Nichol’s rink seeks redemption after suffering first loss
week
Before the West Kootenay Mechanical rink can lay claim to the Kootenay Savings Super League title, they’ll have to overcome a formidable opponent.
The WKM rink, skipped by Myron Nichol, was vying to complete its Super League regular season with an undefeated record last Thursday.
However, the two-time defending champion Maple Leaf Forestry foursome, skipped by Deane Horning, had the last say as they derailed Nichol’s undefeated hopes with a 9-5 win in last Thursday’s final regular season draw.
The victory kept Horning’s foursome as the only rink to finish a regular season with an undefeated record, a feat accomplished in the 2009 season.
The two teams will collide again Thursday night for the Super League playoff championship beginning at 7 p.m. at the Trail Curling Club.
The evening will feature all the playoff draws pitting first vs second, third versus fourth and so on.
The top two rinks gave a preview of the playoff final last Thursday in a match that saw Nichol jump out to a quick 2-0 lead.
Horning came back to knot the game at 2-2 after four ends when the tied turned in the fifth end.
Nichol crashed his take-out attempt on a guard that allowed Horning to steal three points. Horning kept it clean the rest of the way for the 9-5 win and handing Nichol his first loss in 16 games.
Meanwhile, Russ Beauchamp’s Maglio Men’s team had an open hit for four points in the first end and stole three more in the second to set the tone of a 9-3 victory over Brian LeMoel’s crew.
The same two rinks will meet again Thursday in the playoff’s third-place game.
Rob Ferguson’s squad jumped out to an early 6-0 lead and then hit everything, as they defeated Rose Beauchamp and the Maglio Ladies’ rink 11-4.
Ferguson will take on Darren Albo’s Century 21 team to settle fifth-place in the playoff standings on Thursday.
The other playoff draws will see Jill Winters’ Snowpack rink take on the Performance Fitness team skipped by Desiree Schmidt.
The Maglio Ladies will face Ken Fines and his foursome in the final playoff matchup.