McEwen Qualifies for 6th Provincial Men's Final

For the sixth time in seven years Mike McEwen will play in the final of the Manitoba Men's Curling Championship.

McEwen, BJ Neufeld, Matt Wozniak and Denni Neufeld defeated Reid Carruthers 7-2 in the 1-2 page playoff game of the 2016 Viterra Championship Saturday night at the Selkirk Recreation Complex.

McEwen got the first deuce of the game in the fifth end and then stole two in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

“In Reid's defence he actually threw some really good stones and got absolutely nothing out of them,” McEwen said. “He had two picks that I can think of and the one missed line call - that was the first steal of two - a really hard shot. He was throwing well. Just somethings didn't go his way and we executed on top of that to put salt in the wound.”

McEwen has won six straight games and number seven Sunday afternoon will send his team to the Brier in Ottawa next month.

“Everything does feel lighter and feels like things are going our way too,” said McEwen. “We're playing really good but it does feel like things are going on the breaks and those kind of things and we're playing well. Even though we had a grind early in the week things have kind of been getting less grindy the last few games.”

It was a disappointing loss for Carruthers who beat McEwen in the 1-2 page playoff game last year in Brandon and then again in the final.

“We got to regroup and come out sharp tomorrow,” said Carruthers. “I'm not worried. I'm not nervous about playing anyone. I'll play Mike right now. I don't care. We've got to take a big, deep breath and realize we earned the right to have a second chance here.”

That second chance for Carruthers, Braeden Moskowy, Derek Samagalski and Colin Hodgson takes place Sunday against Canadian Junior Champion Matt Dunstone at 9 a.m.

Dunstone, Colton Lott, Kyle Doering and Rob Gordon outscored William Lyburn 8-7 in an extra end in the 3-4 page playoff game.