(by Jason Simmonds)
SUMMERSIDE – The finals at the 2014 Players’ Championship are now set after three of the four semifinals required extra ends on Saturday night.
Kevin Martin put himself in position for a storybook ending to his distinguished career by calmly making a perfect draw through a port to get a piece of the button and four-foot to edge Mike McEwen 6-5 in one of four semifinals played at Eastlink Arena on Saturday night.
The 47-year-old Martin, who announced on Friday night that he is retiring after the Players’ Championship, set up a championship game against Brad Jacobs, who eliminated the Brad Gushue rink 6-4. Third stone Brett Gallant of Charlottetown and second stone Adam Casey are Gushue’s teammates.
On the other side of the ice, there was no lack of excitement as both women’s semifinals required an extra end.
Canadian champion Rachel Homan and Olympic gold-medallist Jennifer Jones will meet in a much-anticipated matchup to decide a winner on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Rachel Homan prepares for a shot during the semifinals of the 2014 Players’ Championship at Eastlink Arena on Saturday night. Homan edged Silvana Tirinzoni of Switzerland 4-3 in an extra end to advance to Sunday’s final against Jennifer Jones.
Jason Simmonds/Journal Pioneer
Homan has an opportunity to win a $100,000 bonus if she wins because it will give her a sweep of this season’s two women’s events on the Grand Slam of Curling. Homan won the Masters in November.