Playoff Round Underway at Viterra Championship
A pair of World Junior champion skips faced off Friday night in Selkirk in the opening game of the 2022 Viterra Championship Playoff Round. The game between Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial), the 2015 world champion, and clubmate Jacques Gauthier, the 2020 world champion, saw Calvert score deuces each of the first four times he had last rock. The third of them, on the fifth end, gave Team Calvert a 6-5 lead as they went on to a 9-5 victory.
For Mike McEwen and his top seeded West St. Paul team, the score sheet shows all singles. It was the fourth one, a steal on the extra end, which gave the 2019 champions a 4-3 win over Corey Chambers (Fort Garry).
Jason Gunnlaugson’s Morris foursome gave up a pair of deuces to start their game against Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach). Team Lott never trailed in their 8-3 win over the 2020 champions.
In the fourth game, William Lyburn (Granite) never led in his game with Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) until Team Lyburn stole a pair coming home to win 7-6.
At 9:00AM Saturday in Selkirk, on the “A” side of the Playoff Round, Lyburn will play Lott and Calvert will play McEwen. Winners of these two games will move on to the Page Playoff format Championship. In the last chance “B” side games, Gunnlaugson will play Wiebe and Gauthier will play Chambers.
Following are the Friday results in the 2022 Viterra Championship.
PLAYOFF ROUND – First Games (New Double Knockout)
7:45PM: William Lyburn (Granite) 7-6 over Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge)
7:45PM: Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) 8-3 over Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris)
7:45PM: Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) 9-5 over Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial)
7:45PM: Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) vs Corey Chambers (Fort Garry)
“B” Side Qualifying Games (Winners advancing to the Friday evening playoff round – losers eliminated)
4:00PM: Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial) 7-2 over Justin Richter (Beausejour)
4:00PM: William Lyburn (Granite) 7-6 over Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial)
4:00PM: Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) 8-4 over JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial)
4:00PM: Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 6-3 over Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge)
“B” Side (Winners play on – Losers eliminated)
12:15PM: Justin Richter (Beausejour) 10-4 over Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge)
12:15PM: Corey Chambers (Fort Garry) 7-6 over Brett Walter (Assiniboine Memorial)
12:15PM: William Lyburn (Granite) 8-5 over Daniel Birchard (Pembina)
12:15PM: JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) 9-4 over Jack Hykaway (Pembina)
“A” Side Qualifying Games (Winners advancing to the Friday evening playoff round – losers to “B” Qualifying Games)
8:30AM: Colton Lott (Winnipeg Beach) 7-5 over Riley Smith (Assiniboine Memorial)
8:30AM: Ryan Wiebe (Fort Rouge) 5-4 over Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris)
8:30AM: Mike McEwen (West St. Paul) 4-2 over Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial)
8:30AM: Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) 7-1 over Jordon McDonald
