Alberta's Martin steals way to Brier final
Last Updated: Saturday, March 15, 2008 | 2:11 AM ET
CBC Sports
Facing his toughest test yet at the 2008 Brier, Kevin Martin waited for Saskatchewan's Pat Simmons to falter late in Friday night's Page playoff 1-2 match to secure a berth in Sunday's final.
Simmons had a chance to win the game with a takeout on his last shot in the 10th end but his rock picked on the way down the ice. It hit the Alberta stone but rolled out of the house, allowing Martin to pick up the 8-7 win at Winnipeg's MTS Centre.
Alberta skip Kevin Martin is seen after allowing Saskatchewan to steal two in the fifth end during playoff action Friday.
(Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)
"We played like dogs today," said Martin, who is returning to the final of the Canadian men's curling championship for the first time in 11 years.
"Pat actually threw the last one good. That was a pure pick. That had nothing to do with anything other than debris on the ice. No question."
Martin, who led the round-robin with a 10-0 record, will be seeking his third Brier championship against the winner of Saturday's semifinal between defending champion Glenn Howard of Ontario and Simmons (CBC, 2:30 p.m. ET).
"It would mean quite a bit," the Alberta skip said Thursday of the possibility of winning a third Brier title. "I'd love to wear the Canadian flag at the worlds [as Brier champion]."
Martin almost wore goat horns Friday but clawed his way back, overcoming a 6-3 deficit by outscoring Simmons 5-1 over the final five ends.
Simmons stood in shocked disbelief after his final shot went astray.
"I don't know how that happens on that rock," said the chiropractor from Moose Jaw. "There has to be a reason for it somewhere.
"We played a great game. That's unfortunate. We executed and kept them on edge a bit."
Martin, who never trailed by more than two points in any of his 10 previous games this week, twice battled back from a three-point deficit.
He scored two points in the eighth end, then stole singles in the ninth and 10th
ends to advance to his first Brier final since 1997. He won in 1997 and 1991, but he's never been a world champion.
The Edmonton skip said his rink struggled in the first five ends.
"We made nothing," he said. "I guess I just couldn't figure out the spots on the ice exactly."
In Monday's fifth draw, Martin built a 5-1 lead over Simmons en route to a 7-4 triumph.
Simmons is attempting to become the first Saskatchewan rink to win the Brier since Rick Folk achieved the feat in 1980.
In Friday's other playoff, Howard pulled off a huge shot in the eighth end to score three and notch a 9-7 win over Bob Ursel of B.C.
Howard feathered a shot through a narrow port to raise his own rock onto a B.C. stone, moving it out of scoring position. Howard shook his broom in the air and did a little shuffle on the ice to celebrate while a crowd of 7,529 roared their approval.
"I had nothing else," said Howard, who is hoping to become just the eighth skip in Brier history to repeat as champion. "It makes it easier. When you have options, you start hemming and hawing.
"There was no other choice. There was no other way I could get multiple scores."
Howard has a chance to make a history. No team playing in the three-vs.-four game has gone on to win the Brier.
Sunday's final will be telecast live on CBC at 6:30 p.m. ET and streamed live at CBCSports.ca.
With files from the Canadian Press
