GRANDE PRAIRIE, ALTA., April 19, 2009 – Randy Ferbey (Edmonton, Alta.) secured the fourth and final direct berth into the 2009 Canadian Trials today after defeating defending champion Glenn Howard (Coldwater, Ont.) 10-7 in the finals of the Grey Power Players’ Championship, the season’s last 2008-09 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event. Held at the Crystal Centre in Grande Prairie, Alta., the six-day tournament concluded with a total attendance of 40,125.
With the score tied 7-7 in the eighth, Ferbey’s foursome secured their second career Players’ Championship title and a berth in the Trials, on the game’s final shot when fourth Dave Nedohin made a delicate open takeout for three points.
“Who would have thought it would come down to (that),” said Ferbey. ” After three years of trying to (get into) the Trials. Coming down to the last shot of the last game of the year to secure that. It was unbelievable.”
A loss by Ferbey in today’s final would have allowed Wayne Middaugh (Midland, Ont.) to grab the final direct Trials spot.
The Grey Power Players’ Championship represented the final opportunity for teams to earn points towards securing a direct berth into the Canadian Trials event or a spot into the Canadian Pre-Trials tournament.
Trailing Howard 2-1 after two ends, Team Ferbey broke open the game in the third after Nedohin executed a difficult double takeout to score four points.
“We just had one end that got away from us,” said Howard.
Howard stormed back in the next frame, making an open draw for three points to tie the game at 5-5 heading into the fourth end break.
Ferbey’s victory was his third career Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event title and his first since winning the 2006 Players’ Championship in Calgary, Alta. As tournament champions with a perfect record of 6-0, Ferbey won $25,000 (CDN) and earned 40.000 Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS) points.
Team Ferbey’s win at the Grey Power Players’ Championship also propelled the squad into second place in the Capital One Cup standings. By finishing second to Howard’s team in the inaugural points race, Ferbey’s foursome earned an additional $25,000 (CDN) bonus.
Howard clinched the Capital One Cup’s $50,000 (CDN) first place prize yesterday after defeating Mike McEwen (Winnipeg, Man.) in the tournament’s semi-finals. By finishing second at the Grey Power Players’ Championship with a record of 5-1, Howard’s squad took home an additional $16,000 (CDN) along with 30.000 CTRS points.
Canadian champion Kevin Martin (Edmonton, Alta.) finished third in the Capital One Cup standings, earning a $10,000 (CDN) bonus.
Held annually since 2001-02, the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is a series of eight premier men’s and women’s events that boast Canada’s deepest and strongest curling fields.
The Capital One Grand Slam of Curling was one of a select few events that are tied to the Canadian Curling Association’s qualifying process for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Through their performance in the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events, rinks could earn points towards securing a berth at the 2009 Canadian Trials or the 2009 Canadian Pre-Trials event.