49th Canadian Mixed Off & Running!

The first draw of the 49th Canadian Mixed Championship in Sudbury, ON is now complete and in an opening round battle of pre-tournament favourites, PEI’s Brett Gallant, the 2009 World Junior silver medalist, made a terrific triple takeout in the 8th end to score two points holding off 2009 Canadian Mixed Champion, Manitoba’s Sean Grassie, 8-6.  Down one point in the last end without the hammer, Grassie tried to draw around a stone in the top of the house but came up light and Gallant did not have to deliver his final stone of the game for the win. In other first round action, Nunavut’s first ever game at a CCA championship was not one to remember.  Northern Ontario’s Mike Assad stole three points in the first, another steal of two in the 2nd end and then a score of six points in the 7th end in a 14-3 trashing of Iqaluit’s Ed Sattelberger. Quebec’s Martin Ferland stole three points in the 6th end and then another steal of two in the 8th end cemented his victory 9-3 over the Yukon’s Scott Hamilton. New Brunswick’s Sylvie Robichaud had a convincing win dumping BC’s Doug Marshall 7-3. Finally Ontario’s Mark Homan of Ottawa played 10 ends to defeat Steve Moss of the Northwest Territories 9-6. Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Alberta and Newfoundland & Labrador had first round byes. For complete results, visit the CCA’s CurlCast www.curling.ca/championships/curlcast-1/ Draws continue throughout the week at the Sudbury Curling Club with game times each day – Saturday, November 12 to Thursday, November 17 – at 10:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The final draw is Friday, November 18th at 9:00 a.m. followed by playoffs leading to the championship final Saturday, November 19th at 1:30 p.m. (all times Eastern).