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B.C. teams still in mix at Canadian senior curling finals in Vernon

Final draw at 6 p.m. Friday to determine final four placings in both womenÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s and menÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s draws

The final draw will determine the final placings at the 2023 Everest Canadian Senior WomenÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s and MenÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Curling Championships Friday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m. at the Vernon Curling Club.

The top four womenÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s and top four menÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s rinks that will qualify for Saturday morningÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s semifinals will be confirmed, as will their placings.

Going into the draw Friday, thereÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s a logjam on the womenÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s side featuring six of the eight teams. SaskatchewanÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Nancy Martin (8-1) and OntarioÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Susan Froud (7-2) have clinched final four spots. Those two play each other, with the winner getting the No. 1 seed for the semifinals Saturday.

B.C.Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Diane Gushulak (6-3) and AlbertaÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Atina Ford Johnston (6-3) are in positions to clinch. But the remaining four teams Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥“ Northwest Territories, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Manitoba Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥“ are 5-4.

Gushulak will take on QuebecÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Chantal Osborne. Ford Johnston plays Nova ScotiaÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Andrea Saulnier. ManitobaÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Joelle Brown plays the Sharon Cormier rinkof the Northwest Territories.

Should teams be tied, tournament records will be used to determine the final two spots.

Gushulak fell to 6-3 Friday morning with an 8-5 loss to SaulnierÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Nova Scotia squad.

On the menÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s draw, SaskatchewanÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Bruce Korte rebounded from his first loss Thursday night, 7-5 to Dave Boehmer of Manitoba, to defeat Francois Roberge of Quebec 8-3 Friday morning.

The win lifted Korte to 8-1 and in position to clinch the No. 1 seed in the 6 p.m. draw with a win over Paul Flemming of Nova Scotia (7-2). A Flemming win and the Maritimes rink gets the top seed.

Flemming is tied with B.C.Ïã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Wes Craig of Duncan and Boehmer at 7-2 while New BrunswickÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s Mike Kennedy is alive at 6-3. Craig plays Kennedy Friday at 6 p.m.

Semifinals for both men and women go Saturday morning, Dec. 9, at 8:30 a.m. The first- and second-place team in each draw gets the hammer (last rock) to start the semis.

The menÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s championship and bronze-medal matches will be played at 12:30 p.m., followed by the womenÏã½¶ÊÓÆµÖ±²¥™s medal games at 3:30 p.m.

The two champions will represent Canada at the World Championships in 2024 in Sweden.



Roger Knox

About the Author: Roger Knox

I am a journalist with more than 30 years of experience in the industry. I started my career in radio and have spent the last 21 years working with Black Press Media.
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