Estevan’s Wade St. Onge rink won a few games at southern qualifiers in Moose Jaw for the Tankard last weekend but fell just short of their goal.
Qualifying as one of the top two teams at the bonspiel would have meant St. Onge’s rink of third Andrew McMillan, second Dustin Doerr and lead Tyler Corbin would join the field at the SaskTel Tankard Jan. 31-Feb. 4 at Affinity Place. Unfortunately, they weren’t quite able to get there.
St. Onge won 6-3 over Regina Callie Club’s Michael Bryson Thursday night, 6-5 over Jason Ackerman from Regina’s Highland Curling Club Friday morning and 6-4 over Regina’s Daniel Selke rink Friday afternoon. But a loss 7-2 to Callie Club’s Randy Bryden Friday night started a tailspin that saw them lose twice more and not qualify for the playoffs.
St. Onge lost the B semifinal 7-6 to Ackerman Saturday morning. They beat Regina Highland Curling Club’s Ben Gamble rink 9-6 Saturday afternoon to qualify for the C semifinal, but lost that 6-4 to Lampman’s Mark Walter rink Saturday night.
The Selke and Bryden rinks ended up qualifying for the Tankard, as did northern qualifiers Drew Heidt of Kerrobert, Saskatoon Sutherland’s Brady Kendal and Brady Stewart rinks, and Saskatoon Nutana’s Aaron Shutra.
The Tankard field also includes Estevan’s Brent Gedak, Regina Ryan Deis, Saskatoon’s Scott Bitz, Langenberg’s Jeff Hartung, Regina’s Adam Casey (former PEI champion), and provincial and national tour qualifiers Colton Flasch, Steve Laycock, Josh Heidt, Carl DeConinck Smith and Jason Jacobson.
The winner of the Tankard will represent Saskatchewan at the Tim Hortons Brier in Regina March 3-11.
