Lots to be decided before playoffs
SUMMERSIDE
Charley Thomas and his team of Mick Lizmore, Brandon Klassen and DJ Kidby, from Crestwood Curling Club in Edmonton put a lock on first place in Pool B of the Home Hardware Road to the Roar Olympic Pre-trials event at Eastlink Arena in Summerside Friday night with an 8-3 win over the Brendan Bottcher rink from the Community Sports Centre in Edmonton. Thomas opened up a 7-3 lead with a deuce in the seventh and sealed the deal with a steal in the eighth.
The Pool A games on the late draw were attention-getters, one between two of the biggest names in the game, Glenn Howard and John Morris, and the other featuring a Regina team skipped by Prince Edward Islander Adam Casey.
Morris forced the game to an extra end with a single in the tenth, but it was Howard who got the point in the extra end for a 4-3 win. Howard finished round-robin play with a perfect 6-0 record.
Getting the lowdown on his delivery is Winnipeg skip Jason Gunnlaugson. Gunnlaugson downed a Regina rink skipped by Islander Adam Casey Friday evening and advances to a tie-breaker. – Eric McCarthy
Casey was up against Winnipeg’s Jason Gunnlaugson. Gunnlaugson, who curled 98 per cent in the game, made it through with a 5-3 victory.
So, Thomas takes first based on his winning record. That much is certain. Curling Canada was still consulting around midnight Friday on the potential tie-breakers for “B” pool
For the “A” Pool, Morris gets second place, and Murphy and Gunnlaugson play for third Saturday at 7:30 a.m.