CurlingZone: Koe Beats Dunstone, Moves to 2-1 at Trials

Alberta's Kevin Koe (Picture: Anil Mungal, Grand Slam of Curling) is back in the win column at the 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Trials, after picking up a 10-3 victory over Saskatchewan's Matt Dunstone.

By: Dylan Chenier

Draw 6 at the SaskTel Centre got underway with Koe blanking in the first after starting with the hammer. A Deuce in the second end gave the Calgary-based rink an early 2-0 lead. Dunstone answered right back in the third, picking up a score of two.

Following a blanked fourth end, Koe started to break things open a bit in the fifth, making a huge score of four. The Alberta-based rink held a 6-2 lead going into the break.

In the sixth end, the hometown team was unable to take advantage of the hammer, after Dunstone was to settle for a single point.

In the seventh, Koe was able to build on his lead, making an easy draw for two.

Facing a bevy of rocks on his last shot in the eighth, Dunstone was unable to clear Koe's stones, handing him a steal of two.

With the score getting out of hand, Dunstone decided to shake hands after the eighth end, giving Koe a 10-3 win.

For the defending Trials champions, Monday's victory puts them at 2-1, after falling to Newfoundland's Brad Gushue 7-3 on Sunday.

Koe's rink will now enjoy a lengthy rest, as they have a bye in Draw 8 on Tuesday afternoon, the only men's game of the day.

Team Koe will next see action on Wednesday morning against their provincial-rivals Team Brendan Bottcher. Bottcher's Edmonton-based rink suffered their third-straight loss of the event on Monday, after falling to Brad Jacobs 5-2.

The two squads have met twice so far this season, with Koe holding a 2-0 record. Their most recent matchup came at the GSOC Boost National in Chestermere, where Koe took home a 6-4 victory.

In other Draw 6 action, Mike McEwen beat Jason Gunlaugson 11-2 in a lopsided Battle of Manitoba, and Brad Gushue got by Ontario's John Epping 8-6.

After six draws, Gushue and Jacobs sit atop the standings at 3-0, with Mike McEwen just behind at 2-0.

The 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Trials runs through November 28th.

SCORES and STANDINGS at www.curlingzone.com

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