With two notable exceptions, the opening day of the 2024 Viterra Manitoba Men’s Curling Championships went as might have been predicted.
On the first day of play in the 32-team double knockout preliminary round, the top eight seeds are drawn against seeds 25 to 32 while the middle sixteen teams play an opponent closer to their own status according to the draw seeding which is done exclusively by the other teams. The results of those first eight games are considered predictable while the other eight games are usually considered toss-ups.
Consequently, a first game loss by a top-eight seeded team is considered to be an upset and 2024’s first day saw two of them.
Jesse Janz, playing in his second Viterra championship got his first win with an 8-6 win over #8 seed Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge). The Baldur team scored three on the seventh end and broke open a 3-3 tie.
The #6 seed, Steve Irwin (Brandon), also lost his opening game. The Brandon team trailed 8-1 after 6 ends but scored three consecutive deuces against Greg Todoruk (Dauphin) to trail 8-7 coming home. The Brandon team as laying three when Todoruk threw a last stone draw through a port to touch the shot stone on the four foot circle and score one for a 9-7 win.
Dropping to the B-Side of the draw, Grassie faced Dean North (Carman) in a late draw elimination game. Grassie, who had stolen singles twice in the game, was tied 5-5 coming home without last rock and was able to post a third steal for a 6-5 win.
Also in an elimination game, Irwin trailed Greg Melnichuk (Granite) 3-1 at the mid-game break. Irwin led 5-4 playing the tenth and forced Melnichuk to draw for 1 facing two to tie. Irwin controlled the extra end. He had an open hit in the centre of the rings for a 7-5 win.
Results for the other top-8 seeded teams in their only games on opening day were.
# 1 Team Carruthers, Granite: 9-1 win over Brad Micholson, Deer Lodge
#2 Ryan Wiebe, Fort Rouge: 10-3 win over Grant Brown, Burntwood
#3 Braden Calvert, Fort Rouge: 10-5 win over Jeremy Sundell, Holland
#4 Jordon McDonald, Assiniboine Memorial: 9-2 win over Glen Toews, Dauphin
#5 Brett Walter, Assiniboine Memorial: 9-4 win over Travis Gregory, Hamiota
#7 Riley Smith, Charleswood: 8-5 win over Mark Lowdon, La Salle
With North and Melnichuk, the other late draw elimination game losers were Jeremy Sundell (Holland) and Grant Brown (Burntwood).
