McEwen rink earns bronze at Brier

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. • Manitoba’s Mike McEwen defeated Northern Ontario’s Brad Jacobs 7-5 in extra ends to win bronze at the Tim Hortons Brier on Sunday at Mile One Centre.

McEwen used his final throw to hit the Northern Ontario stone off the button for the win.

“As much as we were hurting pretty bad and weren’t playing for the colour of medal we wanted to be playing for, we still gave it our all and it mattered,” McEwen said.

Canada’s Kevin Koe was scheduled to play Newfoundland and Labrador’s Brad Gushue in the goldmedal game Sunday night.

McEwen, who lost the semifinal to Koe on Saturday in an extra end, gave up a steal of one to Jacobs in the fourth end. The Manitoba skip reclaimed the lead with a takeout for two in the fifth.

Jacobs played a tap in the sixth to give up a steal of one as Manitoba moved ahead 4-2. A Northern Ontario hit gave Jacobs a pair in the eighth to tie the game.

McEwen drew for one in the ninth and threw a double takeout in the 10th with his last stone. Jacobs drew the eight-foot to force an extra end.

The afternoon showdown was a rematch of last year’s bronze-medal game. Jacobs defeated McEwen 7-6 in an extra-end in Ottawa.

Koe defeated Gushue 9-5 in last year’s gold-medal game. Gushue also lost in his other Brier final appearance, falling to Ontario’s Glenn Howard in 2007 in Hamilton.

Gushue will have a raucous sellout crowd on his side this year. It’s the first time the national men’s curling championship has been played in St. John’s since 1972.

Koe also won Brier titles in 2010 and 2014 with different teams.

The Brier winner will represent Canada at the April 1-9 Ford world men’s curling championship in Edmonton.

The winning team also receives a base payout of $71,000 in prize money, cresting and funding. A minimum of $30,000 will also be awarded for additional cresting and promotional appearances and Sport Canada will award funding of $144,000 over two years.

The Brier silver medallists earn $45,000 in prize money. McEwen gets $35,000 and Jacobs receives $25,000.

A berth in the Dec. 2-10 Olympic Trials in Ottawa will also be awarded if the Brier winner reaches the podium at the world championship. Koe has already locked up a spot at the Trials.

Ottawa’s Rachel Homan won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts last month in St. Catharines, Ont. Her team will represent Canada at the women’s world championship March 18-26 in Beijing.

FESTIVE TIME ON THE ROCK

St. John’s is making the most if its first Brier since 1972.

Storefronts around the historic downtown core are festooned with Brier flags, hometown favourite Brad Gushue’s photo and some creative tributes.

At the Newfoundland Chocolate Company on Duckworth Street is a decadent display of regulationsize curling stones handcarved using 35 pounds or 16 kilograms of milk chocolate.

“It’s just so awesome to see the Brier come to St. John’s,” said owner Brent Smith, who describes himself as CCO or chief chocolate officer.

“There’s a very strong curling fraternity here and a lot of great curlers,” he said in an interview. “Plus we have people who enjoy watching it and they’re very much supportive of Brad in his chase for winning his first Brier.”

St. John’s City Coun. Danny Breen leads the Sport Tourism Event Partnership, the regional group that pitched hosting the Brier.

He said he knew local supporters were serious when it came time to pre-sell passes with a $50 deposit and 2,100 were snapped up.

“It has been just fantastic,” he said of the last week. With about 2,000 visitors in town, Breen said it’s estimated the Brier will inject about $15 million into the local economy.

Bars and restaurants have also offered viewing parties on big screens.

Ontario skip Glenn Howard said it was a fun, boisterous week playing to revved up crowds.

“You can ask all the players, there is nothing better than playing in front of a bunch of people who are really excited and cheering loud.”

Announced attendance for Sunday’s bronze medal game was 5,860 to push overall attendance to 116,572. The venue has a capacity of just over 6,000 for curling.

SO AWESOME TO SEE THE BRIER COME TO ST. JOHN’S.

ANDREW VAUGHAN / THE CANADIAN PRESS Manitoba skip Mike McEwen barks out instructions to the sweepers during action at the Tim Hortons Brier in St. John’s. McEwen defeated Brad Jacobs of Northern Ontario 7-5 in an extra end to win the bronze medal Sunday.