The Kootenay Savings Super League wrapped up its season with its final games last Thursday, setting up an exciting one-game winner-takes-all playoff tonight at the Trail Curling Club.
The league-leading Deane Horning rink beat out second place finisher Rob Ferguson foursome by a single point during the regular season, and the two teams will play for the championship in tonight’s final.
The game will be a repeat of last year’s A-final that saw Horning eke out an 8-6 win over a determined Ferguson rink on his final shot of the match, and Team Horning’s sixth consecutive Super League title.
The Super League’s top teams capped off their seasons in typical, if not decisive fashion last Thursday.
In the final matches, Team Horning was in complete control over Team Umpherville right from the get go, scoring in the first four ends for a 5-0 lead.
Skip Justin Umpherville, staring at three more Horning stones, made a perfect raise take-out to get on the board with one in the fifth. The teams traded singles in the next two ends before skip Deane made an open draw for two in the eighth and an 8-2 win.
Team Fines had their hands full with Team Ferguson, as skip Ken Fines was looking at a lot of Ferguson granite every time he came to throw. Fines made a hit and stick for one in the first, before Ferguson roared back with three, then a steal of two when Fines last rock overcurled, crashing on a guard in the third.
Facing more Ferguson stones in the fourth, Fines drew to the fourfoot to count one and 5-2 Fergie lead.
Team Ferguson pulled away, scoring in the next three ends for a 10-2 drubbing.
Team Castlegar Hyundai held a narrow 3-2 lead after four ends over Team Nichol until skip Myron Nichol made a delicate come around tap to count three in the fifth. Team Nichol then executed the junk strategy to perfection, leading to steals in the sixth, seventh and eighth ends for a 9-3 victory.
Nichol’s season is far from over, however, as his Castlegar rink comprised of lead Bill Van Yzerloo, second Garry Beaudry, and third Barry Marsh, will represent the Kootenays in the B.C. Senior Men’s Curling Championship in Alberni Valley Feb. 16-21.
The Kootenay Savings Super League playoff goes tonight with Ferguson vs Horning in the 1-2 game, Castlegar Hyundai vs Nichol in the 3-4 game, and Umpherville vs Fines in the 5-6 game. Games start at 7 p.m. at the Trail Curling Club.