(Jan 21, 2009) -- Winnipeg’s Burtnyk and Stoughton also post victories to open the men’s third 2008-09 Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event
WINNIPEG, January 21, 2009 – Kevin Martin’s (Edmonton, Alta.) bid for a third consecutive BDO Classic Canadian Open title began on a successful note this evening as the reigning World Champion hammered Scotland’s Tom Brewster (Aberdeen, Scotland) 7-2 during the opening draw of the season’s third Capital One Grand Slam of Curling event at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.
Martin seized control of the game in the opening end, executing a draw for three points. After stealing a point in the fourth end for a 5-1 advantage, Martin stole two more points in the fifth end after Brewster failed to draw to the button through a tight port.
“It doesn’t matter how many times you play in these events,” said Martin. “They’re big events and you get keyed up for the first game. To have three in the first end relaxes everybody and then away you go. That’s big for any team in any event, but in the big events like this, that’s a huge momentum builder.”
Kerry Burtnyk (Winnipeg, Man.) joined Martin at 1-0 with a 5-4 victory over Mike McEwen (Winnipeg, Man.). Tied at 3-3, McEwen grabbed his first lead of the game in the seventh end after Burtnyk miscued on his takeout attempt, resulting in a one-point steal.
Burtnyk quickly bounced back in the eighth end, executing an open hit to score two points for the win.
“I thought our team played pretty well and Mike made some really big shots himself,” said Burtnyk. “Both of us got a little bit fortunate on one or two occasions, but it was really more about the makes than it was about the misses. We got a little fortunate there at the end to have a chance, but I thought we deserved a chance too.”
In other Draw 1 action, Jeff Stoughton (Winnipeg, Man.), who previously captured the BDO Classic Canadian Open championship in 2005-06, powered past Joel Jordison (Moose Jaw, Sask.) 8-4.
Tied at 4-4, Stoughton jumped ahead in the sixth end after a Jordison miscue allowed the former World Championship gold medallist an open hit for two points.
Draw 1 concluded with Pat Simmons (Davidson, Sask.) edging Reid Carruthers (Winnipeg, Man.) 5-4 in an extra end while reigning Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue (St. John’s, Nfld.) also need overtime to squeeze past Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud (Oslo, Norway) 4-3 in an extra end.
Featuring a total of 18 rinks, Thursday’s draw times for the BDO Classic Canadian Open are set for 10:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. CST respectively.
The top eight teams following the conclusion of round robin play qualify for the tournament’s quarterfinals on Saturday, January 24 at 2:00 p.m. CST.
The BDO Classic Canadian Open features a total purse of $100,000. The tournament’s winning team will receive a maximum of $25,000.
Held annually since 2001-02, the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is a series of eight premier men’s and women’s events that boast Canada’s deepest and strongest curling fields.
The Capital One Grand Slam of Curling is one of a select few events that are tied to the Canadian Curling Association\'s qualifying process for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Through their performance in the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling events, rinks can earn points towards securing a berth at the 2009 Canadian Trials.
About BDO
BDO Dunwoody LLP is Canada\'s sixth largest accounting services and advisory firm. Our team serves a highly diverse clientele, which includes owner-managed businesses, large enterprises, mid-market public companies, community organizations, not-for-profit agencies, and professional firms. From agriculture to real estate, technology to union pensions, and aboriginal communities to municipalities, the professionals at BDO Dunwoody have the expertise to handle any business sector.
BDO Dunwoody LLP is a Member Firm of BDO International. BDO International is a global network of public accounting firms, called BDO Member Firms, serving international clients. The network is comprised of 95 Member Firms in 107 countries, with over 30,000 professionals on staff in over 600 offices worldwide to take on a multitude of services. For more information visit www.bdo.ca.
About Capital One
Located in Toronto, Ontario, Capital One has offered Canadian consumers a range of competitive MasterCard® credit cards since 1996, when the company first introduced the Platinum MasterCard® in Canada. Capital One Canada is a division of Capital One Bank, a subsidiary of Capital One Financial Corporation of McLean, Virginia (NYSE: COF).
About Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba
Since its establishment in 1971, the Children\'s Hospital Foundation has been working to meet the unique pediatric medical and research needs of children. Funds raised through the BDO Canadian Open will help the Foundation fund specialized equipment and programs at the Children’s Hospital and pediatric research at its research division, the Manitoba Institute of Child Health. Each year, 130,000 kids are treated at Children\'s Hospital and the Foundation strives to ensure that each of them receives the very best medical care possible….because children need us.
About Insight Sports Ltd.
Insight Sports Ltd. is a leading North American sports media and entertainment company which owns, creates, aggregates and distributes sports and entertainment content across multiple platforms, including broadcast television, events, on-line, mobile, in-arena and video on-demand. Among its event assets, Insight Sports owns and operates the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling (www.worldcurlingtour.com), a series of eight high-profile men’s and women’s events that feature Canada’s deepest and strongest curling fields. |
