Monday, December 10, 2001
Walchuk deadly
By JIM BENDER -- Winnipeg Sun
REGINA -- Deadeye Don did them in time and time again.
Every time Manitoba's Kerry Burtnyk had his opponents in trouble during the 2001 Canadian Curling Trials final, sharpshooter Don Walchuk bailed Alberta's Kevin Martin out.
In the fourth end when Burtnyk was setting up for a three, Walchuk executed a run-back double kill and Burtnyk wound up blanking the end.
"That's the most exciting blank I've ever seen," said one media bench wag.
In the eighth, another double kill by Walchuk set up a deuce to give Martin a 7-5 lead.
Then, in the 10th, with Burtnyk looking like he might steal, another raise-back double opened up the 4-foot for his skip.
"I don't know how many doubles he made but it was a pile," Martin said. "We talked about it after the game and probably the biggest one was the one in four across the top, then hung on for a biter. And that ended up being a biter because we were wracked for three big time. That would be the biggest one he made."
Burtnyk said Walchuk was the difference in the match.
"In the fourth end, we had a couple in there, a couple buried and Don made two fantastic raise-backs, a raise-double on his second one," he said. "That was huge for them.
"Everybody on both teams, I thought, played extremely well but Don in particular. To make as many as he did in one game was really incredible. And he made a few that weren't even close to being lined up."
Walchuk, 38, is now heading to his first Olympics.
"I heard I played a pretty good game but it wasn't 100% so, I must have missed a few," he joked. "But when a guy like Burtnyk is putting the heat on you, you have just got to do it.
"I'm just glad I'm getting a chance to go now because I'm not getting any younger. I'm just thrilled to death."
CHANGE FORTUNES
Walchuk won a world championship with Alberta's Pat Ryan (Jeff's brother) back in 1989 and is hoping to change Martin's fortunes on the international stage around.
"It would be nice to get that monkey off our back," he said. "And, with the help of the CCA and COA, I think we'll get there."
2002 Games Curling Coverage
