Sweden: Niklas Edin Canada: Kevin Koe - PRESENTING - Curling Canada
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e t h e
ISSUE 9 | SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2019 AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF CURLING CANADA
Ma k
Fin a l …
PR ESE NTI NG
PARTNER-OF-THE-DAY
Sweden: Niklas Edin
Canada: Kevin Koe
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EYEOPENER • APRIL 7 • 2019 | PAGE 2
SEMIFINAL 2
Koe pure magic again
Canadian skip dazzles with circus shots to knock off Swiss
By GRANT GRANGER
EyeOpener Editor
F
or the third consecutive year it will be “I thought we could get lucky, but to say
Sweden and. Canada facing off for I knew (a quadruple) was there? No chance,”
world curling supremacy. said Koe. “A huge momentum builder early in
Although the skip wearing the Tre kronor the game.”
will once again be Niklas Edin, this time it will It wasn’t the only terrific takeout Koe
be Calgary’s Kevin Koe wearing the maple made. With his first shot in the seventh, Koe
leaf. Koe earned the spot in tonight’s final revved up the rpms again to make a skinny
of the 2019 Pioneer Hi-Bred World Men’s double to save the end which Switzerland
Curling Championship, presented by Service eventually blanked. The Swiss played well,
Experts, Heating, Air Conditioning and especially Schwarz who was 100 per cent on
Plumbing with a nerve-wracking, dramatic, his draws, including one to the four-foot in the
extra-end semifinal victory that had plenty of 10th to send the game to an extra end.
spectacular shot-making. “It was a hell of a game. I’d like to watch
With Switzerland counting two, Koe’s draw it, probably in a month’s time, to see what went
to the four-foot with the final shot of the 11th end wrong,” said Swiss skip Peter de Cruz.
just barely stopped in time to give Canada a 6-5 The defending champion Swedes, who
triumph and Koe a shot at his third world title. split the last two finals with Canada’s Brad
“I liked the weight when I let it go and Gushue, is a formidable foe, having breezed
I was fairly happy to see (lead Ben Hebert through to the final with 12 wins in 13 games.
and second Colton Flasch) sweeping it a bit “It will be a huge battle, a huge test for
because I never thought I was heavy. A little bit us,” said Koe. “Niklas is a top team in the
of panic at the end. You couldn’t hear anything world. You can tell they’re playing as good as
making it tough (to give directions to the they have in a while. I’m looking forward to
sweepers) it was so loud in here. But it hung the challenge, we’re going to have to earn it. I
on,” said the normally reserved Koe, who wouldn’t want it any other way. If we have to
fist-pumped and saluted the cheering crowd beat them to win this year I can’t wait.”
several times following the shot. Sweden defeated Japan 8-2 in the other
“It’s been awesome and hopefully we can give semifinal Saturday afternoon.
them something to cheer about tomorrow night.” While this will be Koe’s fourth final,
That noise had nothing on the rafter- it will be Edin’s fifth. He has won three of
raising standing ovation Koe got in the the previous four, including beating Brad
third end. Canada had opened the scoring Gushue a year ago in Las Vegas. A fourth
with a pair in the second end. In the third, would tie him for the most by a skip with
however, it looked like that lead was going Saskatchewan’s Ernie Richardson.
to evaporate with the Swiss having a shot “I’m not surprised to be (in the final).
at scoring two, three or even four. That was It’s been one of our best tournaments so far
until Koe unleashed a nuclear deterrent, this season,” said Edin, who admits he thinks
blasting four Swiss stones to smithereens, about the long-term historical implications
unceremoniously ousting them from the of a victory, but only because the media keep
house with two Canadian stones sticking bringing up the fact he could tie a record with
around. his fourth world title.
The crowd blew the Enmax Centre roof “It’s hard to get away from it,” said Edin.
“
off as it jumped out of their seats for a standing “I’m super excited. We’re playing with lots
ovation. The shot left fourth Benoît Schwarz of confidence. We’ve been in a lot of big
little choice but to draw for one. finals.”We’ve won most of them.”
I thought we could get
lucky, but to say I knew (a
quadruple) was there? No
Canada’s B.J. Neufeld (left) and Colton Flasch let out a whoop and a holler after skip chance.
Kevin Koe’s final rock stopped in the four-foot for the winning point against Switzerland.
— Kevin Koe
34367-39-serx-327 Edmonton N-Eyeopener Ad-5.13x11.23.pdf 1 2/4/19 7:38 AM
EYEOPENER • APRIL 7 • 2019 | PAGE 3
Canada’s Ben Hebert (left) and Kevin Koe salute the crowd Saturday.
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EYEOPENER • APRIL 7 • 2019 | PAGE 5
World Men’s Curling Championship
Lethbridge 2019
SEMIFINAL 1
Swedes cruise into final
Defending champs put on clinical performance against Japan
think we got almost all of those together. Edin immediately responded with two in the No real mistakes but we’ll talk about those details that
By JOHN KOROBANIK “This might be one of our best tournaments as a seventh with a gentle last-rock tap back of Japan’s we didn’t get perfect and hopefully we can put on
Eye Opener Writer team,” Edin said of his team’s week. “We can do the counter at the back of the four foot. another game like this, or even one step better.
A
same in the final so the team we play is going to have Edin, looking to tie Canadian Ernie Richardson as In the eighth, with Japan trying for two to get back
s they have done all through the tournament, to play really well.” the only skips to win four world titles, was as sharp as into the game, Edin made a tight double to shot rock
Niklas Edin and his defending world That’s not encouraging news for his finalist he’s been all week, shooting an impressive 95 per cent and ended up with a steal of one that prompted Japan
championship team from Sweden put on a opponent. Sweden finished atop the round-robin in the game. As a team Sweden shot 92 per cent. to shake hands.
clinical performance Saturday in their 8-2 semifinal standings at 11-1, only twice was taken to a full 10 Edin said after the disappointment of losing in the “Arguably the best team in the world right now,”
win over Yuta Matsumura of Japan at the Pioneer Hi- ends and had no problems disposing of Japan in eight Olympic final, his team’s performance this week has Ursel said of the Swedish foursome. “Sweden didn’t
Bred World Men’s Curling Championship, presented ends. been a pleasant surprise. miss all game and we were a little bit off. Gave them
by Service Experts, Heating, Air Conditioning, Edin, third Oskar Eriksson, second Rasmus “We haven’t had the best of seasons. After the an early deuce and that’s a hard team to come back
Plumbing. Wranä and lead Christoffer Sundgren, scored two in Olympics it’s been mentally a bit tougher than the against.”
Edin himself moved within one win of a the first end on Edin’s last-rock tap back. They took last few seasons. We kind of had to work on our Japan will play in the bronze-medal game Sunday
record-tying fourth title and he gets his shot at that in control of the game with three in the fourth after a momentum and our mental aspects going into this at 12 noon.
Sunday’s final. costly half-shot on a hit-and-stick by Japan that left event.” “I don’t think I’m going to have to do too much to
“That was a pretty clinical performance,” Edin Edin a raise rap back that he executed to perfection. That work has paid off handsomely, but the get these guys pumped up for the game,” said Ursel.
said of his victory. “We talked about the details going Matsumura, third Tetsuro Shimizu, second veteran skip said there’s still room for improvement. “Japan has never finished in the medal round before,
into this game. We played really solid all week … so Yasumasa Tanida and lead Shinya Abe, were forced to “After we got the lead we had a few peels that ran so I think it’s a big goal for them this year to do, so I
we just wanted to improve on the small details and I take singles in the second and sixth ends. a little straight. We have to be careful of that tomorrow. expect them to come out firing.”
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EYEOPENER • APRIL 7 • 2019 | PAGE 6
Super show, Lethbridge
World championship event hit all the right notes
venue for curling. “We’ve got a lot of the same
By GRANT GRANGER “It’s a lower-seated arena and so that volunteers, which makes me feel
EyeOpener Writer makes it better for the fans and for the good. I guess they don’t mind
players because everybody’s close. The volunteering for an event that I’m in
Lethbridge resident Gord McNabb fans feel like they’re playing on the ice charge of, so that helps a lot.”
is pretty proud of the 2019 Pioneer with the players,” said McNabb. The availability of
Hi-Bred World Men’s Curling “They’ve got lots of features they’ve accommodation in Lethbridge is
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Along with living in Lethbridge, In addition to the arena, The Patch added Curling Canada would likely be
McNabb was the event’s general was bopping every night. amenable to returning to the Bridge
manager. “It’s a really good setup with it being City for another major event.
“The event went really well, which right outside the door of the arena. “For sure … I know there’s
is not surprising based on how the We’ve had good entertainment, the been talk the city would be
community took to the worlds coming volunteers in the patch have worked interested in hosting a Brier here
to Lethbridge. It was a great bunch of extremely hard, lots of alcohol is sometime. I don’t know if that’s
volunteers, the building’s been excellent being sold and everybody seems to be the plan, but that’s just a rumour.” GORD M
having fun with no major issues,” said There’s no reason why it wouldn’t cNABB
to deal with. The hotels worked with
us, so overall there hasn’t been any McNabb. work because the Tim Hortons Brier Lethbridge,
hiccups. Everything has met our He also managed the 2007 Scotties was recently held in Brandon which there’s lots of people outside of the
expectations,” said McNabb. and 2012 world women’s championship is a similar-sized facility but with a city as well, lots of little towns that do
Even though the Enmax Centre is at Enmax and would recommend population about half the size. support the curling event here.”
about 45 years old it has been a good Curling Canada hold more events here. “And the community, outside of
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EYEOPENER • APRIL 7 • 2019 | PAGE 9
Dads get a chance
to cheer on their sons
as say the Brier, and even here,” said Fred. “It was just
By GRANT GRANGER inches. Everybody else, the (United States), they just
came up and made all the shots that you don’t expect
F
EyeOpener Writer
them to make all the time.
red Koe sits with his large maple leaf flag and “I’ve never really talked to him about it, but I think
pole, his Canada cap, jacket and Canadian his goal (in Lethbridge) is to redeem himself from
Olympic backpack ready to celebrate. Korea. He put this team together going to the next
The 72-year-old is always on guard to cheer his kids cycle, but winning the Brier was a goal, obviously,
when they curl. Also to coach and support them. Has and winning this worlds where he’s playing the same
been for more than four decades. teams, pretty much, that were in the Olympics.”
Getting to cheer one of them, in this case son Kevin This season Kevin recruited Winnipegger B.J.
who is skipping Canada at the 2019 Pioneer Hi-Bred Neufeld to play third and Saskatchewan’s Colton
World Men’s Curling Championship, on True North Flasch at second joining long-time lead Ben Hebert.
Strong and Free soil is particularly special. “They’re pretty awesome, and it showed in the
“I don’t know if it’s easier. At this level, it’s a little Brier. The combination of B.J. and him is excellent.
tenser,” said Fred. “The competition is so much better The communication, there was not the nattering, they
and games are so much tighter that every team is decide what to do, put the broom and make the shot. I
putting pressure on Canada.” think that helps Kevin a lot,” said Fred.
Fred went to Italy to see his kid win in 2010, to Although this is the first time Neufeld’s father, Chris,
Beijing in 2014 when he didn’t, but missed 2016 in has watched his son play in a world championship, he
Basel, Switzerland, where his son captured his second. has been there before but as a player. He was the long-
The whole family, including twins Jamie Koe and Kerry time second for Manitoba’s Vic Peters and they won
Galusha, who have represented the Northwest Territories the 1992 Brier in Regina by defeating Ontario’s Russ
numerous times, went to Korea last year to watch Kevin Howard in the final 4-3.
play in the Olympics where he finished fourth.
“It was enjoyable. I didn’t feel the tension as much SEE DADS, Page 11
Fred Koe travels to watch son Kevin play.
EYEOPENER • APRIL 7 • 2019 | PAGE 10
QUALIF YING GAMES
End of the line for Scots, Yanks
Future still bright
for two great teams
By GRANT GRANGER
EyeOpener Writer
The Scots managed to climb out of the hole they’d dug themselves, but
didn’t have enough left to stand on the podium.
Canada jumped out to a 4-1 lead after three ends and then held on
from there to defeat Scotland, skipped by 24-year-old Bruce Mouat, 6-5
to advance to the semifinals of the 2019 Pioneer Hi-Bred World Men’s
Curling Championship, presented by Service Experts, Heating, Air
Conditioning and Plumbing.
Although Mouat’s team is ranked in the top four in the world, it had
to overcome a 1-3 start to finish at 8-4 record, including an 8-6 win over
the Canadians thanks to a three in the 10th end, to nab the sixth and final
playoff spot. But all that hard work wasn’t rewarded when they ran up
against Canada at its best.
“We had to fight all week and we had to fight in that one,” said Mouat.
“We didn’t come out as strong as we wanted to. We gave up twos in the
first three ends, it’s pretty tough to come back from that. As always, we
seem to be quite resilient and we were sticking together and we managed to
get back in the game.
The Americans discuss strategy: L-R: Matt Hamilton, Chris Plys, John Landsteiner. CONTINUED OPPOSITE PAGE
LETHBRIDGE’S
EYEOPENER • APRIL 7 • 2019 | PAGE 11
“I could say it was disappointing, but you have to come
out and play well against Canada everytime you play
them. You’re not going to get an easy game, so it was a bit
frustrating to have played so well in the last four games
Dads
and then come out and maybe have a few misses that we FROM PAGE 9
weren’t getting in the last half of the (round robin).” That meant they represented Canada at the worlds in
They certainly had the respect of their opponents. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany where they lost in
“They’re a great team that never seems to go away,” said the semifinals to Scotland’s Hammy McMillan 4-3 after
Koe. finishing first in the round robin.
Despite the loss, the future is bright for Mouat, third He’s spent the last several seasons coaching B.J.
Grant Hardie, 27, second Bobby Lammie, 22, and lead and his older brother Denni on a team skipped by Mike
Hammy McMillan, Jr., 26, a team that defeated Sweden’s McEwen that broke up last off-season.
Niklas Edin in the European final in November.
“It’s nerve-wracking,” said Chris of watching instead
“It was a great year last year, and this year we seemed
to be playing just as well, if not better. We’ve still got
of coaching. “You’d think after years and years and
some work to do if we’re ever going to win this thing, years, you’d get used to it. I have to some degree, but
but we’re darn well going to try,” said Mouat. “It’s just a you’re always kind of hoping for the best, hoping they’ll
few more years of experience for us. We’re still a young perform, and, of course, you’re hoping they’re going to
team. We’re beating a lot of experienced guys, so I don’t win in the end ... It’s a real different mindset.”
see it’s going to be that far in the future, so hopefully it’s When Koe’s team won the Tim Hortons Brier, B.J.
going to come. got a little choked up when asked about his father.
In the other qualification game, Japan’s Yuta Matsumura “To be honest, I didn’t think it was that big a thing to
drew to the button, without his sweepers laying a broom him. Obviously, the emotion has been there for a long
to it, on his final shot in an extra end to defeat the reigning time,” said Chris. “When you play that many games
American Olympic gold medallists 7-6. and you put so much into it, there’s so much emotion
“We played really, really good all week. We didn’t quite that’s pent up, and at the end you really don’t know how
execute as well the second half of the week, me personally, so you’re going to react, and (at the Brier) he had some
it’s kind of a bummer,” said U.S. skip John Shuster of being emotion about it.”
eliminated right off the bat in the playoffs by the Japanese. Chris realizes they didn’t get the job done 27 years
“They’re gritty, they’re good players, they throw good rocks. ago. But after achieving a dream of winning a Brier in
They don’t make too many tactical errors as well.” front of big crowds, playing before tiny ones a long way
Most of the attention in the arena was on the Canada- from home was anticlimactic.
Scots game going on two sheets over. It was almost like “We played very, very well, but it was difficult to
the Japanese and Americans were performing in a vacuum, be motivated. We thought at that time we had won the
although Shuster didn’t see it that way. “I was curling on a
best event in the world (the Brier), so it was hard to be
curling sheet against Japan, and I could hear my wife and
kids up there cheering, and that’s about all that I hear. So motivated. I actually feeling a little bit of regret that I
it’s all good.” Scotland’s Bruce Mouat had Canada’s Kevin Koe wasn’t motivated to play,” said Chris.
breathing down his neck the entire game.
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Eat. Enjoy. Experience.EYEOPENER • APRIL 7 • 2019 | PAGE 12
LEFT: Bob Ursel is one of four Canadians who coached teams at
4
the world championship.
ABOVE: Grant Hardie (left) and Bruce Mouat of Scotland are
among a group of great young players taking over the game.
Top Takeaways from Lethbridge
1 2 3 4
Parity on the way Kids are all right One great city Our coaches
If Gary Bettman was in charge It’s become evident curling’s Canadian and international The rest of the world may be
of world curling he’d love it. age demographic is a concern. events move around this catching up to Canada in terms
Parity, that is. Parity is on its But there’s hope on the country, but some cities turn out of skill, but maybe it has a lot to
way, even if Canadian curling horizon. Scotland’s Bruce to be special hosts. Lethbridge do with the Canadian coaches
zealots might not like it. Mouat is just 23 and his team has been one of them. who are helping them. They
Sweden’s Niklas Edin keeps has been one of the world’s Mostly, it is the people — the seems to be everywhere, and
getting better. The Swiss, best the last two years. The volunteers, the folks who serve no less than four were here
Scots and Americans are kids from The Netherlands you at the restaurants, the fans this week. They were, in no
forces, even Japan and Italy. keep getting better every you bump into in the concourse particular order, Bob Ursel of
There’s no denying Canada’s year. Although the junior team of the arena. Lethbridge really Japan, Don Bartlett of the United
depth is much deeper than any Norway sent struggled, the kids did itself proud this week, and States, Shari Leibbrandt of the
other country — by far and it present promise for the future the curlers from around the Netherlands, and Dan Rafael of
isn’t even close — but it’s still as do Italy’s twin towers (early world who came here to play China. Surely curling coaches
good to see the game’s elite 20s) and German skip Marc in the event were blessed. This must be one of Canada’s chief
numbers grow. Muskatewitz, 23. was one wonderful site. exports.EYEOPENER • APRIL 7 • 2019 | PAGE 13
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The
Elementary school kids
livened up the Enmax Centre
ENVELOPES
during the morning draws.
. . . please!
« Y
ou come to expect certain truths in this Pioneer Hi-Bred World Men’s Curling Champi- True, his teammates often make it easy for him,
world. You expect to drop your toast jam- onship, presented by Service Experts, Heating, but Edin makes the tough shots he has to make
side down, you expect dust balls under Air Conditioning and Plumbing. consistetly. Canada’s Kevin Koe also had some
your bed, surprise company at dinnertime and a Best interview — There’s not a lot of them highlight reel shots on his resumé.
politician to speak out of both sides of his or her because of a language barrier for some countries, The ice — Not a peep from the curlers this
mouth. but John Shuster of the U.S. always has some week, so that tells you everything you need to
And you certainly expect any event held in interesting things to say. Ditto for Niklas Edin of know about Jamie Bourassa’s ice. Curlers are
DAVE Lethbridge to be a bang-up show.
Glad to say, this year’s production was
Sweden.
Toughest week — Has to be Norway’s
spoiled on this side of the pond when it comes to
ice they get to play on.
KOMOSKY first-rate. Magnus Ramsfjell. The kids came in with high Smiles of the week —Anyone from Japan.
Highlights? You got ’em. Low spots? Only hopes but never got untracked.
the traffic lights. Other than that, a lotta fun. Best shooter — Edin is always near the top See THE ENVELOPES
Here, then, is looking at the best of the 2019 of the stats story, and he was again this week.
OPPOSITE PAGE
Thank You to our Friends of the 2019 Pioneer Hi-Bred World Men’s Curling ChampionshipEYEOPENER • APRIL 7 • 2019 | PAGE 15
The envelopes
The weather — Super. After a
long, cold winter on the curling trail,
it was nice to put the parka away
and enjoy a little warm sun on the
Biggest comeback — The cheering for Canada) — No one face. Windy some days but, hey, this
Scots lost three of their first four has more fun than the Scots. is Lethbridge.
games and then won seven of their The so-sad story — The The building — The Enmax
last eight to finish 8-4 and make the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Centre has been around for a few
playoffs. Well done. Western Hockey League were in years, but it’s still a very functional
Best off-the-ice quip — U.S. the thick of a playoff series with facility. Perhaps that’s why they
skip John Shuster who said to the the Calgary Hitmen but were shut keep putting major curling events in
media after the game against Koe, out of the Enmax Centre, their the building.
who made a spectacular in-off to home, because of the world event. The Patch — Just a short walk
help beat him: “As I told (third) Their last two home games were from the ice surface, there was plenty
Chris (Plys), ‘Well, we left him the played in cramped quarters, and of room and it was hopping on some
Kevin Koe Special, let’s see if the they lost them both. nights. But one TV screen? C’mon
old Kudog is still here’ and there he Best unis — The players get to guys, we needed more than that.
was.” have a hand in the design, so it’s not The crowds — Very good.
Doubles Award — To either a suprise to see that some of them The Canadian team drew the biggest
Koe or third B.J. Neufeld who had were too busy and others a bit drab. crowds, of course. It was great to see
to make a bunch of them this week. But red, black and white always the elementary school kids there for
And when they weren’t making works, so let’s give it to the Swiss the morning draws when attendance
those, they were making runbacks. for their clean look. And that logo is was down. They always liven up the
Tough way to make a living. a plus, too! place.
Biggest surprise — The play Best pub — They say the The volunteers — First class,
of the Japanese. Nobody expected Kingsmen is great but we enjoyed as usual. They make the show, for
Yuta Matsumura’s boys to climb this Ten Ten down the street. Daily no dough. Hats off to them. A spe-
high. specials were wonderful. cial tip of the hat to Ken Holmes and
Feel-good story — Dads Fred Best place to eat — Leth- his transportation crew. Absoluetly
Koe and Chris Neufeld in the build- bridge has a lot of good places to eat first-class service.
ing to cheer on their sons who were but, get this, we found the buffet at The city — Lethbridge is a
trying to win a championship for Imperial China our favourite, if only booming, progressive city. And once
Canada. Parents can’t always follow because Yan Yan served us. What you get your bearings, it’s not that
their boys to world championships, a delightful young lady. Not much hard to get around. And the townfolk
especially in Europe, so this was wrong with the schnitzel at Tele- are as friendly as heck. How soon can It was a tough week for Norway’s Magnus
special for both of them. graph Tap House. And that water they get another event back here? Ramsfjell who couldn’t get his game going.
Best fans (other than those tower place got good reviews, too.EYEOPENER • APRIL 7 • 2019 | PAGE 16
W rld Scoreboard
LINESCORES
Qualifying games
9 a.m.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Scotland (Mouat) 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 — 5
STANDINGS
Canada (Koe) *2 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 — 6
Japan (Matsumura) *2 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 — 6
USA (Shuster) 01 1 0 1 1 0 002 0 — 7
FINAL ROUND-ROBIN Semifinals
Final standings 2 p.m.
W L Sweden (Edin) *2 0 0 3 0 0 2 1 x x — 8
Japam (Matsumura) 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 x x — 2
Sweden (Edin) 11 1
Switzerland (de Cruz) 9 3 7 p.m.
Canada (Koe) 9 3 Switzerland (de Cruz) 00 1 0 1 0 0 201 0 — 5
Canada (Koe) *0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 — 6
Japan (Matsumura) 9 3
* — Last rock
U.S. (Shuster) 8 4
Scotland (Mouat) 8 4
Italy (Retornaz) 7 5
Germany (Muskatewitz) 4 8
SCHEDULE
Russia (Glukhov) 4 8 TODAY
Noon
Netherlands (van Dorp) 4 8 BRONZE-MEDAL GAME
Switzerland (de Cruz) vs. Japan (Matsumura)
China (Zou) 2 10 5 p.m.
Norway (Ramsfjell) 2 10 GOLD-MEDAL GAME Japan’s Yuta Matsumura celebrates his
South Korea (Kim) 1 11
Sweden (Edin) vs. Canada (Koe) semifinal victory over the United States.You can also read
