Three Estevan-based curling teams have qualified for the playoff round at the Saskatchewan Curling Association’s mixed provincials at the Power Dodge Curling Centre.
The Wade St. Onge rink defeated Tye Olson’s team 6-5 in a battle of two teams playing out of Estevan. St. Onge scored once in the seventh end to tie the game, and stole one in the eighth and final end for the victory.
The St. Onge team won three straight on Saturday to qualify out of the C event. They defeated Aaron Verbeem 7-6, and then won 6-5 over Michelle Englot, who has won the provincial Scotties Tournament of Hearts women’s curling championships on numerous occasions.
The other members of the St. Onge rink are third Courtney Montgomery, second Tyler Corbin and lead Jana Anseth.
Olson’s team was comprised of third Taylor Marcotte, second Allan Walter and lead Deanna Marcotte.
The Olson rink defeated Justin Heather 8-7 in an extra end in their first game Saturday, but lost 6-2 to the Tyler Hartung rink. That team features Robyn Silvernagle and Kara Thevenot, who were part of Team Saskatchewan in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts national curling championship earlier this year.
The Kris Keating rink, with third Chelsey Emberley, second Marcus Lau and lead Chantel Martin, punched their ticket for the playoffs with a 9-5 victory over Ben Gamble. Keating scored four in the seventh end to break open a 5-5 game.
The Keating rink has won four straight games after two early losses. They edged Estevan’s Brent Gedak 8-7 in their first game Saturday, knocking Gedak out of the tournament, and then blanked Dave Wetsch 8-0 in their second game before beating Gamble.
The Shawn Meyer team, with third Alexandra Meyer, second Austin Williamson and lead Leah Moriarty, defeated the Shane Kitz rink 6-3 in their C final. Meyer scored twice in the eighth end to finish the game.
Meyer started Saturday with a 6-4 win over Gamble in the B event, but then lost 10-0 in the B final to Shaun Meachem.
The quarterfinals start at= 9 a.m. Keating will play defending provincial mixed champion Jason Ackerman, Meyer will face Hartung and St. Onge will play Meachem. Heather will play Dustin Kalthoff in the other quarterfinal.
The semifinals are at 1 p.m. and the final is 5 p.m.
