CANORA - Duck Mountain Super League curling action hit the ice at the Canora Curling Rink on Dec. 10, and probably the most entertaining game of the evening was a back-and-forth battle between the local Brandon Zuravloff rink and the Rick Kinaschuk foursome of Benito, Man.
Kinaschuk got off to a fast start, making an open draw for two in the first end to take a quick 2-0 lead. It looked like the Kinaschuk foursome might build on their momentum and score again in the second until Zuravloff made a long double takeout to get out of trouble. Zuravloff then blanked the end to keep last rock advantage in the third, and took full advantage to score a big three points on a delicate last-rock takeout to grab a 3-2 lead.
In the fourth end, Kinaschuk made a last rock pressure draw for a single point and a 3-3 tie. Zuravloff was just heavy on a final rock draw for two in the fifth, settling for a single point and a 4-3 lead. Without last rock in the sixth end, Zuravloff took advantage of several well-placed guards to steal a single point and increase the lead to 5-3.
In the seventh, Kinaschuk had an opportunity on his last shot to split his own rock into the rings and score a pair to tie the game. Unfortunately he missed the rock completely and his shot sailed through the rings for a blank end, but retained last rock for the eighth and final regulation end.
Kinaschuk showed no ill effects from that miss in the eighth, and made what turned out to be a clutch draw to tie the game. With the outcome hanging in the balance, a measurement was necessary to determine if the Benito foursome scored one and the game was over, or had come up with two for a tie. The measurement turned out in favour of the Manitoba rink, and it was off to a ninth and final end.
In the extra end, the Zuravloff rink, taking advantage of the hammer, played strong defence and did not allow the Kinaschuk to get any rocks behind cover. Zuravloff made an open takeout of the only opposing rock in the house on his last rock to clinch the victory, 8-5.
Only two other games were played: Brent Scales of Swan River defeated Ken Newell of Norquay 7-3 and Curtis Chernoff, also of Norquay, got by Fred Perepiolkin of Kamsack, 5-1.
Zuravloff is one of two undefeated teams from the regular season. The playoffs are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 20 in Swan River.
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