Thursday, December 6, 2001
Seven men's teams can still qualify
Standings a dog's breakfast
By JIM BENDER -- Winnipeg Sun
REGINA -- Before the week started, Manitoba's Jeff Stoughton figured things would start to shape up by Tuesday night.
Well, here it is Thursday and the men's standings at the 2001 Canadian Curling Trials are a dog's breakfast.
As many as seven squads, including both Manitoba teams, still have a crack at qualifying for the top three playoff spots with two games to go.
And there could be tie-breakers.
"It's going to be a bloodbath," predicted B.C.'s geriatric Bert Gretzinger, the oldest skip here at 50.
Gretzinger heads into the final day in a three-way tie for first place with fellow greybeard Russ Howard of New Brunswick and Alberta's Kevin Martin, all at 5-2. Martin moved into first with a 7-3 decision over Howard yesterday.
Right on their heels are Manitoba's Kerry Burtnyk and Jeff Stoughton and Ontario's John Morris, all at 4-3. And still in contention is current Brier champion Randy Ferbey at 3-4.
But Gretzinger, who fell to 5-2 when Burtnyk beat him 7-6, plays Howard this morning while Stoughton takes on Morris.
"If we beat Bert in the morning, we could still tie for first," said Howard, who plays Ferbey tonight. "The only bad thing about that loss is that Kevin could beat us out for first if we end up tied with him."
Howard, 45, was asked if he had an added incentive as this will likely be his last trials.
"For me, I've probably got three or four left," joked the two-time world champion, supported by his brother Glenn at third, second James Grattan and Grant Odishaw.
"But I think I've proved myself over my curling career and I'd like to prove myself one more time. But mostly, I want to help the guys on the front end who have been helping us to get there (Olympics). And we're curling very well, which is what I like."
At the other end of the age scale, Morris kept his hopes alive with an 8-4 triumph over Ontario's Wayne Middaugh.
"This is pretty awesome for our team and it's sudden death now," said Morris, 22. "If you had told me before the week had started that I would be 4-3 at this point, I wouldn't have been happy but I'll take it.
"But we haven't peaked yet. We haven't had our A game. We like to peak late in the week."
Meanwhile, Martin is still seeking to make amends for losing the 1997 trials final to Ontario's Mike Harris.
"I've done this before so, I think that's a slight advantage," Martin said.
Out of the running are B.C.'s Greg McAulay, Ontario's Wayne Middaugh and Alberta's Kevin Park.
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