CurlingZone: Epping Steals Into Red Deer Qualifiers

It took two points in the 8th and a steal in the extra for Sudbury's John Epping to advance past Daniel Casper (Chaska, USA).

Epping with Jake Horgan at third, Tanner Horgan and Ian McMillan on the front end have been making waves on the season, rising to 10th overall on the current season rankings (YTD), putting the veteran skipper back in the sights of the Grand Slams after last competing in the top tier at the Masters in January 2023.

Epping fell behind early against Casper, with Danny back in the lineup following an injury absence. Luc Violette, Ben Richardson, and Aidan Oldenburg round out the lineup for one of the up-and-coming teams in the USA Curling program.

Casper scored two points in the second end, then stole one in the third end to lead 3-0, though Epping returned the favour, scoring two and stealing a point to even the score.

Casper scored two points in the sixth end to take the advantage, with Epping blanking the seventh end to set up their late-game heroics.

The win moves Epping into the B-event qualifier against Winnipeg's Matt Dunstone in the 28-team triple knockout bracket being used in Red Deer.

In their opening game, Epping defeated Johnson Tao (Edmonton, AB) 6-4, then won 6-2 against Japan's Riku Yanagisawa. Epping lost 5-4 against Korey Dropkin (Duluth, MN), dropping them to the B-event, where they responded with a 8-2 win over Yusuke Morozumi (Karuizawa, Japan).

Epping has lost twice to Dunstone this season, dropping a 6-5 decision in the quarterfinals of the Henderson Metal Fall Classic in Sault Ste Marie, then following up with a 5-1 decision the following weekend in their opening game at the Nufloors Penticton Curling Classic.

Braden Calvert plays Jordan McDonald in an all-Winnipeg battle in the other B-qualifier game.

Sunday's B-Qualifier games go at 4:30 pm Mountain Time (MT), with the 8-team single knockout playoff round starting Monday morning and finishing with the championship final at 3:30 pm MT.

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