Leaders starting to emerge at 2017 Mixed Doubles

After the first full day of competition, the leaders are starting to emerge at the 2017 Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship at the Nutana Curling Club in Saskatoon. Not surprisingly, some of these leaders are familiar names who have been here before, including the 2016 Team Canada duo of Marliese Kasner and Dustin Kalthoff, who are riding a winning streak at the top of Pool A after defeating Shannon Birchard and Jason Gunnlaugson 10-1 on Thursday evening. Sharing that undefeated 4-0 record are Rachel Homan and John Morris, who scored a 7-2 win over the 2014 Canadian champions, Ontario’s Kim Tuck and husband Wayne Tuck, Jr.

Rachel Homan (Darlene Danyliw/Curling Canada photo)

The 2015 Canadian champions, Kalynn Virtue and Charley Thomas, have a firm grip on first place in Pool D with a 3-0 record, followed by a log jam of teams at 2-1 that includes Janet and Hugh Murphy, Dawn and Mike McEwen and Danielle Schmiemann and Jason Ginter, who defeated Jennifer Jones and Brent Laing 9-6 on Thursday afternoon. Jones and Laing are part of that 2-1 group still in the mix. In Pool B, Joanne Courtney and Reid Carruthers hold top spot with a 4-0 record, shared with Dana Ferguson and Brendan Bottcher, who defeated Kaitlyn Lawes and Ryan Fry in Draw 7. And in Pool C, Lisa Weagle and John Epping remain undefeated at 3-0, along with Sherry Just and Ryan Deis of Manitoba.

Ryan Fry and Kaitlyn Lawes (Darlene Danyliw/Curling Canada photo)

Pool play continues on Friday with draws at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (all times EDT). For the first time, CBC Sports will be offering live streaming of the weekend games. You can watch all the weekend action starting Saturday at 8:30 a.m. (all times CST) at cbcsports.ca or via the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android. For event information, scores and standings, visit the event website: https://www.curling.ca/2017mixeddoubles.