(by Danny Lamoureux) Friday night’s semi final was action-packed with terrific shots and unusual scenarios but, much to the disappointment of the pro-Quebec crowd, Ontario’s Cory Heggestad edged Montreal’s Mike Fournier 9-8 in an extra end.
Fournier had the steal working in the extra frame, guarding a stone just off the button and Ontario peeling them off. Fournier’s first stone and attempt at the guard over-curled a few inches. Heggestad came around with the in-turn and tapped shot stone to the back twelve foot. Fournier tried to play a quiet weight tap back and roll but rolled too far to the back twelve to lie two. Heggestad comfortably made the winning draw to the eight foot to win 9-8 and earn his team a chance at the national mixed title.
Ontario’s Heggestad, Heather Graham, Greg Balsdon and Amy Mackay will face Brent MacDougall and his CFB Halifax crew of Christina Black, Kris Granchelli and Jane Snyder in the title game.
Saturday’s champion final is scheduled for 3:00pm AST at the TMR Curling Club.
Nova Scotia has won 7 national championships and the most of any province or territory since 1990. The latest was 2004 Brier champion Mark Dacey in 2010. Ontario has won only two national titles: Dave Van Dine of Ottawa in 1986 and John Epping of Oakville in 2006.
Real time results are available at www.curling.ca and live streaming can be found at www.canadianmixed.com.