasmus Stjerne in the final. The 20-rink field featured teams mostly from Ontario. Team Maus also won the Oakville OCT Fall Classic in September.
McKee Homes Fall Curling Classic from Airdrie, AB (Oct 16-18)
Purse: $9600
Aaron Sluchinski defended his title at the McKee Homes Fall Curling Classic with a 6-2 win over Calgary's Kevin Yablonski. The 16-rink field was comprised of teams mostly from the West coast.
Women's Tour
Hub International Crown of Curling from Kamloops, BC (Oct 16-19)
Purse: $26, 000
Un-Chi Gim of Korea went a perfect 5-0 and beat Japan’s Satsuki Fujisawa, 6-5, in the final. The 16-rink field featured teams from BC and Asia.
Atkins Curling Supplies Women's Classic from Winnipeg, MB (Oct 16-19)
Purse: $16, 000
Darcy Robertson beat Barb Spencer, 7-2, in the final for her first victory on the season. The 24-rink field featured teams mostly from Manitoba
Stroud Sleeman Cash Spiel from Stroud, ON (Oct 15-18)
Purse: $7425
Julie Tippin beat Allison Flaxey in the final, 7-2. The 32-year-old from Pointe Claire, QC went a perfect 6-0 over the week. The small 12-rink field featured teams all from Ontario.
Looking Ahead
Men's Tour
Oct 22-25: Challenge Chateau Cartier de Gatineau from Gatineau, QC
Defending Champion: Mike McEwen
Oct 22-25: Curling Masters Champery from Champery, Switzerland (CCT Event)
Defending Champion: Tom Brewster
Oct 23-26: Red Deer Curling Classic from Red Deer, AB
Defending Champion: Josh Heidt
Oct 23-25: Bernick's Miller Lite Open from Bemidji, Minnesota
Defending Champion: Korey Dropkin
Women's Tour
Oct 22-25: Canad Inns Women's Classic from Portage la Prairie, MB
Defending Champion: Jennifer Jones
Oct 23-26: Red Deer Curling Classic from Red Deer, AB
Defending Champion: Alina Patz
Oct 23-25: Lady Monctonian Invitational Spiel from Moncton, NB
Defending Champion: Kelly Backman
