Rock-solid debut
Curlers thrilled with Penticton’s efforts on World Curling Tour
After four days of action, it took just two centimetres to decide the Ashley Home Store Curling Classic on Monday in Penticton.
But that’s all Kevin Koe and his Calgary rink needed to score a 7-6 extra-end victory over Niklas Edin, whose crew will represent Sweden at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Koe, the 2016 world men’s champion, drew against three with the hammer to eke out the win.
“I’ve been in that spot before,” he said afterwards.
“I always try not to be heavy and give the guys a chance to sweep it, at least, and that time I threw it just hard enough, and just a great job sweeping by the boys.”
The 24-team spiel was a World Curling Tour event with a total prize purse of $66,000 — $18,000 of which goes to the Koe rink and $12,000 to Team Edin.
Although the final was televised, the rest of the spiel was played without the normal fleet of cameras and the thousands of fans that have become hallmarks of major curling events.
Koe, whose team consists of 2010 Olympic gold medallists Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert, along with Brent Laing, found the change refreshing.
“It’s fun,” he said. “Small curling clubs, it’s nice to get back and play some spiels in them — a lot of people here still.”
And the veteran, who is preparing for the Canadian Olympic curling trials next month in Ottawa, was even more impressed with the tournament itself.
“It’s been so unbelievable. Just the effort put into it. A first-year event and already it’s one of the best spiels on the tour, if not the best,” he said.
Penticton Curling Club manager Cathy Jones said the tournament was “pretty much” sold out, and is set to return in 2018.
“Words can’t describe how fabulous it was,” she said.
“The players want to come back. The players felt it was better than any slam they’ve been to. Penticton has treated them royally, looked after them amazingly, there wasn’t anything they had to worry about.”
Team Baier, which featured Penticton’s own Matt Tolley, who also served as cochairman of the event, finished out of contention with a 2-3 record.
The Penticton Curling Club will again open its doors to top-flight talent in late January, when it serves as the practice facility for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Tickets for that meet, which will feature the top women’s teams from across Canada, are on sale now.