Saskatchewan improves to 5-1 with win over Northwest Territories

Saskatchewan is one step closer to clinching top spot in Pool B at the Montana’s Brier at the Brandt Centre.

With a 10-2 win over Jamie Koe’s Northwest Territories rink and Prince Edward Island’s Tyler Smith’s 11-3 loss to Canada’s Brad Gushue, Saskatchewan can clinch first place with a win over Nunavut’s Shane Latimer on Wednesday night.

“It was a good game. We had a plan early to try and come out and throw a few hits in the first few ends,” said Saskatchewan third Colton Flasch. “The ice is a little bit tricky in the first couple ends this week — a little bit heavier.”

Saskatchewan skip Mike McEwen expects a good game against Nunavut when the two meet. It will also be a meeting between two former teammates — McEwen and Nunavut third Sheldon Wettig played university worlds together in 2003.

Latimer defeated Nova Scotia’s Matthew Manuel 7-5 on Wednesday morning for the territory’s second-ever victory at the tournament.

“He said he was going to give me a game tonight. He’s coming for me. We’re taking nothing for granted. We’re going to try and put (together) a really good performance and expect them to play as well as they are right now,” McEwen said.

Saskatchewan clinched a playoff spot due to Nunavut’s win over Nova Scotia and holding the head-to-head tiebreakers over Gushue, Alberta’s Aaron Sluchinski, Koe and Smith.

In the other game of the morning draw, Sluchinski defeated Quebec’s Julien Tremblay 10-8.

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McEwen and Saskatchewan had a chance to get off to a good start in the second end against Koe after blanking the first. With hammer, McEwen had a takeout for two, but his rock rolled too far and Saskatchewan only scored a single.

Koe drew for one in the third.

In the fourth end, Saskatchewan was able to pull away. McEwen’s last rock got by a high guard for a takeout, allowing the team in green to score three points.

Koe had a hit-and-roll for one in the fifth. But then in the sixth, Saskatchewan scored a deuce with an open takeout.

In the seventh, Koe tried for a double takeout but his shot went by the rock, allowing Saskatchewan to score two.

Saskatchewan stole two in the eighth and that ended the game.

With a couple of big wins in a row following a loss to Nova Scotia, Flasch believes the team is heading in the right direction.

“I feel like we have a really good handle on the ice right now, all of us. I feel like we are playing as good as anyone out here,” Flasch said.

McEwen, Flasch, second Kevin Marsh and lead Dan Marsh are trying to become the first Saskatchewan team to win the Canadian men’s curling championship since Rick Folk in 1980.

Prior to the game, Saskatchewan got a chance to meet Ernie Richardson, the Saskatchewan skip who won four Canadian and world championships (1959-60, ’62-63).

“It was really neat to meet somebody who is still so passionate about curling and, man, is he so sharp,” McEwen said of the 92-year-old Richardson.

“I think I’m seeing just how deep curling runs in this province. I think we’re feeling it from the fans out there. It’s just so much broad support — I think I expected that to some degree but it has exceeded expectations.

“I wasn’t sure how they would embrace a Manitoban and they’ve been amazing. I haven’t felt this good. I’ve played some home Briers but this one feels really good.”