National Post (National Edition)
Epping, Bottcher set for epic clash
To get a sense of just how strong a matchup is in store for the Brier wild card game, consider that the two combatants actually met in the semifinal last year in Regina.
John Epping of Toronto and Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton have two of the best teams in Canada, but only one of them will play on into the Brier at Brandon, Man.’s Westoba Place after Friday night’s intriguing wild card game.
This is precisely why the wild card game was introduced last year. You’ve got two teams that were unable to win their provinces and not only deserve to be in the Brier but are strong contenders.
Epping sits third in the Canadian Team Ranking System standings — behind only Brier favourites Kevin Koe and Brad Jacobs — while Bottcher sits fourth. They are both ahead of twotime defending champion Brad Gushue.
“Brendan lost the final last year (to Gushue) and we lost the semifinal,” Epping said. “Whoever wins this is going to be a favourite to do some damage this week and I just hope it’s us.”
Though still in its infancy, the wild card game has became an instant success. At the recent Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sydney, N. S., the game between Kerri Einarson and Casey Scheidegger was an intense matchup played in front of a full house at Centre 200. Admission was free for the game — as it is in Brandon — and that created an outstanding atmosphere.
“I was there in the stands and got to see it,” said Ep- ping, who was coaching Kerry Galusha’s Northwest Territories team at the Scotties. “It looked like a lot of fun.”
It certainly has all the intensity of a final, given that one team will stay in Brandon for 10 days and have a chance to compete of the Brier title, while the other will go home.
It has been nicknamed “the suitcase game” because teams have to pack to be prepared for either eventuality.
“It ’s crazy that you’re packing for 10 days, but you might only be there for two,” said Epping, who curls with Mathew Camm, Brent Laing and Craig Savill.
“You’ve got to prepare like you’re gonna be there for the whole thing.
“We feel fortunate to have a second opportunity to be part of the Brier. Regardless of what happens, it’s one game against a very, very, very good team that has a great season, a great couple of seasons. Anything can happen.”
While Epping lost the Ontario final to the surprising Scott Mcdonald, Bottcher fell in the Alberta semifinal against Koe.
Bottcher’s team, which includes Darren Moulding, Brad Thiessen and Karrick Martin, has played in the last two Briers, plus the 2017 Olympic trials and is seems to be the type of foursome that will win it all one of these days.
“We played them twice this season already,” Epping said. “We’ve played each other a bunch over the last few years so you’re not really hiding anything. You just go in and make a bunch of shots and hope you get a few breaks. Hopefully, I make a couple of big ones and that will relate to us being Team Wild Card.”
Koe, Jacobs, Gushue, Manitoba’s Mike Mcewen and the wild-card winner are all among the favourites to win the Brier. There are others with outside chances, but the odds are the winner will be one of those five teams. When those teams meet, it’s always a heavyweight matchup, which is why the wild card game should be a barnburner.
“I think it’s a toss-up for any of the top 10 teams in Canada when you play,” Epping said.
“It’s not a matter of one team being so much better than the other, it’s who makes a couple more shots, who gets a couple breaks along the way. It all boils down to one game so if we get lots of breaks in that game, it will probably mean we’re on the good side of the scoreboard.”