(Photo: CCA/Michael Burns Photography)
CALGARY, March 8, 2009 (CCA) — The ranks of the undefeated have been trimmed to just two teams following Draw 4 here at the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier Sunday afternoon.
Previously undefeated Jeff Stoughton of Manitoba was stunned 6-5 by Prince Edward Island’s Rod MacDonald in what would have to be considered the biggest upset of this event so far.
“This is going to be fairly big back home,” said MacDonald, whose team improved to 2-1 with the win — the same record Manitoba now has because of the loss.
Stoughton was matter of fact in defeat. “We came out pretty flat and we didn’t play very well, so you’re going to get bitten,” Stoughton said.
In other action on the afternoon draw, Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue cracked a five-ender in the seventh end en route to a 10-6 win over BC’s Sean Geall; Ontario’s Glenn Howard stole three in the very first end on his way to a 9-2 thumping of Northern Ontario’s Mike Jakubo; and NWT/Yukon’s Jamie Koe hung one on a former Brier champion, downing Nova Scotia’s Mark Dacey 8-4.
The only undefeated teams now remaining are the two pre-event favourites — Ontario’s Howard and Alberta’s Kevin Martin, both at 2-0.
Both those teams will be back out on the ice here this evening when Alberta takes on Saskatchewan’s Joel Jordison and Ontario plays BC. The two other games tonight will feature Quebec’s Jean-Michel Menard against New Brunswick’s Russ Howard and Northern Ontario against Newfoundland. TSN will televise the draw live at 9 pm Atlantic.