![]() Saskatoon's Mike McEwen (photo: Anil Mungal, GSOC) won 8-3 over Sweden's Niklas Edin in Friday's B-Qualifiers. McEwen is reaping the rewards of an early start to the season, even though it started out a little rough with a 1-3 start at the Euro Super Series in August. Ever since, McEwen and his team of Colton Flasch, Kevin Marsh and Daniel Marsh have rattled off 20 wins against two losses, including a dominant victory over the reigning World champions. Edin opened with a hammer, coming closest on a re-draw without sweeping to claim the first-end advantage. After Edin blanked the first end, they scored a single point in the second end. McEwen blew the game open in the third end, scoring four points to take a 4-1 lead. McEwen held Edin to a single point in the fourth end, with teams trading singles each once more. With a two-point lead and hammer in the seventh end, McEwen took advantage of Edin's need to be aggressive by scoring three and ending the contest. Coming off their $50,000 win at the PointsBet Invitational last weekend, McEwen dropped their opening game, maybe a little sluggish after feasting on PEI seafood in celebration. In fine fashion, McEwen bounced back with two wins through the B-event, an 8-3 decision over Korey Dropkin of Duluth, Minnesota, and 7-2 over Scotland's James Craik, to advance to the playoff qualifier. McEwen lines up against Switzerland's Yannick Schwaller in Saturday's quarterfinals, scheduled at 4 pm Atlantic time at the Bell Aliant Centre in Charlottetown. |