Staff
Dylan Johnston had his own idea for an opening ceremony—beat the defending champs.
That’s exactly what the Thunder Bay skip and his team of third Tirzah Keffer (Fort Frances), Mike Badiuk (Devlin) at second, and Sheree Hinz (Thunder Bay) at lead ended up doing last night in the first draw of mixed provincial championship at the Fort Frances Curling Club.
Johnston used back-to-back deuces in the fourth and fifth ends to win 8-5 over 2015 mixed provincials winner Colin Koivula (Thunder Bay).
In the night’s other matchup, Thunder Bay skip and Stratton native Trevor Bonot topped Mike Assad (Geraldton) 7-6 in an extra end.
Bonot, with his sister, Jackie McCormick, at third, along with the Thunder Bay front end of Kory Carr and Megan Westlund, had an all-out shootout with Assad, who features Fort Frances resident Leanne Eluik at third, along with Bobby Ray at second and Joanne Comé at lead.
Trailing 4-3 after six ends, Bonot nabbed a three-ender in the seventh, then gave two right back in the eighth to forge a 6-6 tie.
But with last rock in the extra end, Bonot picked up his single to seal the victory.
Johnston then improved to 2-0 with a 7-4 victory this morning over Assad (0-2).
Bonot, however, dropped to 1-1 with a 5-3 loss to Koivula (1-1).
This afternoon’s draw (2:30 p.m.) will see Bonot square off against Johnston and Assad battle Koivula.
Then at 7:30 p.m., it’s Bonot versus Assad while Johnston clashes with Koivula again.
Tomorrow will see the final two preliminary draws at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
If a tie-breaker is needed, it will be played tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
If no tie-breaker is needed, the final between the top two finishers in the round-robin will get underway Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
But if a second tie-breaker is required, it will take place on Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
The final will be pushed back to 2 p.m.
The winner will represent Northern Ontario at the 2016 Canadian mixed curling championship Nov. 8-14 in Toronto.
