Koe falters in bid to qualify for 1-2
As Ontario’s Glenn Howard roared to an 8-1 record, locking up a berth in the 1 vs. 2 Page Playoff game at the Brier on Wednesday, Alberta rink Kevin Koe lost the handle on their game.
The Calgary-based team whiffed on a chance to join Howard in Friday night’s 1-2 game after losing 8-5 to Manitoba’s Rob Fowler on Wednesday night, dropping Alberta’s record to 7-2.
Koe won earlier in the day when he whipped his brother Jamie (N.w.t.-yukon) 11-3.
Now Kevin Koe likely needs to win both games today (vs. Nova Scotia’s Jamie Murphy — 4-5 — in the afternoon and Howard at night) because Fowler (6-3) would advance if they end up tied.
“We’re just a little off and that’s what happens when you play good teams,’’ said Kevin Koe, who was, at one time, in the driver’s seat, rattling off wins in his first six games.
Howard, who will await a 1-2 opponent, has just one loss — a 10-6 extra-end setback Sunday to Jamie Koe — but records can be deceiving as he has already been extended to an extra end five times.
Howard has also won six straight games despite lead Craig Savill battling the flu since Saturday.
Savill, who missed two games, has undergone several intravenous treatments to restore his fluids. Scott Howard, Glenn’s son and Ontario’s alternate, filled in while Savill has been ill.
“This has been the longest, hardest grind we’ve gone through,” Howard said after beating Mike Gaudet of Prince Edward Island 10-5 on Wednesday afternoon, a result which followed an 8-4 victory over B.C.’S Jim Cotter in the morning draw.
“You have to give Craig credit because he has played awesome since having those two games off. We’ve had to work for every single game we’ve won this week.
“In the long run, that’s good for us.
Howard has proven to be among the best at the Brier when it comes to the long run. He’s appearing in his 14th Brier and has reached the final in 10 of those previous appearances.
“I’ve always bee non really good consistent curling teams,” said Howard, who has won three Canadian championships (two as a third with his brother Russ in 1987 and 1993 and once as a skip in 2007). “During a long week like this, you have to be consistent.
“If you’re up and down like a toilet seat, you’re not going to get there. We generally have a knack for playing pretty well. Not saying that we’re the best, but we play well enough to get to the weekend. That’s when you have to bring it up to another level.”
Who will step up to play How- ard on Friday night has yet to be determined. It will likely be Kevin Koe or Fowler, a berth which will be figured out during the final three round-robin draws today.
Brad Jacobs of Northern Ontario has played himself into the playoff picture after beating Murphy 11-4 on Wednesday. Jacobs has won three straight to improve to 5-4 and a share of fourth place with Jamie Koe.
“I don’t care if it’s third or fourth,’’ Jacobs said. “Third would be better because we would get hammer, but we just want to get into the playoffs.’’
Jamie Koe and Jacobs are being chased by Terry Odishaw (New Brunswick), Murphy and Cotter (B.C.) who are all 4-5.
The Brier final is scheduled for Sunday, with the winner representing Canada at the world championship, March 31-April 8 in Basel, Switzerland.