The Brier’s top seed and the men’s curling team ranked No. 2 in the world left the Canadian men’s championship after losing in the Sunday semifinal.
Mike McEwen from Saskatchewan won the Sunday’s final by defeating Brendan Bottcher from Alberta 7-3.
A Saskatchewan team advanced to the Brier’s final for the first time since 1995, and the last time Saskatchewan won was in 1980.
The host province was close to the championship, but had to face defending champion Brad Gushue for the title.
Mike McEwen expressed excitement about facing Brad Gushue in the final, highlighting the significance for both athletes and fans.
Bottcher’s team from Calgary was designed for winning.
Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert have a total of 10 Canadian and 5 world championships between them, with Kennedy winning an Olympic gold medal in 2010.
Bottcher also won the 2021 Brier with a different lineup.
Bottcher's current team qualified for Regina in April 2023 due to a change in Curling Canada's qualification criteria, allowing the top two Canadian teams, minus the defending champion, early entry.
Bottcher was ranked first among men’s teams in Canada this season and second in the world to Italy’s Joel Retornaz.
But Alberta couldn’t turn their big-game experience into a victory in Regina.
Bottcher expressed pride in their performance and emphasized that one day does not define their entire season.
Bottcher feels that his team is on a positive trajectory and that their season is not defined by one performance.
After a tied score in the first two ends, McEwen took the lead by scoring three points in the third and another three in the seventh.
Apart from scoring one point in the fifth end, Bottcher struggled to create enough offense to overcome the host province, and couldn’t score two points in ends when they had the last-rock advantage.
Bottcher conceded after the ninth end when McEwen scored one point.
Bottcher acknowledged the strong start by McEwen and admitted that it set the tone for the game.
Bottcher believed they had opportunities but couldn’t capitalize on them, which can be crucial in such games.
If Bottcher maintains a top-three men’s ranking in Canada until April’s Players’ Championship in Toronto, his team can qualify early for the 2025 Montana’s Brier in Kelowna, B.C.
The top-ranked team at the end of this season also gains a 2025 Olympic trials berth.
Bottcher expressed pride in his team’s performance and described it as a step in their journey.
