Gagné upsets Ménard to win Quebec

François Gagné of Montreal upset Jean-Michel Ménard of St-Romuald, 8-7 in an extra end, to win the Quebec provincial men’s curling championship Sunday, February 6 at the Buckingham Arena in Gatineau.

Team Quebec

Gagne had finished fourth in the 10-team round robin with a 6-3 mark, then defeated Daniel Bédard, 10-7 in the Page 3 vs 4 game to advance to the semi-final. Meanwhile, Ménard, the 2006 Brier winner and world men’s silver medallist, had finished first with a 7-2 mark, before defeating defending champion Serge Reid of Jonquiere, 10-1 to advance to the final. Gagne then ousted Reid, 7-6, in an extra end semi-final to set up the showdown with the heavily-favoured Ménard. Ménard was up 5-4 playing nine with hammer before giving up a steal of three. Although he got a deuce in the 10th end to force the extra, Gagné eventually prevailed. It will be the first Brier appearance for Gagné, third Robert Desjardins and second Christian Bouchard. But, it will be the third appearance for lead Philippe Ménard, who was the alternate for his brother Jean-Michel in 2008 and 2009. The team will represent both Club de curling Chicoutimi and the Town of Mount Royal Curling Club in Montreal. Quebec has two Brier wins since 1927, by Jim Ursel in 1977 in Montreal and by Jean-Michel Ménard in 2006 in Regina.