The 1 versus 2 game started off with a crowd roar before the game even started. The Northern Ontario and Ontario teams were piped onto the ice and Team Ontario emerged from the bowels of the Metro Centre wearing bright yellow sou’westers!  Both a “thank you” gesture to the Brier fans and also a smart move to gain crowd support.

And there’s a great crowd on hand tonight – here to watch what will hopefully be a great game but also to get a ticket in the incredible 50/50 draw. The take for Thursday night was just over $15,000!!

During the first end, the “SOCIABLE” crew (gang from Calgary who are here to make the Brier a unique experience and we are loving them!) walked into thier seats with bright gold T-shirts on and wigs – they are holding their own Kevin Martin look-alike contest. More on them later on….

End #1 – Glenn Howard draws for 2, Brad comes down and makes an across the house double (to a roar from the crowd) and rolls out to allow Glenn to easily blank the end.

End #2 – On Richard Hart’s last rock, he makes a beautiful draw around a corner guard to lie 2. A runback of a guard attempt was successful in making only the peel and missed removing any yellow rocks in the house. Brad’s last shot was an attempt at a triple – successful in removing 2 rocks on the four foot but rolled just a titch too far, leaving Glenn and open draw for 2.

The crowd is loving the daring shots already made by Jacobs, but one can only wonder how long this bravado will last.

End #3 – Missed opportunity by E.J. Harnden on a sail-through-the-house draw behind a guard was repeated by Richard Hart on his second – not exactly how you should trade shots. E.J.’s second attempt on the draw was perfect. Glenn’s angle raise juuuussst barely ticked shot stone and skidded out. Brad sucks another one around to be buried lying 2. Glenn’s hit and roll attempt again ticks on a guard and leaves the house open for a draw for 3 – it is good and the crowd and moose calls join forces.

The break saw emcee Stu firing Tim Horton’s timbits so that Richard (from the “Sociables”) could catch one in his mouth to win a Tim Horton’s coffee maker.  This week honestly wouldn’t be the same without these guys (and one girl Jacqui!) - they are here to have fun and the crowds and Patch Patrons have adopted them all.

End #4 – On Glenn’s first rock, he is playing a freeze to NONT’s rock on the side of the four. Yellow is shot but not for long as Brad picks out the Ontario stone and still leaves three in the house for Glenn to draw against (the bravado is continuing). Glenn comes up a couple inches short and it is a whopping steal of 1 for the SOO boys.

The crowd is abuzz, the wave starts, and the ON/NO battle continues into the night.

End #5 – Brad makes a great side-by-side double on his first to lie one. Glenn and he reply with nose hits each. Glenn’s final shot overcurls on his hit for 2 and only takes one.  I am getting weary of writing “missed opportunities”!!  Never thought I would be typing this about Glenn Howard’s shots.

The fifth end break saw a demonstration of both the visually impaired Nova Scotia’s Provincial Womens Team and our Provincial Wheelchair curling team as well. Interesting for all those to see that curling is a sport to be enjoyed by everyone – both recreationally and competitively.

End #6 – Northern Ontario is playing so well…… casually making every shot that Brad is calling. Then Richard makes a very tight tap back to lie 3 on his 2nd shot – his rock JUST gets between 2 front guard stones by millimetres. TSN keeps repeating the shot on the SilverVision (our Jumbotron). E.J. Replies
with the same shot and his double attenpt brings the crowd to their feet but Ontario still lies 2. Glenn draws one to the four foot to lie 3 and Brad taps it back to lie 1 red.  A gentle tap back by Howard presents 4 for Brad to draw against. And he succeeds for 1.

End #7 – E.J. Harnden is on fire – makes a pick double of 2 Ontario stones to lie 2 in perfect line from the top of the four foot to the back 8. On his second shot he picks out Richard’s freeze attempt that went sideways. Richard’s second shot – draw around the red rock in the top four – just ticks on the way by.  Brad’s last shot overcurled on his takeout and rolled out – Glenn makes the blank to go to the 8th end down by 2.

The 7th end break Jack Cox from Ontario – the mad Ontario flag runner – he is 78 – well, he’ll be 79 in 11 days.  He spends his time in the arena running up the stairs – and as he told emcee Stu, he doesn’t run DOWN the steps.  The crowd urges him onand gives him a standing ovation – even team Ontario stops to honour him. He is well recognized fan and a true inspiration to the curling world.

End #8 – Glenn’s first stone makes the takeout to lie 3. Shots are repeated and the final count for Howard is a big 3. He needs this to get back in the game – never expecting to be down that much. But then again I don’t think he was expecting E.J. And Brad to be so red hot.

Now I have migrated to the Patch and sitting with some Calgary friends (Sloane, Marla, Bernie, Mark, and Rob) to finish typing. Just had to make it in early to the Patch because it is going to be hopping tonight.

End #9 – E.J.’s raise back to tap an Ontario rock off the 4 ft to lie 2 buried has the Patch People howling.  Well, maybe the howl just got a little bit louder than the usual level in here. Richard replies with a tap back but can’t move the pile of red off the 4 ft. Glenn’s first rock is an angled raise tap back which removes the back NONT rock. Glenn calls a time out and then decides to draw the back of the 4. Sliding only 2 inches too long, Brad draws for 2 with the Ontario rock as backing. Comes up 1 inch too  short. Unbelievable curling happening here in the Patch………!

End #10 – Tied coming home….nothing like people being on the edge of their seats (or under the table).
And the end starts with 2 perfect guard/tick shot combinations – these guys are good! Several guards and peel shots later, Brad heads to the hack and throws a come around that is still open. A perfect hit and roll to the 4 ft. is Glenn’s answer. Brad’s final stone is a tap back but it is off centre and Glenn speeds to the hack to throw an open hit and stay for 2!

The Patch People are saying while the rock is coming down - “We can’t imagine he will miss this shot!” And Glenn, Richard, Brent, and Craig didn’t disappoint. They are off the the final on Sunday and await the Semi-Final winner.

Awesome job on behalf of both teams – and both the arena crowd and the Patch People approve.

So off we head to Saturday and the 3-4 game……unfortunately yours truly will be absent due to a work committment but will report in on the Semi-final game.

Saying “Good Night” from the Patch and sending greetings from the residents here…….!

Meg Wallace
CurlingZone.com