The clash of Canadian curling titans was everything it promised to be and unfortunately for Alberta’s Kevin Martin, just a tad less.

Team Alberta (Photo: Michael Burns Photography)

That would be Martin’s last stone without hammer in the tenth, which cut too much wracking up front and handing Howard a ticket to tonight’s semi-final against Newfoundland/Labrador’s Brad Gushue.

The winner of that contest will play Manitoba’s Jeff Stoughton in Sunday night’s final. The loser of the game will face Martin in Sunday’s bronze medal affair.

“That was a great game, big steal in nine, but he had us up against the wall in 10,” said Martin.

“Even if I make the last one though, he still has to really miss, I thought he’d make that shot anyway.”

The teams swapped singles in one and two, blanked in three, Martin took one with a force in four, Howard scored his deuce in five. Two blanks later, Martin scored one with, stole one without, setting up the big tenth.

“Glenn and I have been tied so many tied in the last ten years,” said Martin

“It was a good game, unfortunate… hate to lose, but that’s the way it goes,” said Martin.

It was the first win for Howard in seven against then Old Bear at the Brier and was sweet for the skipper whose lead Craig Savill battled the flu and reportedly could not have played Friday should the crew made the one-two game.

Click for full story at the CCA website.

Here are post-draw interviews from the game, featuring Kevin Martin and Glenn Howard.
Click to view.