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Team Schneider hits Montana’s Brier win column at ‘home’

Saskatchewan curling fans are madly cheering on two teams this week at the 2024 Montana’s Brier, presented by AGI, in Regina.

One, of course, is the home province skipped by Mike McEwen.

But not far behind in the cheering department is Catlin Schneider, skip of Team British Columbia. Schneider, after all, is a Regina product and has played at three previous Montana’s Briers wearing the provincial green of Saskatchewan.

There hasn’t been plenty to cheer about in the early going of the Canadian men’s curling championship for the boys from the West Coast, but the clouds lifted Sunday night when Schneider guided Team British Columbia (1-2, Victoria) to a crucial 7-2 win over Team Newfoundland & Labrador (0-2, St. John’s), skipped by Andrew Symonds, in Pool A action at the Brandt Centre.

“Nice to be on the board for sure,” said Schneider. “Had two fairly tight games to start so we felt like we deserved a little better in that first game. So it’s nice to finally get a win and now we can relax and keep on moving.”

Schneider, 32, is a home-grown, dyed-green kind of guy, who still lives in the province. But he jumped at the chance to slide west and skip the B.C. team that represented the province in last year’s Montana’s Brier in London, Ont. The team of vice-skip Jason Ginter, second Sterling Middleton and lead Alex Horvath, needed a new man at the T-head after Jacques Gauthier left the team in the off-season to join Kevin Koe’s Calgary team that is playing here as Team Alberta-Koe.

“I knew these guys and knew there was an opportunity opening up for skipping and just took advantage of it as an out-of-province player,” he said. “It’s been good so far. We’re here.”

The chance to play in the Montana’s Brier in his own surroundings has been a dream for Schneider, who previously played in the Big Show with Saskatchewan skips Adam Casey (2017), Matt Dunstone (2020) and Colton Flasch (2022).

Does he hear the cheers?

“Oh yeah, I have lots of friends and family and co-workers here so it’s pretty sweet,” he said.

There’s still plenty of work to do, but Schneider said Sunday’s win was a good start in clawing his way back in the race for a playoff spot.

Team Alberta-Bottcher (3-0, Calgary), skipped by Brendan Bottcher, is also thinking playoffs and is well on its way to them after a crushing eight-end 8-2 win over skip Scott Howard’s Team Ontario (1-2, Penetanguishene). Team Bottcher pitched a shutout for the first six ends, going up 4-0, then cruised home, closing the deal with four points in the eighth end.

Team Manitoba-Carruthers, skipped by Brad Jacobs (3-0, Winnipeg), is also zeroed in on a playoff spot after knocking off Brier rookie skip Trevor Bonot’s Team Northern Ontario (2-1, Thunder Bay) 9-8 in a battle of undefeated teams.

Team Bonot gave the Manitobans everything they could handle for 10 ends, but came up empty in the extra end when Bonot could only half bury with his final shot, and Jacobs took it out for the win. 

Team Manitoba-Dunstone (1-1, Winnipeg), skipped by Matt Dunstone, had the Pool A bye.

The 18 teams are split into two pools of nine. Teams will play a complete eight-game round robin within their pools. From there, the top three teams in each pool advance to the playoffs.

Making the playoffs is key, but teams are also eyeing the No. 1 spot which gives them a big advantage in the sprint to the finish. Pool winners go directly to the Page 1-2 playoff game and a shot at a place in the final.

 The final goes Sunday, March 10.

The 2024 Montana’s Brier continues Monday with draws at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. (all times Central).

Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2024 Montana’s Brier are available at www.curling.ca/scoreboard/.

TSN and RDS2 will provide complete coverage of the 2024 Montana’s Brier. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule.

Broadcast coverage for viewers outside of Canada is available on TSN’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/@TSN_Sports.

For ticket information for the 2024 Montana’s Brier, go to www.curling.ca/2024brier/tickets/.

This story will be available in French as soon as possible at www.curling.ca/2024brier/nouvelles/?lang=fr