March 13, 2011

Courtesy of Memorial Sports Info / Photo credit Laurier Athletics

DAY 1 MARCH 9

DRAW 1 RESULTS:

MEN

Manitoba Bison        1  0  0  1  0  0  1  0  0  X     3  07:46
Saint Mary's Huskies *0  1  1  0  1  2  0  1  2  X   8  08:35
 
Saskatchewan         *0  0  1  0  0  2  0  1  0  X     4  08:20
Guelph Gryphons       2  1  0  1  1  0  2  0  2  X     9  10:49
 
Laurier Hawks        *0  0  0  1  0  1  0  1  X  X     3  22:33
Memorial Sea-Hawks    0  0  3  0  2  0  3  0  X  X     8  23:38
 
Alberta Golden Bears *3  0  1  1  0  3  2  X  X  X    10  26:26
Trent Excalibur       0  1  0  0  2  0  0  X  X  X     3  24:12

WOMEN

Memorial Sea-Hawks 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 6
Brock Badgers* 1 0 1 0 0 3 1 0 2 1 9

Guelph Gryphons* 0 0 1 0 2 1 1 3 0 X 8
Saskatchewan 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 X 4

Saint Mary's Huskies *0  3  0  1  0  0  1  0  4  0  2    11  01:23
Laurier Golden Hawks  2  0  3  0  1  0  0  1  0  2  0     9  00:43

Alberta Pandas*         102  002  020  1  =  8
Regina Cougars    010  110  202  0  =  7

DRAW 2 RESULTS:

MEN

Trent Excalibur      *2  0  0  0  1  0  0  2  0  0  1     6  01:17
Laurier Hawks         0  0  1  1  0  1  1  0  0  1  0     5  01:13
 
Memorial Sea-Hawks   *3  1  0  4  1  0  X  X  X  X        9  29:13
Alberta Golden Bears  0  0  2  0  0  2  X  X  X  X        4  26:29
 
Saskatchewan         *0  1  0  0  3  0  5  0  0  1       10  11:37
Saint Mary's Huskies  1  0  2  0  0  3  0  0  2  0        8  03:52
 
Guelph Gryphons      *0  3  2  0  1  2  X  X  X  X        8  27:17
Manitoba Bison        1  0  0  1  0  0  X  X  X  X        2  26:13

WOMEN

Regina Cougars       *0  0  2  0  2  0  0  0  1  0     5  09:18
Saint Mary's Huskies  0  0  0  1  0  1  1  3  0  1     7  10:23
 
Laurier Golden Hawks *2  0  5  0  2  0  2  X  X  X    11  25:08
Alberta Pandas        0  1  0  1  0  1  0  X  X  X     3  24:09
 
Guelph Gryphons      *0  2  0  1  1  0  0  0  2  1     7  00:54
Brock Badgers         1  0  1  0  0  1  2  1  0  0     6  02:40
 
Saskatchewan         *0  0  0  0  3  0  1  0  2  2     8  06:15
Memorial Sea-Hawks    0  4  1  1  0  1  0  0  0  0     7  08:45

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DAY 2 MARCH 10

DRAW 3 RESULTS:

MEN

Saint Mary's Huskies *1  0  1  0  4  1  0  0  0  X     7  07:55
Trent Excalibur       0  0  0  2  0  0  1  1  1  X     5  04:13
 
Laurier Hawks        *1  0  0  0  2  1  1  0  0  2     7  07:39
Saskatchewan          0  2  0  2  0  0  0  1  0  0     5  00:57
 
Alberta Golden Bears *0  2  1  0  0  1  1  1  X  X     6  17:43
Guelph Gryphons       1  0  0  0  1  0  0  0  X  X     2  17:58
 
Manitoba Bison       *2  0  2  0  2  0  2  0  2  0    10  03:02
Memorial Sea-Hawks    0  2  0  1  0  2  0  2  0  2     9  00:31

WOMEN

Brock Badgers        *0  1  0  1  0  1  0  0  0  2  1     6  01:22
Regina Cougars        0  0  0  0  2  0  1  1  1  0  0     5  00:44
 
Saint Mary's Huskies *0  0  3  0  0  1  3  1  X  X        8  21:55
Guelph Gryphons       1  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  X  X        3  18:46
 
Alberta Pandas       *0  0  1  0  1  4  1  1  X  X        8  23:58
Saskatchewan          0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  X  X        0  20:14
 
Memorial Sea-Hawks   *0  0  1  0  1  0  1  0  X  X        3  17:23
Laurier Golden Hawks  2  0  0  1  0  4  0  1  X  X        8  18:09

DRAW 4 RESULTS:

MEN

Guelph Gryphons      *0  3  0  0  0  3  0  0  0  0     6  01:19
Memorial Sea-Hawks    1  0  1  2  2  0  1  1  0  1     9  00:17

Guelph Gryphons used a shot seldom seen to go into a 3-1 lead after 2 ends.   Skip Craig Van Ymeren made a complex split with his hammer by moving a guard onto another of his stones at the side of the rings splitting it into the 12-foot circle and rolling his shoter into the 12-foot as well.   The Sea Hawks scored their only 2's in each of the 4th and 5th ends; first when Van Ymeren rolled out hitting against 3 and then when his hammer undercurled in an attempted raise onto two guarded Sea Hawks rocks abreast on the button.   The 6-3 lead was short-lived as Van Ymeren made an impressive heavy weight hit on frozen stones to tie the score. A steal of a single in the 8th end by the Sea Hawks opened an 8-6 lead and proved to be decisive.   The Sea Hawks foursome dodged a major bullet when Thomas with his last stone (after a timeout) completely missed removing a dangerous stone at the side of the 4-foot circle.   Van Ymeren then attempted to use that stone to double out a lonely Sea Hawks rock on the button for a possible 5 count, but the Guelph hammer hit too much of the target to roll onto shot rock.   Guelph blanked the 9th end but could not get much going in the 10th.   Thomas had an open hit for his team's third win.
 
Alberta Golden Bears *0  0  2  0  1  0  0  1  0  X     4  07:57
Manitoba Bison        0  0  0  3  0  1  1  0  4  X     9  10:41

Alberta Golden Bears led 2-0 playing the 4th end when their skip's last stone picked up debris at centre ice.   Manitoba Bisons' skip James Coleman drew a third stone onto the button to take the lead.   Coleman followed that up for a single in the 6th end with an up-weight triple takeout of 3 Alberta stones grouped around the button (a 4-3 lead that they never relinquished).   The big break that had them shaking hands was a draw for 4 and a 9-4 lead after 9 ends.   The Golden Bears skip was light on a freeze attempt and Coleman needed just to hit the 8-foot circle.
 
Trent Excalibur      *1  0  0  2  1  0  2  0  0  0     6  07:06
Saskatchewan          0  0  2  0  0  2  0  0  3  3    10  05:18

Both Trent Excalibur and Saskatchewan Huskies had two 2's in the first 9 ends, and Trent led 6-5 before Saskatchewan blanked the 9th end to keep hammer (which proved to be a successful strategy).   An open miss by Trent led to their having to freeze against 3 Saskatchewan counters with the last Trent stone.   Huskies skip Mike Armstrong jammed it out and stayed with his shooter for an 10-6 win and a share of second place.

Saint Mary's Huskies *0  1  0  1  0  0  0  2  0  0     4
Laurier Hawks         1  0  3  0  0  0  1  0  2  0     7

The only stolen end in this game was the 1st, but 3 in the 3rd end got the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks out to a 4-1 lead and a commanding start.   After blanks in the 5th and 6th ends, the Golden Hawks were held to a single when their skip was heavy on a draw for 2.   Saint Mary's Huskies scored 2 in the 8th end to close the score to 5-4, but they gave back the 2 in the 9th end and ran out of rocks in the 10th.   As a result, both teams are now tied for second at 2-2. Just the top 3 teams make the playoffs for the right to represent Canada in a prestigous bonspiel in Japan in 2012.   The Sea Hawks play the 2-2 Saint Mary's Huskies in their next game at 7:30.

WOMEN

Saskatchewan         *0  2  0  1  0  1  0  0  X  X     4  17:50
Laurier Golden Hawks  3  0  1  0  3  0  0  4  X  X    11  18:57
 
Alberta Pandas       *1  0  0  0  0  0  1  1  0  X     3  07:35
Memorial Sea-Hawks    0  0  3  1  2  1  0  0  1  X     8  09:43

After coming into the fourth draw winless Memorial Coach Withycombe changed things up against Alberta. Skip Erin Porter threw last rocks while mate Alysha Renouf threw third for Memorial.  In the first three draws Porter called the game but Renouf threw last rock. The change worked as, top to bottom, the Sea~Hawks curled an impressive 78%. Porter and Renouf both responded well to the change with 86% and 85% games. After a missed takeout gave Alberta a steal of one in the first end Memorial settled down and played their best curling of the tournament. After a blanked second end Porter came up with a big hit and roll for three. Team Porter followed that up with steals in three straight ends, taking one in the fourth, two in the fifth and another single in the sixth to put them up 7-1 after six ends. I the fifth Alberta skip Kelly Erickson’s draw was heavy giving Memorial two after some fine shot making from Porter.Memorial faces Sarah Rhyno’s Saint Mary’s (3-1) team tonight in the fifth draw at the RE/MAX Centre at 7:30 p.m. The game is must-win for Memorial and could create a logjam in the women’s standings.
 
Regina Cougars       *0  1  1  0  2  0  0  1  0  0     5  00:00
Guelph Gryphons       0  0  0  1  0  0  1  0  1  1     4  02:12
 
Brock Badgers        *1  0  0  1  3  0  1  0  2  0     8  03:21
Saint Mary's Huskies  0  1  2  0  0  1  0  4  0  2    10  06:04

DRAW 5 RESULTS:

MEN

Alberta Golden Bears* 1 0 2 1 0 1 2 0 X X 7
Saskatchewan 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 X X 4

Saskatchewan Huskies threatened early  opening a 3-1 lead after 2 ends on a measure.   However  Alberta Golden Bears took a 4-3 lead on a steal in the 4th end when  the Huskies skip was light on a come-around to the top of the  button.   Again in the 6th end, he was too quiet on a tap for  2 attempt; and in the 7th end there was a third steal when a last rock  draw came up short.   The game concluded 7-4 after 9 ends  after both teams traded singles.

Saint Mary's Huskies* 2 1 1 1 0 3 X X X X 8
Memorial Sea-Hawks 0 0 0 0 2 0 X X X X 2

A 3-game day was not an excuse; however the  powerful sweeping Colin Thomas Sea Hawks Team seemed to not get as much  distance out of their rocks in their shakiest outing of the 5 games  played to date.   They came up light on a handful of critical  draws and got on the board on only one end.   Down 5-0 after 4  ends, the Sea Hawks scored 2 when Thomas drew with hammer.    However momentum going into the break was not a factor and the Sea Hawks  gave up those points and more in the 6th end before calling it quits for  the night ...... some consolation in still holding a share of first  place with 2 draws to go.

Manitoba Bison 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 7
Laurier Hawks 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 6

Trent Excalibur 1 0 2 1 1 0 0 2 1 X 8
Guelph Gryphons 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 X 5

WOMEN

Memorial Sea-Hawks   0  1  1  0  4  1  0  0  1  1     9  01:23
Saint Mary's Huskies  1  0  0  2  0  0  3  2  0  0     8  05:18

The undefeated Sarah Rhyno led Saint Mary's  Huskies held a 3-2 lead after 4 ends (the Sea Hawks scored a single  on a 3-rock measure in the 2nd end and Rhyno hit an open rock in the 3rd  end to give up one). The Huskies were "forced" to 2 in  the 4th with Memorial guarding a group of rocks in the 4-foot circle  with the Huskies threatening to score several more.   A big  4-count in the 5th end for the Sea Hawks was the largest end of the  evening, helped by a hog line violation on the last Saint Mary's rock  making the score 6-3.   If Rhyno was rattled, it did not last  long.   MUN stole one in the 6th end on yet another measure  when Rhyno rolled out attempting a double takeout, but the Huskies  stormed back with 3 in the 7th and 2 in the 8th ends to take an 8-7  lead.   The Sea Hawks managed just a single in the 9th end  setting up very interesting situations in the final end with the score  tied 8-8.   Skip Erin Porter's last rock was an inturn raise  behind cover of a rock in the 12-foot circle.   Swept to clear  a guard, it got raised too far, but the shooter rolled off the inside  sufficiently to lie shot rock in the 8-foot circle.  Rhyno's  last rock was a mirror image outturn raise of her stone in the  12-foot.   It was too heavy and missed making contact by an  inch before being swept through the back of the 8-foot by Sea Hawks  third Alysha Renouf.
 
Regina Cougars       *0  2  0  2  1  0  2  1  0  X     8  11:45
Saskatchewan          0  0  1  0  0  1  0  0  1  X     3  12:56

Regina Cougars scored three 2's on route to  an 8-3 victory that keeps them alive in the playoff hunt at  2-3.   They showed some impressive precision shooting and allowed Saskatchewan Huskies of Saskatoon (no doubt their  provincial rival) just 3 singles (in the 3rd, 6th, and 9th  ends).   Notable was an in-off (using her own rock) by Huskies  skip Ashley Gregoire that posted the last point of the game, but could  have resulted in a steal of 5 (arguably the prettiest shot of the  night).
 
Alberta Pandas       *2  0  0  1  2  0  0  1  2  0     8  04:23
Guelph Gryphons       0  1  1  0  0  3  0  0  0  0     5  06:18
 
Brock Badgers        *0  0  0  1  0  1  0  0  X  X     2  15:55
Laurier Golden Hawks  2  0  1  0  3  0  2  1  X  X     9  18:19

Laurier have been the class of the tournament so far with a perfect 5-0 record. Skip Laura Crocker continued her fine shot making, curling to a 84%. The Golden Hawks stole points in three straight ends, including a three-point steal in the fifth that gave them command with a 7-1 lead.  Brock is now 2-3.

MEN'S STANDINGS (AFTER DRAW 5)

3-2    Memorial Sea  Hawks
3-2    Manitoba  Bisons
3-2    Saint Mary's  Huskies
3-2    Alberta Golden  Bears
2-3    Guelph  Gryphons
2-3    Saskatchewan  Huskies
2-3    Wilfred Laurier  Golden Hawks
2-3    Trent  Excalibur

WOMEN'S STANDINGS (AFTER DRAW 5)

4-1    Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
4-1    Saint Mary’s Huskies
3-2    Alberta
2-3    Memorial Sea  Hawks
2-3    Brock  Badgers
2-3    Regina  Cougars
2-3    Guelph  Gryphons
1-4    Saskatchewan  Huskies

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DAY 3 MARCH 11

DRAW 6 RESULTS:

WOMEN

The Memorial Sea Hawks team of Erin Porter, Alysha Renouf,  Julie Devereaux, Erica Trickett, and Jennifer Glasgow scored a single in the  extra end to defeat Guelph Gryphons 8-7 and even their record to 3-3 with one  game remaining.   The Women's Team is in a tie for fourth place  and needs a win in their final game (2:00 this afternoon  at Bally Haly Golf and Curling Club over the Regina Cougars) to  possibly make a tie-breaker.   MUN also needs either or  both the teams tied in second place at 4-2 (Saint Mary's Huskies and  Alberta Golden Bears) to lose their final game.   Brock Badgers will have incentive in their game against Alberta as they also have a chance  at coming through a tie-breaker.   Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks are alone in first place at 5-1 and assured a playoff position.

Highlights and Linescores for the 4 morning games were:

 Guelph  Gryphons            002   003  001  10  =  7
 Memorial  Sea Hawks  220  010  110  01  =   8

The Sea Hawks opened a 4-0 lead after 2 ends and  a 5-2 lead at the 5th end break.   But Guelph Gryphons played tough  scoring 3 in the 6th end to tie.   The last 4 regulation ends were  singles; the Gryphons tieing it up 7-7 with a steal in the 10th end (an early  draw to the back of the 4-foot circle survived to score; skip Erin Porter did  not get enough on a tap that they played on her last stone.   The  extra end was shaping up similarly with the Gryphone drawing the back of the  4-foot around two Sea Hawk stones overlapped in the front of the 8-foot  circle.   Sea Hawk's third Alysha Renouf gave MUN shot rock when her  peel of a guard ran back onto the two MUN stones in the house and caught  enough drag effect to remove the dangerous Gryphons counter.   A  Porter guard with her first stone left a freeze opportunity, but the last  Gryphons rock stopped 3 inches short of what was needed to force the Sea Hawks  to throw a Hail Mary hammer.
 
Saskatchewan  Huskies    000  010  212  x  =   6
Brock Badgers                101  105  000  x  =   8

Brock owned the early ends of this  game.   They let 3-1 at the half and scored the biggest end of the  event (a 5 to lead 8-1) in the 6th end.   Saskatchewan Huskies  chipped away at the lead with two 2's and a single and trailed by two going  into the final end.   The 10th was made interesting by a  free-guard-zone infraction, but the Badgers ran the Huskies out of rocks to  keep their playoff hopes alive.
 
Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks   310  210   2x  =  9
Regina  Cougars                       002   000  0x  =  2

Leading 3-0 and playing the second end, Wilfred  Laurier Golden Hawks caught a big break in the 2nd end when Regina Cougars  skip Alexandra Williamson narrowly missed a double takeout for 3 (instead  giving up a steal).   After trading 2's, the Golden  Hawks played a powerful defensive game and the Cougars decided to end  their playoff run in the 8th end with the score 9-2.
 
Saint Mary's  Huskies           000   402  010  1  =  8
Alberta Golden  Bears       031  020  300  0  =   9
 
While Alberta Golden Bears led 4-0 after 3 ends,  Saint Mary's Huskies skip Sarah Rhyno made a precision double takeout for 4  and a tie with hammer in the 4th end.   The teams then traded  2's (the Alberta 2 came on a missed split attempt for 3 after a  timeout).   The Golden Bears scored 3 in the 7th end to lead 9-6 and  played very defensive the crest of the way.   With hammer in the  10th end and a 2-point lead, skip Kelly Erickson was able to remove one of the  two opposition rocks exposed in the house.
 
Just the top 3 teams make the playoffs for the  right to represent Canada in a prestigous bonspiel in Japan in  2012.

MEN

The morning draw, the sixth of the 2011 CIS/CCA men’s curling championship, has been completed and Manitoba and Alberta have emerged as leaders of the pack with 4-2 records. The standings are logjammed with four teams at 3-3 and two at 2-4. The seventh draw this afternoon will determine who will move on.

Saskatchewan*   0   1   0      0   2   0        0   0   2   0   =5  
Manitoba                0   0   1      1   0   0         2   1   0    2   =7 

Manitoba (4-2) earned a share of first place with a nailbiter of a win over Saskatchewan (2-4) this morning. Saskatchewan skip Mike Armstrong made a fine shot with the help of the sweepers to give the Huskies two in the ninth end to tie the score at five. In the final end Saskatchewan’s last rock looked to pick up some debris causing a miss that ended the match to give the Bison the win.

Guelph*           4   1   0       2   1   1       X   X   X   X   =9  
Saint Mary’s   0   0   2      0   0   0       X   X   X   X   =2 

Guelph (3-3) took control with four points in the first end on their way to evening their record with a convincing 9-2 win over Saint Mary’s (3-3) that required only six ends of play.

Memorial   0   0   0          1   0   1       0   0   0   X   =2  
Trent*        0   2   2          0   1   0       1   3   0   X   =9 

Trent scored two in the second and stole another two in the third to build a 4-0 lead early. In the fourth Memorial skip Colin Thomas looked to take out two Trent stones however one rock turned back to catch the edge of the rings. On Thomas’s final stone he was forced to make a hit and roll for a single point. After trading points in the middle of the match Trent sealed it with three in the eighth end after Thomas’ final stone caught the guard.  Both Memorial and Trent are now 3-3.
 
  Laurier      0   0   2       0   0   0       1   2   0   0   =5  
  Alberta*   2   0   0       0   2   0       0   0   0   2   =6 

In a match that featured some fine shot making Alberta skip Brendan Bottcher was forced to make a difficult shot on his final stone to give the Golden Bears the 6-5 win. Laurier skip Matt Mapletoft put the pressure on Alberta with a dandy shot of his own on his final rock. Alberta now hold a share of first place with a 4-2 record while Laurier are 2-4.

DRAW 7 RESULTS:

WOMEN

Laurier and Saint Mary’s advance to playoffs; Memorial to face Alberta in first tiebreaker tonight at 7p.m. The final  round robin draw has concluded at the 2011 Dominion Insurance CIS/CCA  Women’s Curling Championships at Bally Haly. Laurier and Saint Mary’s finished round robin play locked into the top positions. The host Memorial Sea~Hawks, the Brock Badgers and the Alberta Pandas are in a three-way tie for the final playoff position. The Memorial rink of Erin Porter, Alysha Renouf, Julie Devereaux, Erica Trickett, and Jennifer Glasgow will compete against Alberta tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the RE/MAX Centre in the first tiebreaker at sheet five. Memorial will have the hammer and will be throwing red stones. The winner of the tiebreaker tonight will meet Brock in the second tiebreaker tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. The Badgers will have the hammer in that contest.

Memorial*   1   1   1   1   2   1   0   3   X   X   =10  
Regina   0   0   0   0   0   0   2   2   X    X   =2 

The Memorial Sea~Hawks did what they needed to do to stay in the championship hunt, stealing points in five straight ends on their way to a 10-2 victory over Regina. Memorial will now play Alberta in a tiebreaker for the right to move on to face Brock Saturday morning. The Regina curlers had a tough time with the ice at Bally Haly and had the misfortune of a couple of untimely picks that led to Memorial steals. Memorial lead Erica Trickett curled 80% in the victory while skip Erin Porter was not far behind in the percentages at 78%.

Saint Mary’s*   3   0   1   0   0   2   0   1   2   X   =9  
Saskatchewan   0   1   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   X   =2 

Sarah Rhyno’s Saint Mary’s rink claimed a playoff spot with a 9-2 defeat of Saskatchewan in a battle of the Huskies.  Saint Mary’s scored three with the hammer in the first end while Saskatchewan only could manage singles in the second and fifth. A Saint Mary’s steal of two in the ninth led to handshakes and a spot in Saturday’s semi-final at the RE/MAX Centre starting 2 p.m.

Alberta   0   0   2   0   1   1   1   0   1   0   =6  
Brock*   2   3   0   1   0   0   0   1   0   1   =8 

Brock (4-3) jumped out to an early 5-0 lead after two ends and held off an Alberta Panda surge to seal a narrow victory on their final stone in the tenth. In the tenth end with a one point lead and the hammer Brock did a great job of peeling away the Alberta stones. Brock skip Courtney Hodgson made a nice draw to secure the final point and a place in Saturday morning’s second tiebreaker.
 
Guelph*   0   0   1   0   0   2   0   0   1   1   =5  
Laurier   0   1   0   2   1   0   1   1   0   0   =6 

Laurier locked up first place in the round robin with a 6-5 victory over Guelph, earning a spot in Sunday’s championship final. In the fourth end skip Laura Crocker made an angle raise with her last shot for two points. After a steal in the fifth Laurier held a 4-1 advantage that Guelph could not overcome despite singles in the ninth and tenth.

Tie breaker matchups (women)

RE/MAX Centre will play host to the remainder of the tournament. The women’s draw will require two tiebreakers.
Friday 7:00 p.m. Alberta vs. Memorial*
Saturday 9:00 a.m. winner of tiebreaker #1 vs. Brock*

The winner of tiebreaker two will advance to the semi-finals against Saint Mary’s on Saturday at 2 p.m. where the winner will compete against Laurier to determine who will win the national championship banner and the right to represent Canada in Japan at the world university championship. The championship final is slated for 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the RE/MAX Centre. 
     
WOMEN'S STANDINGS (AFTER DRAW FINAL ROUND ROBIN DRAW)

  6-1   Laurier Golden Hawks  
  5-2   Saint Mary’s Huskies  
  4-3   Memorial Sea~Hawks  
  4-3   Alberta Pandas  
  4-3   Brock Badgers  
  2-5   Guelph Gryphons  
  2-5   Regina Cougars  
  1-6   Saskatchewan Huskies 

MEN

The final Round Robin Draw in the Dominion  Insurance CIS/CCA National Championship has just concluded at the  RE/MAX Centre.   The Memorial Sea Hawks team of Colin Thomas, Cory  Schuh, Chris Ford, Spencer Wicks, and Stephen Ryan are into the Playoffs by  virtue of a 9-4 win over Saskatchewan Huskies together with other games being  decided in their favour. In particular, Wilfred Laurier  Golden Hawks skip Matt Mapletoft chipped what he could see of a rock in the  4-foot circle with hammer in the extra end (after coming up 6 inches short on  a draw to win in the 10th end) to defeat Guelph Gryphons and keep Guelph from  forcing a tie-breaker for third with the Sea Hawks.
 
The Sea Hawks did not have a walk in the park  with their must-win game either, and it finished in a dramatic and positive  manner that could set them up well to motor through the two Playoff games  necessary for them to claim the CIS Championship and the right to represent  Canada in a prestigous bonspiel in Japan in 2012.   The Sea Hawks  women must go the tie-breaker route and they will play their first 7:00  tonight at the RE/MAX Centre.   A second womens tie-breaker will be  played tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9:00.
 
Both Semi-Finals will be 2:00 Saturday and the  two Finals will be 2:30 on Sunday.
 
Trent  Excalibur              000  301  100  x  =  5
Manitoba  Bisons*     001  040  022  x   =  9
 
Manitoba Bisons took one with hammer to open the  scoring in the 3rd end.   Trent Excalibur immediately popped a 3  countered by a Bisons 4 putting the teams into the break at 5-3.    The 6th and 7th ends saw singles go to Trent tieing the score 5-5; the steal  coming on an end with many guards.   Scores of 2 by Manitoba in the  8th and 9th ends were decisive; the steal coming when the Trent skip was shrt  on a draw.   Up-weight hits by the Bisons ran the opposition out of  rocks in the 10th end and clinched their first place position in the  standings.

Guelph  Gryphons                                010  030  102  10  =  8
Wilfred Laurier Golden  Hawks*   202  002  020  01  =   9
 
Scores of 2 sandwiched around a Guelph Gryphons  single had  Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks leading 4-1 after 4  ends.   The Golden Hawks threatened in the 6th end to earn back a 3  by Guelph in the 5th, but a nice roll by skip Craig Van Ymeren kept the damage  to a 2 and the Laurier lead to 6-4.   In the 8th end, Laurier went  out front 8-5 when skip Matt Mapletoft executed an across-the-house  double.   The last 3 points in regulation were Gryphons and they  held shot rock throughout the extra end until Mapletoft chipped a tiny piece  of his stone at the top of the 4-foot circle sending it onto shot stone at the  back corner of the 4-foot.   Three stones rolled out of the house  but the all important winner at the back of the 8-foot circle remained to  prevent the need for a Memorial vs. Guelph tie-breaker tomorrow.

Saint  Mary's Huskies*     000  010  x   =  1
Alberta  Golden Bears     301  103  x  =   8
 
Saint Mary's Huskies held hammer for all ends  except the last, but were unable to derail the playoff ambitions of the  Alberta Golden Bears foursome.   The Golden Bears scored 3 in each  of the 1st and 6th ends; the latter on a hit after the Huskies accidentally  removed a guard on their own stone while drawing with their last rock in hopes  of stealing two.   After that major setback and with the score 8-1,  Saint Mary's Huskies decided a tiebreaker was not in the cards for them in  2011, and they cashed in their chips until next year.

Memorial Sea  Hawks             002   030  4x  =  9
Saskatchewan  Huskies*     110  101  0x  =   4
 
There was some fine shotmaking and a 3-2 score  for Saskatchewan Huskies when the Sea Hawks scored a huge 3 in the 5th  end.   The Huskies got one back in the 6th end on a hit against two,  and the decisive 7th end shaped up dangerously for both teams.    With their last stone, Huskies skip Kendal Thompson threw a guard on couple of  Memorial stones at the top of the rings that were in front of the Huskies shot  rock at the back of the 4-foot circle.   The guard went too far and  lined up a possible runback for a Sea Hawks score.   Even an elite  curler such as Sea Hawks skip Colin Thomas seldom gets a chance to throw a  "triple raise double takeout".   The Host Team, to the delight of  many at the RE/MAX Centre, guided the up-weight hammer to a precise hit,  watched the foremost stone take just the right amount of  "drag-effect", watched all the yellow stones split out of the house, and  watched all the red granite settle into the 12-foot circle for a score of 4  and a 9-4 lead.   That would be all the Sea Hawks would need  for their first ever CIS Curling Semi-Final.
 
MEN'S STANDINGS (AFTER DRAW FINAL ROUND ROBIN DRAW)

5-2    Manitoba Bisons    (Awarded First Place and bye to Final as defeated Alberta Golden Bears in  Round Robin)
5-2    Alberta Golden  Bears
4-3    Memorial Sea  Hawks
3-4    Saint Mary's  Huskies
3-4    Wilfred Laurier Golden  Hawks
3-4    Trent Excalibur
3-4    Guelph Gryphons
2-5    Saskatchewan  Huskies

TIE-BREAKER #1 (WOMEN)

The Memorial University Sea Hawks team of Erin Porter, Alysha Renouf, Julie Devereaux, Erica Trickett, and Jennifer Glasgow scored 3 in the final end to defeat University of Alberta Pandas from Edmonton 9-6 to make their way into a second tie-breaker 9:00 tomorrow (Saturday) at the RE/MAX Centre.   That game will be against Brock University Badgers who were awarded the tie-breaker bye.
 
Memorial Sea Hawks*   101  010  201  3  =  9
Alberta Pandas           030  101  010  0  =  6
 
Despite there being no stolen ends in the game until the final rock was thrown, this tie-breaker had two distinct phases with Alberta Golden Bears dominant over the first half (timely shooting by Sea Hawks skip Erin Porter holding MUN in the game) and the Sea Hawks applying increasing pressure to the Pandas as the game moved along.
 
END 1:    Porter used hammer, earned by the Round Robin victory over the Pandas, to draw the 4-foot circle against a few.
END 2:    There were a group of rocks at the back of the 8-foot circle all end.   Porter rubbed a guard on her last rock, but still drew the button.   Alberta skip Kelly Erickson rolled out with her hammer but they still picked up 3 to lead 3-1.
END 3:    Porter rubbed again on her first stone; then drew with hammer (3-2).
END 4:    Erickson made a great outturn come-around against 2; then crashed on a draw for 2; Alberta leads 4-2.
END 5:    Porter made a cross-the-house roll on her first; then hit and jammed trying for 2 (4-3).
END 6:    Erickson made a hit against 2 to lead 5-3.
END 7:    All the play in the end was around one guard; Erickson was light on a draw allowing Porter to draw for 2 (5-5).  Momentum shifted.
END 8:    Erickson calmly made a hit against 4 Sea Hawks counters (6-5).
END 9:    Memorial tied it again (6-6) on an attempted blank to keep hammer.
END 10:    Alberta third Erica Ortt took three rocks (including 2 MUN counters) off the button and well out into the 8-foot circle. Porter threw her first around the only guard to the top of the 8-foot circle; shot rock .... Alberta Time Out. Erickson's attempt to draw the 4-foot was short of the rings ..... Memorial Time Out. Porter's last, a tap of her previous stone into the 4-foot was a foot light of what Memorial hoped. Alberta's draw with hammer, needing more than half of the 4-foot, was light and crashed on the long guard.

The second tie-breaker (against Brock University Badgers) gets underway 9:00 tomorrow on ice #2 at the RE/MAX Centre.   Just the top 3 teams make the playoffs for the right to represent Canada in a prestigious bonspiel in Karuizawa, Japan in January 2012.   The Sea Hawks Men's Team has already secured a berth in the Semi-Final to go 2:00 Saturday afternoon (also at the RE/MAX Centre).
 
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DAY 4 MARCH 12

WOMEN

The Memorial University Sea Hawks team of Erin Porter, Alysha Renouf, Julie Devereaux, Erica Trickett, and Jennifer Glasgow this morning lost an extra end heart-breaker 6-5 to Brock Badgers in a second tie-breaker game for third place in the Dominion Insurance CCA/CIS Championship at the RE/MAX Centre in St. John's.   The top 3 teams (Brock, Saint Mary's Huskies, and the first place Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks) in the 8-team event start playing off in the Semi-Final 2:00 this afternoon.   The Golden Hawks get a first round bye until the Final at 2:30 Sunday
 
Brock Badgers*                    200  010  110  01  =  6
Memorial Sea Hawks       011  101  000  10  =  5  (extra end)
                
The Sea Hawks played tough from start to finish and got lots of rocks in play in the low-scoring game in which Memorial could only fetch single points.   In fact the Badgers only scored one 2 and that was with hammer in the first end (earned from their round robin victory over the Sea Hawks).   Today the Sea Hawks had a higher shooting percentage than their opposition, but it was more a matter of what shots were made and what shots were missed; especially by Brock third stone, Jessica Corrado.
 
END 1:    MUN's fourth come-around of the only guard in play was a foot heavy allowing a draw for a 2-0 lead.
END 2:    A first rock premium come-around by Sea Hawks third Alysha Renouf negated four Brock biters.   Quiet weight taps were played by both teams until skip Erin Porter was light on hammer in a draw attempt for two (2-1).
END 3:    Brock third  Jessica Corrado played a run-back onto two rocks on the button.   She lost her shot rock, but lay two.   Porter made a double takeout on her first, Brock skip Courtney Hodgson was light on a draw, Porter drew for shot to the back of the button, and Hodgson crashed allowing a steal (2-2).
END 4:    Corrado hit a MUN stone at 10:00 in the rings and rolled behind cover in the 4-foot circle.   Porter on her last stone raised long to behind the button and, with hammer, Hodgson hit full on an in-off attempt allowing another steal (3-2).
END 5:    Porter split the house on her first.   Brock had an open miss on a hit and roll attempt.   Porter drew her last to the front of the 12-foot circle (trying for top 8-foot), and a Hodgson draw with hammer hung in the back of the 8-foot for a single (3-3).
END 6:    Renouf made a crucial double takeout followed by a few nice hit and rolls.   Porter crashed with her second stone, so the Sea Hawks led 4-3.
END 7:    A Renouf hit threaded the needle through guards to lie two in the open.   The skips traded hits (4-4).
END 8:    Corrado made a run-back double takeout.   Porter's first rock freeze was heavy and jammed.   Hodgson made a perfect hit and roll to lie two ..... Time Out Memorial.   A double takeout attempt jammed out one counter; the best outcome that could be expected in the circumstances.   The steal put the Badgers ahead 5-4.
END 9:    Mun's strategy was to blank, all the way.   Mission accomplished.
END 10:    All rocks ended up off-centre guards or in the 4-foot circle.   When skips came to throw, there were 4 in the paint and 7 out front.   A wide outturn draw to the button by Hodgson hung out wide and stopped a foot deep.   Porter had to follow it down for 2, but it also hung out wide.   Despite a measure (one of 10 or 12 requested by the Sea Hawks in the event) Memorial scored just one to send the game to an extra end.
END 11:    Corrado made a double takeout in the top of the 4-foot and rolled away exposing a Brock shot rock in the back of the 4-foot.   An attempted freeze by Porter on her first hung a bit and was left 4 inches short of shot rock position.   A first rock guard by Hodgson narrowed the path a little.   A cold draw on Porter's final stone was 2 feet long and the Badgers were into the Playoffs.
 
The Sea Hawks have to be satisfied with their 5 wins and making it as far into the Women's CIS Championship as any of their predecessors.   The Sea Hawks Men's Team has already secured a berth in the Semi-Final to go 2:00 Saturday afternoon (also at the RE/MAX Centre).   They are the first Sea Hawks curling team to make a Semi-Final (but NOT the first to make the CIS Playoffs; their team a couple years ago when more universities were qualified to compete made a Quarter-Final Playoff Game).   Just the top 3 teams make the playoffs now for the right to represent Canada in a prestigious bonspiel in Karuizawa, Japan in January 2012 (or, on alternating years, the World University Games ..... played the last two times in Erzurum, Turkey and Harbin, China).
 

MEN (SEMI-FINALS)

The Memorial University Sea Hawks team of Colin Thomas, Cory Schuh, Chris Ford, Spencer Wicks, and Stephen Ryan this afternoon won their Semi-Final in convincing fashion (7-2) over the University of Alberta Golden Bears in the Dominion Insurance CCA/CIS Championship at the RE/MAX Centre in St. John's.   The top 3 teams in the 8-team championship qualified this week for the Playoffs for the right to represent Canada in a prestigious bonspiel in Karuizawa, Japan in January 2012.   The Sea Hawks go on to play the Manitoba Bisons in the Final 2:30 tomorrow (Sunday) also at the RE/MAX Centre.   The Bisons got a first round playoff bye for having the best round robin won-loss record.
 
In the Women's Semi-Final, which went down to the last rock, the Brock Badgers (who eliminated the Sea Hawks in an extra end in a tie-breaker this morning) defeated Saint Mary's Huskies by stealing the final end.   The Badgers face Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks in their Final tomorrow ..... same time; same place; same stakes.   The RE/MAX Centre is open to the public at no charge for these games.
 
The  Linescores and Highlights for the Semi-Finals were:
 
Alberta Golden Bears*        100  000  010  x  =  2
Memorial Sea Hawks     010  110  103  x  =  7
 
The Alberta Golden Bears scored in the first end on a blank attempt, and the Sea Hawks tied it 1-1 in the 2nd end when skip Colin Thomas made a cold draw to the 4-foot circle (just stopping in time).   The blanks in 3 and 6 were wide open, but the two ends before the break were "messy" and resulted in steals of singles for the Sea Hawks:
 
END 4:    Golden Bears skip Brendan Bottcher threw a high-weight runback with hammer onto 2 rocks in the 4-foot circle, but hit them the wrong way to remove both (2-1).
END 5:    Thomas made a last rock draw to the top of the 4-foot circle tight around a centre-line guard which Bottcher could not duplicate (3-1).
END 7:    Bottcher rolled out on a hit with hammer to give up a third steal (4-1).
END 8:    The Sea Hawks got out of trouble when third Cory Schuh made a runback.   Alberta rubbed the only guard trying to come around and was forced to draw the 8-foot circle (4-2).
END 9:    Thomas chipped out an almost completely buried rock with his first and has a draw for 3 to win the game (7-2).
 
Sea Hawks Coach Toby McDonald is delighted with the confident throwing and sound strategy employed this week by his young team and he hopes they can bring that game to the rink tomorrow afternoon.
 
Saint Mary's Huskies*        302  001  010  0  =    7
Brock Badgers               020  110  201  4  =  11
 
Saint Mary's Huskies showed no ill effects from having the morning off (Brock played a tie-breaker).   They dominated early and the Badgers never led the game until the final rock was thrown.
 
END 1:    Huskies skip, Sarah Rhyno, narrowly cleared a guard on a hit (3-0).
END 2:    Badgers skip, Courtney Hodgson, made a quiet weight tap for 2 (3-2).
END 3:    Rhyno made a wide outturn draw for 2 with 14 rocks in play (5-2).
END 4:    Badgers made a save, drawing for a single (5-3).
END 5:    Rhyno crashed on a guard drawing with the outturn (5-4).
END 6:    Rhyno drew the button despite there being an open rock back of the button (6-4).
 
END 7:    Rhyno missed on an outturn hit giving Hodgson a draw to tie the game (6-6).
END 8:    Seven of the first 11 stones were placed fully in the 4-foot circle (several touching each other; Broch had shot rock.   Rhyno with her first blasted two out of the rings and Saint Mary's were shot rock.   Hodgson rubbed on a draw but was able to get shot rock.   Rhyno with hammer threw an in-off and moved a couple stones less than an inch for a point (7-6).
END 9:    In a dramatic departure from the previous end, Hodgson with hammer faced a Huskies shot rock in the top of the 12-foot circle next to a Brock stone an inch behind being shot.   She needed to move shot rock 12+ feet and roll the shooter onto the rings; however she rolled her shooter out of play (7-7).
 
END 10:    -  Badger second Lauren Wasylkiw sank her first stone behind cover into the 4-foot circle
                    -  Huskies third Anita Casey wicked off a rock top 8-foot to the top of the button, exposed.
                    -  Hodgson on her first hit to plug access to the button on the left side.
                    -  Rhyno made a double takeout; Badgers still had lots of granite in play.
                    -  Hodgson replaced their stone in the 8-foot forcing a runback or a wide outturn draw.
                    -  Rhyno chose the latter (she had lost a close game earlier by being long in the same situation).   This time her rock was swept hard all the way but overcurled chipping a guard to give up a steal of 4 and the game.
 
The Men's Sea Hawks are now the first Sea Hawks curling team to make a Final at the CIS Championship.