Next games (All times Atlantic)
Page Playoff 3v4: Saturday @ 3:30pm
– Alberta vs Ontario
Semi-final: Saturday @ 8:30pm
– Newfoundland/Labrador vs [Winner of Playoff 3v4]
Bronze Medal: Sunday @ 3:30pm
– [Loser of Semi-final] vs [Loser of Page 3v4]
Final (Gold Medal Game): Sunday @ 8:30pm
– Manitoba vs [Winner of Semi-final]
(CCA) The trail has been long, arduous, tortuous and consistently uphill all the way.
Jeff Stoughton (Photo: Micheal Burns Photography)
The old champ from Manitoba hasn’t made it to the apex of the Tim Hortons Brier mountain since 1999 . . . but he’s been climbing back, ever-so determinedly, ever since . . . clawing and scratching over boulders and ice and other wintry obstacles of all shapes and sizes.
And now the payoff may be as close as Sunday night at the John Labatt Centre when 47-year-old Jeff Stoughton of Winnipeg plays in the championship final at 8:30 pm Atlantic, targeting a goal — his third national curling championship — that has seemed so far distant for so long.
“It’s just an unbelievably great feeling,” said Stoughton, moments after drawing his last stone of an extra end to the button for a 7-6 Page One-Two playoff conquest of Newfoundland ’s Brad Gushue and Co.
“Just unbelievable! The best feeling in the world. We did not want to play tomorrow. We get the day off, throw some rocks, have some fun, and we cannot wait to play Sunday night. It’s just awesome.
“It’s what I’ve been telling everybody from the start. We are only here for one thing — to win this Brier. And we’re in the final, just one more win. We don’t have to think about anything else now except playing for a gold medal.
“We’re not going to be able to sleep, eat, talk to anybody, it’s a long two days away. But we’re pretty loosy-goosy so we’ll probably be OK.”
Three teams remain in the race to play Stoughton on Sunday night. Alberta’s Kevin Martin and Ontario’s Glenn Howard face off his afternoon, the winner plays Gushue at 8:30 p.m. and that winner advances against Stoughton for all the marbles.