(by Jonathan Brazeau)
SUMMERSIDE P.E.I. — Glenn Howard’s season came to an end at the Players’ Championship on Friday afternoon.
The Penetanguishene, Ont., rink fell 8-6 to Kevin Koe’s team after Howard missed on his final shot during Draw 11 at the Grand Slam of Curling event.
It was also the final match for the current Howard lineup. Second Brent Laing heads west to join Koe’s new team in the fall and third Wayne Middaugh will not return. Howard added Jon Mead and Richard Hart, who will come out of retirement to rejoin Howard. Craig Savill returns at lead.
Koe trailed 6-5 after six but scored a deuce in the seventh to pull ahead and sealed the victory with the steal of one in the eighth.
Elsewhere, Brad Gushue scored four in the fourth end during an 8-4 win over Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock. Gushue, from St. John’s, N.L., was the clear fan favourite in the tournament.
Edmonton’s Kevin Martin held on to beat Scotland’s David Murdoch 5-3. Martin broke a 2-2 tie with a steal of two in the fifth.
In women’s action, Saskatoon’s Stefanie Lawton defeated Calgary’s Crystal Webster 5-3. Lawton will face Ottawa’s Rachel Homan in the quarterfinals.
Julie Hastings, from Thornhill, Ont., iced Valerie Sweeting 6-5 with a single in the extra end.