Ryan Loses Opener, Four Teams Eliminated
Manitoba Junior Men’s Champion JT Ryan and his Assiniboine Memorial team (Jacques Gauthier, Colin Kurz, Brendan Bilawka), coming off a finalist finish in the Canadian Juniors, lost their opener in the Viterra Men’s championship in Winkler Wednesday evening. The Ryan foursome led Kyle Foster (Arborg) 4-2 after six ends but gave up four points over the final four ends to lose the game 6-4.
Meanwhile, the first four teams including former world junior champion Braden Calvert were eliminated from the Viterra championship as they lost their second game on opening day in Winkler.
Calvert and his Deer Lodge team never got untracked, losing 10-3 to Graham Freeman (Virden) on the late draw after dropping an early 9-2 decision.
Joining Calvert on the sidelines are Travis Graham (Burntwood), who lost 8-2 to Kelly Marnoch (Carberry); Rob Fisher (Dauphin), who lost 12-4 to Riley Smith (Fort Rouge); and Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge), who lost 8-5 to Cale Dunbar (Riverview).
The 2018 Viterra Championship continues at Winkler’s Centennial Arena Thursday at 8:30AM with three “A” side games and a pair of “B” side games.
