Team B.C. brushed back Team Canada 5-4 before 5,658 Tim Hortons Brier fans Monday night at Mile One Centre in St. John’s Nfld.
B.C., with Vernon third Jim Cotter throwing last rock for John Morris, handed Kevin Koe his first loss in the 12-team extravaganza. B.C. (3-2) opened with a deuce, got another two in the fourth after Canada (4-1) had back-to-back singles to pull even, then stole one in seven that ultimately was the difference.
“We bounced back real strong today,” Morris said of the team that went into the day at 1-2. “A big one tonight. We lose that one and we’re in a pretty big hole. All four of us, especially Jimmy are throwing real well right now.”
Second Tyrel Griffith, lead Rick Sawatsky, alternate David Harper and coach Jody Epp round out the B.C. roster.
Cotter and company meet Quebec’s Jean-Michel Ménard in their next round-robin game at 10:30 a.m. (PDT).
B.C. is in a three-way share of fourth place with Brad Gushue of Newfoundland/Labrador and Menard.
Mike McEwen of Manitoba (Winnipeg) leads the pack at 5-0.
Meanwhile, Michael Longworth of Vernon went 2-3 at the AMJ Campbell B.C. Mixed Curling Championships in Parksville.
Longworth has Morgayne Eby at third, Brian Roberts at second and Kristine Lang throwing lead rocks in the eight-team provincials.
Chris Baier of Victoria gained the third qualifying spot by knocking out the Vernon foursome 7-4 in the C event.
Longworth earlier lost 4-2 to Aaron Watson of Richmond and bowed 6-4 to Baier while edging Simone Groundwater of Williams Lake 5-4 and upending Alan Roemer of Delta.
Tom Buchy of Kimberley toppled Watson 6-3 in the final and advances to the nationals, Nov. 12-18, in Swan River, Man.