By Doug Elsasser
The sixth draw in the Duck Mountain Super League of men’s curling was played December 15 in Canora where Jeremy Hrycenko of Arran, curling with his brothers Ryan and Evan, and their father Don, upset Terry Dennis in a highly entertaining contest.
Hyrcenko’s rink is sponsored by Rawhides while Dennis and his crew are backed by Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds.
Fred Perepiolkin of Kamsack, representing Nykolaishen Farms, led his team to a tie for first place by defeating Rick Kinaschuk of Benito.
Ken Newell of Norquay, who recently defeated Kinaschuk in a make-up game, recorded his fourth Duck Mountain Super League victory when he outscored Randy Trofimenkoff of Kamsack.
The Canora win leaves Newell tied for first place with Perepiolkin. Don Bowes of Kamsack, representing Cottenie and Gardner Inc., and Terry Dennis of Canora, both have three victories.
Bringing up the rear are Trofimenkoff with two wins, and Kinaschuk and Hrycenko with one victory each.
The seventh and final draw in Duck Mountain Super League (DMSL) round-robin play was to have taken place in Benito on December 22.
Because it would decide fourth and fifth place in the League’s final standings, the game between Bowes and Trofimenkoff was closely watched. Other curling matches in Benito were to have Hrycenko go against Newell, and hometown favourite Kinaschuk face the Dennis foursome. Perepiolkin sat out.
Thomas Jordens, the DMSL’s chief executive officer, has announced a revised playoff format.
“While the top four teams will still play for $1,000 in prize money, we will also feature a B-side draw,” he said.
The teams that will finish sixth and seventh in round-robin play will enter the B-side semi-final. The winner of that game and the fifth-place team, which has a bye into the final, will curl for $100 in prize money.
Curling fans are invited to watch the finale of Duck Mountain Super League action on January 6 at the Broda Sportsplex in Kamsack. Food and beverages are available and there is no admission fee.
