Only two of the top five seeds in the 2020 Viterra Championship at the Eric Coy Arena remain undefeated after victories in their late Friday first playoff round games.
Top seed and defending champion Mike McEwen (West St Paul) posted a 10-7 win over Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial).
Fifth seed William Lyburn (Granite) led Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) 4-1 after eight ends but gave up a three on the ninth and a steal of one on the home end. Grassie won 5-4.
McEwen meets Grassie on the A-Side of the playoff draw while Lyburn and Gauthier will meet in an elimination game Saturday at 9AM.
Second seed Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) needed an extra end but didn’t have to throw his last shot in a 9-7 win over #3 Tanner Horgan (Winnipeg Beach).
In the fourth playoff game on the ice Friday night, Steve Irwin (Brandon) led 8-5 coming home but Ryan Wiebe (St Vital) manufactured a three to tie and force an extra end. Wiebe was unable to get the last shot roll under cover that he wanted and left Irwin a hit up centre for the 9-8 win.
Irwin will play Gunnlaugson on the A-Side of the playoff round draw while Horgan and Wiebe will play an elimination game – both games at 9AM Saturday.
The event’s 4th (Braden Calvert) 7th (JT Ryan) and 8th (Dennis Bohn) seeds, all from Assiniboine Memorial AND 6th seed Corey Chambers-Thistle were all eliminated on the 4pm B-Side qualifying draw.
FRIDAY RESULTS FOR THE TOP EIGHT SEEDS
1- Mike McEwen (West St Paul) 4W–0L
** 6-1 win over Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge) to qualify
** 10-7 win over Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial)
2- Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris) 4W-1L
** 8-2 loss to Ryan Wiebe (St Vital) in A-Side qualifier game
** 9-5 win over JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial)
** 9-7 win over Tanner Horgan (Winnipeg Beach)
3-Tanner Horgan (Winnipeg Beach) 3W–1L
** 7-3 win over Corey Chambers (Thistle) to qualify
** 9-7 loss to Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris)
4- Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) 2W-2L (OUT)
** 7-3 loss to #5 William Lyburn in A-Side qualifier game
** 5-4 loss to Jacques Gauthier (Assiniboine Memorial)
5- William Lyburn (Granite) 3W–1L
** 7-3 win over #4 Braden Calvert (Assiniboine Memorial) to qualify
** 5-4 loss to Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge)
6- Corey Chambers (Thistle) 2W-2L (OUT)
** 7-3 loss to Tanner Horgan (Winnipeg Beach) in A-Side qualifier game
** 7-4 loss to Steve Irwin (Brandon)
7- JT Ryan (Assiniboine Memorial) 3W-2L (OUT)
** 5-4 win over Brett Walter (Assiniboine Memorial)
** 9-5 loss to Jason Gunnlaugson (Morris)
8- Dennis Bohn (Assiniboine Memorial) 3W-2L (OUT)
** 6-4 win over Jordan Smith (Der Lodge)
** 9-7 loss to Sean Grassie (Deer Lodge)
