Job is far from over as Cotter edges Geall to advance into final of 2016 Canadian Direct Insurance BC Men’s Curling Championships
By Bruce Fuhr
You could tell by the tone in Ryan Kuhn’s post game interview the job is far complete for Vernon’s Jim Cotter rink.
There was no jumping for joy following the post-game handshake after the ninth end.
No tossing of the brooms into the air after Cotter nailed his second shot to score three in the ninth.
This team from the Okanagan has bigger fish to fry despite gaining a bye into Sunday’s final of the 2016 Canadian Direct Insurance BC Men’s Curling Championships with a 5-1 victory over Sean Geall of New Westminster Saturday before a packed house at the Nelson Curling Club.
“We’d like to win (Sunday) . . . obviously that’s why we’re here,” Kuhn said following Saturday’s Page Playoff 1-2 contest.
Kuhn said the score may look a little misleading because “there’s nothing easy, because (Geall) is a great team.
“That was a really solidly played game by both teams.”
Kuhn plays third on the Cotter rink that also includes second Tyrel Griffith and lead Rick Sawatsky.
Geall now meets Dean Joanisse of New Westminster Sunday at 11 a.m. in semi final action for the right to play Cotter in the final at 4 p.m.
Joanisse scored two in the sixth before stealing a pair in the eighth to edge Glen Jackson of Victoria 5-2 in the Page Playoff 3-4 game Saturday night.
Saturday afternoon, in the Page Playoff 3-4 contest, there wasn’t much to choose between the A-event winner — Cotter — and the B-event champion — Geall.
Having the luxury of last rock for his A-event title, Cotter scored once in the second before stealing a single in the fifth to grab a 2-0 lead.
Geall, third Andrew Bilesky, second Steve Kopf and lead Mark Olsen, tried desperately to get a deuce to get back in the game but had to settle for a single sixth.
Giving the hammer back to the defending BC Men’s Curling Champion wasn’t the best answer for the Geall foursome.
Cotter kept the ice clean, blanking the next two ends before taking advantage of a light shot by Geall in the ninth to score three and secure the win along with a berth in Sunday’s final.
“We didn’t capitalize on the few chances we did have, and, unfortunately, we had to take our one in the sixth,” explained Geall third Andrew Bilesky.
“And because of that we were kind of behind the eight ball at that point as they regained the hammer and control.”
Cotter, Kuhn, Griffith, Sawatsky and coach Pat Ryan, a three-time Brier champ, now rests waiting for the next opponent.
No doubt the rink will continue its business-like approach back at the hotel.
Because this job won’t be complete under the final victory is in the record books — that coming Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. — and a trip to represent B.C. at the Tim Hortons Brier in Ottawa March 5-13.
