We're here to tell the stories, not the opinions! Send us your story or results to info@wcblog2.com You control the story, help shape it!

Live WEBCASTING : www.ustream.tv/channel/wcblog2 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCcurlingblog2

Translate to your required language

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Summary of the Page Playoffs



We saw the start of the Page playoffs today with Ontario taking on Quebec in the 3 vs 4 game. Ontario took the lead with a steal of one in the first. Facing four Quebec stones, Ontario's Ideson nudged one back to sit shot. When Lessard raised one of his guards onto Ideson's rock, it looked like a single for Quebec; but after a measure was taken another point was added and Quebec took two to go ahead.

The teams traded single points for the next three ends. Neither team could take control in the 6th and Ideson, not wishing to take a single, threw away his final rock to blank.


Late in the 7th end Quebec called time out to decide whether to protect against Ontario drawing or raising. The decision was to put a guard on the raise. Ideson was left with an open draw to the 8 foot and he put it in the 4 foot.


The question is often asked, "Would you rather be 1 down with the hammer or 1 up without?" We do not know what answer Mark Ideson would have given to this question prior to being in that position today; but he certainly took advantage of going into the 8th end one down without the hammer.

By drawing behind cover to the top of the 8 foot, Ideson put pressure on Lessard to make an open draw  and take the win. Unfortunately, he was light on his attempt and Ontario stole one to send the game into an extra end.

In the extra end and with Ontario sitting with 3 counters, all the Quebec skip, Benoit Lessard, had left to him was an "in off" for the win. The crowd in the viewing gallery watched in amazement as the rock slid toward its finish. After hitting its target it rolled toward its intended finish. Groans and cheers were heard throughout the rink when the stone came to rest just short of the Ontario rock and Ontario escaped with another extra end win.

In the other game, 1 vs 2, both Alberta and Saskatchewan had difficulty finding their weight on a consistent basis for the first two ends which resulted in two straight blank ends. In both ends the Leads and Seconds traded hits - sometimes sticking and sometimes rolling away and in both ends Alberta could have drawn into an empty house but, Bruno Yizek, the Alberta skip opted to throw his rock away to retain the hammer and try for a multiple point end later.

Late in the 3rd end, Saskatchewan was able to split the house forcing Yizek to either draw inside the Saskatchewan shot rock or remove one of them. When he was able to do neither, Saskatchewan drew first blood with a steal of two.

In the last end before the break, the Saskatchewan skip, Darwin Bender attempted to cap an Alberta rock that was too well guarded to remove. When his rock slid gently past the Alberta stone, Yizek drew in to grab the deuce for which he had been searching.

Both teams got back to wonderful shot making after the break. When it came time for Bender to throw his last rock, his team was sitting with two counters and a possible third if he hit and stuck on the Alberta rock at the back of the house. He did hit the rock but a little to one side and he rolled out gaining back the two point lead.

In the 6th end, Yizek hit and stuck on the only granite in the house, Bender's last rock, to take a single.
In the next end, Yizek made a beautiful hit and roll behind a wall of granite guards to steal another single and tie the game but it meant he did not have the hammer coming home.

The final end in this game was as exciting as the final end in the morning game only this time it was in the 8th end. Several guards in front of the house protected the Alberta shot rock at the back of the 4 foot. There was a port which could permit access to the stone so Yizek narrowed it. Similar to the final stone of the morning game Bender was left with a difficult shot to move or remove the shot rock and, as was the case earlier, the spectators anxiously watched as the shot was made. It made its way through the narrow opening and headed for the Alberta stone. It wasn't until the chunk of granite slipped past the shot rock that people began to applaud the excellent display of curling they had just observed.

Alberta’s Bruno Yizek Advances to Championship Final!



A Battle of the Titans! The afternoon 1 vs 2 Page Playoff featured Bruno Yizek’s Alberta foursome and Darwin Bender’s Team Saskatchewan. Alberta (8-1 round robin record) has been the class of the field all week. Saskatchewan (7-2) was almost as good. Both teams boast talent and experience and this matchup lived up to its billing.

The teams opened the game with a cautious, cat and mouse approach. Holding the hammer, Alberta chose to blank the first two ends. Attempting to force the issue in the third end, Saskatchewan lead Larry Schrader curled a shot neatly into the house. With a pair of Saskatchewan rocks in play, Alberta second Martin Purvis performed an ideal hit and stick. Saskatchewan third Gil Dash buried his hit and roll behind a guard. After an Alberta takeout, Darwin Bender’s guard slid deep, creating a double opportunity for Yizek, who picked off only one, rolling out himself. Bender peeled off Alberta’s rock and saved his shooter for second shot. Yizek’s takeout just grazed the Saskatchewan shot rock, and Saskatchewan stole two points to open the scoring.

In a very open fourth end, Bender missed a takeout on an Alberta rock at the back of the eight-foot. Alberta set up a long guard and Bender’s takeout try slipped through the house, allowing Alberta to count two and tie the game.

After Alberta’s Jack Smart flew by a Saskatchewan rock in the eight-foot, Gil Dash executed a perfect nose hit to lay two with the hammer. Smart responded with a hit of his own to lay shot. Alberta played an in-turn into the 12-foot, where it served double duty as an effective guard and third shot. Bender nearly pulled off a remarkable double, but an Alberta rock jammed at the back, where it clung to the 12-foot as shot. Yizek’s final rock stalled a bit short, giving Bender a shot at three huge points. Bender hit the Alberta rock at the back, but his shooter rolled out, taking a valuable point with it. Saskatchewan scores two to lead 4-2.


Photo by Ron Jason

Displaying pinpoint hitting, the front ends continued to keep the house relatively clean to start end six. A fine draw by Jack Smart gave Alberta two rocks in the house. Gil Dash peeled one and Darwin Bender got the other. Yizek hit Saskatchewan’s counter on the nose to sit shot. Bender replied and left his shooter just hugging the rings. A nose hit gives Alberta a point, but costs them the hammer.
A log jam obscured the house in end seven until Saskatchewan second Marie Wright broke it up. After Jack Smart and Gil Dash sailed between the guards and through the house, Bender found his draw weight and pulled into the eight-foot for shot. Alberta showed the form that comes with years of experience, bumping out Saskatchewan’s shot rock and rolling comfortably under cover. Bender’s draw attempt slid to the back of the house to sit second shot. After Yizek whistled through the house, Bender also went too deep, allowing Alberta to steal a point and tie the game 4-4.

With Alberta sitting one behind cover in the eighth end, Saskatchewan removed a guard to expose Alberta’s rock just in the four-foot behind the tee-line. Bender’s draw stopped a shade short. Yizak’s guard partially plugged the hole, but left Bender a narrow port to the shot rock. Bender found the gap, but slid just wide. Alberta stole the point to win 5-4 in a nail biter.

Jack Smart was quick to compliment his team’s opponent. “I thought Saskatchewan played very, very well,” he commented.

Alberta coach Andy Jones expressed surprise at the game’s style. “We didn’t plan to play that wide open,” he said. “I thought those last two ends especially, were really well played.”

By Rob Neff and Sarah Mendek

Ontario’s Mark Ideson, by virtue of his win over Quebec in the 3 versus 4 game, will meet Saskatchewan in the semi final. The winner will meet Alberta for the championship.

Semi Final - Saskatchewan takes on Ontario


  vs  
                                 Team Saskatchewan                                     Team Ontario

We're certain both teams are glad to have the Page playoff system. For Saskatchewan it's a chance to get to the final after narrowly losing their first game in the playoffs to Alberta yesterday. Ontario had to win a tie breaker to get into the playoffs and then they had to defeat a Quebec team that had beaten them in round robin play in order to get to this game.

Sheet C
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Total
*Saskatchewan
2
1
1
0
2
0
1
0
-
7
Ontario
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
-
2

End Notes:
End 1 - Shannon Wilcox drew down to open the end with a mid-range guard. Schrader pushed his rock through the house. Wilcox ticked her guard and landed in the 8 foot open. Larry Schrader threw an outside in hit and took out the ON rock. Reynen was a tiny bit heavy with his draw and slipped out the back. Wright drew the the centre line back four behind the ON guard. Reynen drew to Wright's stone, nudged it and rolled into the open. Wright flashed her take out. Paialunga drew to her partner's rock, bumped it back a foot and sat biting the 4 foot. Dash made a double take out of the ON stones and rolled out. Paialunga drew to the top of 8 on the centre line partly covered by the ON  guard. Although a peel of the rock just thrown was called, Dash peeled the guard (Plan B) and stayed for a guard mid-way to the sideline. Ideson curled behind the Saskatchewan guard leaving ON sitting 2nd and 3rd. Bender drew to the ON rock in the 8 foot. Ideson was heavy with his draw. Bender drew to the back of the 4 foot for a deuce.
End 2 - Schrader drew for a guard half way between the centre line and side line. Wilcox came around the guard to the top of 12. Schrader took out his guard. Wilcox drew to the other side of the house for a split. Marie Wright removed the ON stone in the 12 foot and stuck as a tight guard. Tony Reynen put up a tight guard. Wright took out the only piece of granite in the house and rolled to the other side of the centre line back 4. Reynen took out the Wright rock and rolled out. Dash got his draw just over the hog line. Paialunga bumped the rock just thrown to a mid-range guard position. Dash was heavy with his draw and slid through. Paialunga drew to the back of 12. Bender drew down onto the ON rock. Ideson drew to the button. Bender threw a take out on Ideson's rock which ran back to double out the other ON rock. Ideson made his take out on one opponent stone but left one Saskatchewan rock at the back of 12.
End 3 - Schrader put his guard in mid-range mid-way to the side line. Wilcox used an in turn outside in draw to come around the guard and sit in the 8 foot. Schrader threw an out turn and went inside out to sit beside the Wilcox stone. Wilcox repeated her first throw and froze to her first stone. Wright threw a tight guard. Reynen peeled it out and rolled out.Wright overlapped the mid-range Saskatchewan guard. Reynen drew in with an in turn outside in shot to raise his teammate's rock into the 4 foot. Gil Dash peeled both Saskatchewan guards and rolled to the other side of the sheet. Katie Paialunga threw a mid-range guard on the centre line covering a possible blue raise but leaving the yellow open. Dash opened up the centre with a hard take out. Paialunga removed the Saskatchewan rock in the 4 foot leaving Ontario sitting 2. Bender removed the previous rock and rolled to the inside edge of the Ontario shot stone to sit shot. Ideson chipped one of Ontario's stones out to allow access to the Saskatchewan shot rock and rolled to the 8 foot on other side of the house. Bender covered access to his shot rock with a perfectly thrown guard leaving only a draw to the 4 foot. Ideson's draw was light and he gave up another steal.
End 4 - Schrader put down a tight draw just off the centre line. Wilcox attempted a come around with an in turn outside in draw but left it as a guard. Schrader nudged his own guard and sat as a guard on the centre line. Wilcox threw a very wide outside in in turn that came up just short of the rings. Wright raised one of the Saskatchewan guards into the top 12. Reynen made a double raise to replace one Saskatchewan stone with another. Wright threw a high guard. Reynen tried to repeat his previous shot but rubbed a guard and rolled away. Dash was slightly light on a raise attempt leaving Ontario another crack at the raise. Paialunga attempted an in turn outside in raise but chipped a guard. Dash threw a high guard blocking direct access to the raise. Paialunga threw a wonderful angle raise take out to leave Ontario sitting one well covered. Darwin Bender raised his guard in to the 8 foot for shot but open. Mark Ideson flashed his take out attempt. Bender's guard over curled which left Ideson a second chance for the take out. Once again, with not enough weight, his take out over curled bumping the shot rock out but rolling his rock just out at the back of the house. Ontario is finally on the scoreboard.
End 5 - Wilcox dropped a tight guard on the centre line. Schrader drew in to the side of 12. Wilcox, who is curling 80%, nudged her guard but drew in to bite the 8 foot exposed. Schrader flashed his take out. Reynen left his draw as a guard beside the first rock of the end. Wright flashed her take out. Reynen pushed his raise to the back of the 12 foot.Wright flashed her take out attempt. After a time out, Ontario decided to have Paialunga throw a hit on the overlapped rocks at the edge of 12. The result was a roll behind cover leaving the opponent's rock exposed. Dash hit and replaced one Ontario guard with his rock. Paialunga hit the only Saskatchewan rock in the house and stuck to leave Ontario with 3 counters. Time out was called by Saskatchewan. After the discussion, Dash threw a hit on his guard which took out one of the Ontario rocks. Ideson put up a high guard. Bender drew in to the button cutting off the Ontario shot rock and leaving it as backing for his stone. Ideson was heavy on his draw and slid through. Bender drew in to the back of 4 for a deuce.
End 6 - Schrader drew to the T line in the 8 foot. Wilcox drew to the back of the 12 foot. Schrader hit and rolled his shooter out leaving the first stone as the only one in the house. Wilcox drew to the 8 foot behind the T line. Wright removed the Ontario rock. Reynen drew in top 8 near the centre line. Wright remove the previous rock. Reynen put up a centre line guard. Dash removed the guard. Paialunga put a guard tight to the rings. Dash hit the guard and rolled over to cover one of the Saskatchewan stones in the house. Paialunga's draw straightened out at the end and was left open on the edge of 8. Bender, who is curling 90%, removed the Ontario rock and stuck to leave his team with 3 counters. Ideson bumped the Bender rock back but left himself open for removal. Bender hit and rolled out. Ideson hit and stuck for Ontario's second point of the game.
End 7 - Wilcox drew for a close guard. Schrader was a bit heavy and slid through. Wilcox slid her draw through. Schrader drew to the 8 foot above the T line. Reynen's hit attempt was heavy and slid through. Wright removed the guard. Reynen drew in to the top of 8 exposed. Wright removed the Ontario rock. Paialunga hit to remove the Saskatchewan rock but rolled too far and was exposed. Dash moved the Ontario rock to the other side of the house and rolled out. Paialunga moved the blue shot rock but jammed it on her rock at the back of the house. Dash removed the Ontario rock. Ideson put up a guard on the centre line. Bender peeled the guard leaving the blue rock exposed in the house. Ideson left his freeze attempt in the house but light. Bender chipped out Ideson's rock and took a single.
End 8 - Going into the final end Ontario is curling 65% and Saskatchewan is curling at a fantastic 92%. Schrader threw through. Wilcox slid her draw in behind the T line. Schrader flashed the hit. Wilcox drew in top 12 to cover her first shot. Wright removed the top rock. Reynen drew to the Ontario rock in the 8 foot. Wright raised the top stone onto the back stone to remove it and run Ontario out of rocks and any hope of a miracle.

It’s Crunch Time for Quebec and Ontario

Competition is really heating up at the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships as Page playoff action begins. The 3-4 game pitted Mark Ideson’s Team Ontario against Benoit Lessard’s Team Quebec, with the winner moving on to Sunday’s semi-final. Ontario (5-4) survived a heart-stopping, extra end tiebreaker against Northern Ontario. Displaying a strong hitting game, Quebec (7-2) had reeled off seven consecutive victories and came into this game as the favourite.

Photo by Ron Jason

It started auspiciously for both teams. Leads Shannon Wilcox curled her first shot square onto the button, only to watch her Quebec counterpart Johanne Daly remove it cleanly. Ontario skip Mark Ideson, facing a Quebec shot in the four-foot, played a hit and stick to sit two. His second shot stopped in the eight-foot. Lessard lost his shooter after peeling off one Ontario counter. His second shot takeout rolled into the 12-foot, allowing Ontario to steal one.

In the second end, Ontario counted rocks in the three and nine o’clock positions, courtesy of second Tony Reynen. Sebastien Boisvert cut Ontario down to one. Third Carl Marquis punched out the other and rolled his shooter into the 12-foot. A couple of Ontario misses left Quebec sitting four with the hammer. Ideson removed a Quebec rock at the back to sit shot. That left Lessard with a chance for five, but his raise was just a shade light. Ontario dodged a bullet, but Quebec still picked up two and claimed the lead.

The third end was a tidy affair, with nothing in play coming to vice shots. Katie Paialunga christened the house with a lovely draw to the eight-foot. Sebastien Boisvert played a fine raise back to assume shot position. After Ideson’s takeout, Lessard rolled to the eight. Ideson’s takeout effort slid through, allowing Quebec to steal one.

Quebec continued to keep the house clean in the fourth. Paialunga finessed a draw past high guards and buried it on the button, and Lessard conceded a single point. Quebec went to the break leading 3-2.

A huge triple takeout by Carl Marquis turned the fifth end around for Quebec. Ideson’s hit and stay gave Ontario shot. A Lessard miss set up a draw by Ideson. Another triple takeout, this time by Lessard, left Quebec with a single point.

Paialunga and Boisvert traded hits in the sixth, with Paialunga’s shooter exiting the house. With nothing in the rings for the skips, Lessard came up short on his first toss. Ideson drew to the 12-foot. Lessard peeled it, losing his shooter. With the house wide open, Ideson chose to blank the end, leaving Quebec up 4-2.

Quebec tried to turn up the heat in the seventh, spotting four rocks in the house. Paialunga pulled off a nice double to sit second shot, only to see Marquis remove it. Facing a trio of Quebec rocks and potential disaster, Ideson executed off a great clutch draw, scoring one. Ontario trailed 4-3, but relinquished the hammer coming home.

With a pair of Quebec rocks widely separated in the house. Ideson set up a centre line guard. Lessard promptly vanquished it. With the game on the line, Ideson feathered his draw to the eight-foot. Needing full eight to win the game on his last shot, Lessard came up short. Against the odds, Ontario steals one to force an extra end.

In that suspenseful extra end, Tony Reynen slipped a shot around a blue guard to sit shot. Boisvert’s double takeout try jammed to leave Ontario sitting one. Marquis chipped that rock to the back, where it clung to the 12-foot, still shot. Ideson drew to the button on his first shot, but his rock was almost fully exposed. Lessard missed a takeout attempt. Ideson placed a letter perfect guard to choke off Lessard’s options, forcing him to try a tough long raise of his own guard onto the Ontario stone on the button. His shot over curled, giving Ontario a dramatic comeback win and sending Ideson’s team into Sunday morning’s semi-final.

“Yesterday we played our best game ever,” said an ecstatic Mark Ideson. “Today we topped it!”
At 2:30pm EST today, first place Alberta (Bruno Yizek) will meet Saskatchewan (Darwin Bender) in the 1 vs 2 game.

The winner advances directly to the championship final Sunday at 2:30pm and the loser drops to the semi final scheduled for 10:30am Sunday.

By Rob Neff and Sarah Mendek

1 vs 2 Page playoff - Alberta takes on Saskatchewan


  vs.
Except for one game this week, Alberta's consistent play carried them past their opponents. It will be up to Saskatchewan to find a way to crack that consistency and put more points on the score board.

Sheet  C
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Total
Saskatchewan
0
0
2
0
2
0
0
0
-
4
*Alberta
0
0
0
2
0
1
1
1
-
5



End Notes:

End 1- With the first rock of the game Schrader drew to the back of the 12 foot. Hibberd hit and stuck. Schrader hit and stuck. Hibberd hit and stuck. Wright hit and rolled a bit to the side of 12. Purvis hit and rolled to the other side of 12. Wright hit but rolled out to leave the house clean. Purvis threw through. Dash was a bit heavy and slid through. Smart slid through. Dash drew in to the top of 12. Smart hit and rolled out. Bender drew in to the top of the 8 foot. Yizek hit and rolled his shot to the side of 12. Bender hit and rolled out leaving the house clean. Yizek, with the last rock of the opening end, threw through the house to blank the end.
End 2 - Schrader put his rock in the back of the 12 foot. Hibberd hit and rolled out. Schrader put his draw on the button. Hibberd hit and rolled out. Wright was heavy on her draw and slid through. Purvis drew to the side of 12 above the T line. Wright hit and rolled out. Purvis drew in to the 8 foot just above the T line. Dash hit and stuck. Smart hit and rolled out. Dash drew in to the top of 4. Smart hit and rolled to the edge of 12 behind the centre line. Bender hit and stuck. Yizek hit and rolled to the back of 12 on the other side of the house. Bender hit and rolled out. Yizek threw his rock through to blank again.
End 3 - Schrader put his rock at the top of 12. Hibberd flashed her take out. Schrader drew to the button behind his rock in the top of the house. Hibberd hit the top rock, drove it back onto the rock on the button and left blue on the edge of the 4 foot and hers biting top 12. Wright tapped his rock back to the 8 foot and left his in the 4 foot. Purvis removed the rock on the 4 foot. Wright removed the AB rock on the 4 foot. Purvis removed the SK rock and rolled to the centre line back 8. Dash drew in to tap the AB rock out and stick in the 4 foot. Smart removed the SK rock. Dash hit and rolled to the back of the 4 foot behind the AB guard. Smart clipped the AB guard out and rolled in to bite the top of 12 for second shot. Bender drew in to tap his rock in the 4 foot back and lie 2. Yizek chipped out the top SK rock and rolled out. Bender removed the AB rock in the top of 12 and rolled to the edge of 12 on the other side, splitting the house and leaving Yizek a draw to save the end. Instead of this, Yizek attempted a hit on the SK shot rock and gave up a steal of 2 for the first points of the game.
End 4 -  Schrader drew in to the top of 8. Hibberd removed the SK rock but rolled out. Schrader drew to bite the 12 foot on the centre line. Hibberd removed the SK rock and rolled to bite the 12 on the side of the centre line. Wright removed the AB stone and stuck for a guard. Purvis peeled the guard and rolled away. Wright drew in to bite the back of the 12 foot. Purvis tapped the SK stone out and stuck to be the only rock in the house. Dash bumped the AB stone out and stuck. Purvis drew in to the back of the 4 foot. Dash bumped the shot stone back but it chipped out the SK stone at the back. Smart hit and stuck for shot. Bender flashed his take out attempt. Yizek put up a guard which totally covered the shot stone. Bender tried to cap the shot rock but slid past and out leaving Yizek an open draw for the deuce. Draw made, score two, tie the game at the break.
End 5 - Hibberd dropped down a close guard. Schrader drew inside out with an out turn to the back of 12. Hibberd ticked off her guard to end up top 12 open. Schrader removed the AB stone. Purvis flashed his take out. Wright drew to the T line and split the house. Purvis removed the previous stone and stuck. Wright peeled the guard. Smart flashed his take out. Dash hit and stuck on the AB stone to split the house. Smart hit and stuck on the SK stone in the 8 foot. Dash chipped the AB stone and rolled out. The AB rock was moved to end up beside the AB rock.  Yizek drew to the top of 12 to guard his rock in the back of 12. Bender tried a run back double take out. He moved rocks around but AB was still sitting shot. Yizek left his draw light which allowed Bender a take out for three. The rock over curled, chipped the AB stone out and he rolled out to take 2.
End 6 -Schrader put a rock in the top of 8. Hibberd hit and stuck on it. Schrader hit and rolled to the other side in the top of 12. Hibberd hit and stuck. Wright hit and stuck. Purvis rubbed the SK rock and flashed through. Wright drew heavy and through. Purvis hit and rolled to the top of 8 on the other side of the house. Dash flashed. Smart drew to the T line in the 8 foot. Dash removed the AB shot and rolled out. Smart drew heavy and through. Bender removed the AB shot. Yizek removed the SK shot and stuck. Bender hit and rolled to the outside of 12 just above the T line. Yizek hit and stuck for a single.
End 7 -  Hibberd put up a tight guard. Schrader nudged the guard over and rolled beside it leaving a rock width between them. Hibberd put another guard beside her first. Schrader bumped his guard and we have a 4 rock wall just outside the house. Purvis bumped one of the AB stones in to the top of 12. Wright opened things up by hitting the SK guards, spilling the AB shot out and rolling top 12. Purvis hit the AB guards and succeeded in moving the rocks around. Wright tried to peel some AB guards but was wide and flashed. After Alberta called time out, Smart added an overlapping guard to the two that were already there. Dash was heavy on a draw. Smart was heavy on his draw. Dash made the adjustment and drew to the top of the 8 foot but hittable. Yizek made a beautiful hit and roll behind a rock wall of guards to be shot. Saskatchewan called time out. Bender was a bit heavy on a draw but stopped back 8 biting 12. Yizek tried to rub off the SK rock and roll over but skinned it and went through. Bender was heavy on his draw and AB stole one.
End 8 -  Hibberd put up a guard just over the hog line. Schrader bumped the Hibberd guard. Hibberd drew in to the back 4, partially covered behind the guard. Schrader was tight on his hit attempt and raised the AB guard into the rings. Purvis put his rock just outside the rings on the centre line. Wright raised the guard onto a rock in the house (which was removed) and rolled to bite the 12 foot. Purvis put up a guard. Wright removed the deeper of the two AB stones to sit second shot. Smart added a guard to the bunch. Dash picked off one of the AB guards. Smart added another guard to replace the one just removed. Dash peeled a guard and opened a hole. Yizek came deep with his guard attempt. After Saskatchewan called time out, Bender was just a little light on his draw attempt. Yizek did a better job of plugging the hole this time. Bender made it through the hole but was a bit heavy and the rock didn't curl quite enough to make contact with the AB shot rock.

A close up look at the ice


Tony Reynen - Ontario
Tony Reynen is known for his first hand videos. He provided us with an exclusive look at an on-ice experience during yesterday's game against Northern Ontario.

We are happy to be able to put you on the ice and give you a first hand experience of the 2012 Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships from the Fort William Curling Club in Thunder Bay, Ontario.



3 vs 4 Page playoff - Quebec vs. Ontario





  vs.

Ontario earned their way into this first playoff game when they eked out a win over their northern provincial opponents in an extra end tie breaker last night. In this first game of the Page playoff system, Quebec will try to repeat the result from their round robin game against Ontario by winning again.

Sheet  C
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Total
Ontario
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
1
5
*Quebec
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
-
4


End Notes:

End 1 - Wilcox sent the opening rock into the house onto the button. Daly replaced it with hers. Wilcox then nudged Daly's and they sat side by side. Daly flashed her in turn take out. Reynen removed Daly's rock and rolled out. Boisvert removed the ON rock and stuck. Reynen chipped the QC rock and rolled to the edge of 8. Boisvert flashed the take out. Paialunga tried to draw in and split the house but was heavy and went through. Marquis flashed his take out attempt. Paialunga again tried to draw in to split the house and put her rock on the T line. Marquis removed the previous rock and stuck for shot. Ideson removed the QC rock to lie 2. Lessard just missed a double take out by sliding his rock behind the ON stone. Ideson threw an outside in draw to back 8 to lie two again. Lessard threw a take out on the counter at the back of 8 but rolled a bit too far to give ON the steal.
End 2 - Wilcox drew in to bite top 4. Daly threw the take out and rolled the side if the 12 foot. Wilcox put up a centre line guard. Daly drew in to lie T line but open. Reynen replaced the QC rock with his own. Boisvert removed the guard. Reynen removed the QC rock on the other side of the house to lie 2  with both ON rocks on the T line. Boisvert removed one of the ON rocks and spun to bite the outside of the 12 foot. Paialunga threw her draw through. Marquis hit the ON rock and rolled to the back of 12. Paialunga flashed her take out attempt on the QC rock to leave QC lying 2. Marquis drew into the top of 12 to guard his rock at the back of the house and lie 3. Ideson tried to remove the QC shot rock but flashed. Marquis drew to top 12 on the centre line. Ideson, facing 4 QC stones, chipped the QC shot rock back to lie shot but reachable. Lessard tried to draw through a narrow opening between his two guards to remove the ON shot rock but instead over curled and tapped his guard back to the ON stone. A measure gave a second point to QC.
End 3 - Daly threw her first rock through. Wilcox drew her rock in to bite the 8 foot. Daly chipped the Wilcox rock out and rolled to the edge of 4. Wilcox replaced the rock Daly just removed.Boisvert chipped the ON rock out but rolled out. Reynen chipped the QC rock out to leave a clean house. Boisvert drew in to the 8 foot. Reynen removed the QC rock and rolled to the centre line top of 4. Marquis removed the ON rock and rolled out to leave the house clean again. Paialunga pushed her draw through the house. Marquis put up a guard close to the house on the centre line. Paialunga drew in behind the QC guard. Lessard ran his guard back on the ON shot to remove it and stay for shot. Ideson hit the QC rock and rolled into the open. Lessard hit the ON rock and rolled to the edge of 8 on the other side of the house. Ideson tried to hit and roll out to blank the end but flashed and QC stole one.
End 4 - Daly drew in to top 8. Wilcox drew in to bite top 8 on the other side of the house. Daly tried to take out the ON rock but the stick head stuck and she flashed narrowly missing her own rock. Wilcox froze to her rock. Boisvert hit the ON pair and removed one while rolling to the outside edge of 12. Reynen removed the QC stone in the 8 foot and rolled out. Boisvert removed the ON counter and rolled to the other side of the house. Reynen removed the QC counter and rolled out again leaving only the QC biter. Marquis tried to draw in behind his counter but instead put up a close guard. Paialunga tried to draw in behind and left hers overlapping Marquis' shot. Marquis tried to draw in behind the overlapping guards but came short to create a three rock wall. Reynen drew in behind the wall to sit on the button well guarded. Lessard drew to the ON shot and tapped it back a foot leaving ON still shot. Lessard called a time out. Ideson laid down a guard to prevent QC's entry for a raise take out. Lessard was either a bit heavy trying to add to the guards or a bit light trying a triple raise. In the end he almost raised an ON rock onto the QC rock in the 4 foot. Ideson threw his away.
End 5 - Wilcox put up a high guard. Daly, in trying to draw behind, pushed it through. Wilcox drew behind the guard to the back of the 4 foot but left it open enough to be hit. Daly flashed her take out attempt. Reynen drew drew to the top of 4. Boisvert flash his double take out attempt but did manage to move one of the ON rocks to the edge of 8. Reynen dropped down a close guard. Boisvert flashed his take out on the ON rock in the 8 foot. Paialunga drew to overlap the other ON guard. Marquis made a double take out of the overlapped ON guards and rolled out. Paialunga drew too deep and left three ON rocks in a line just behind the T line. Marquis made a beautiful triple take out and stayed for shot. Ideson removed the QC shot stone. Lessard flashed his take out attempt. Ideson almost froze to his shot rock. Lessard hit the two ON rocks spilling them out and rolled his shooter onto a catching rock just off the rings at the back to take a single.
End 6 - Daly drew in to top 8. Wilcox drew to top 12 on the other side of the house. Daly removed the Wilcox rock. Wilcox put her rock between the two QC rocks. Boisvert removed the Wilcox rock. Reynen hit the two QC rocks spilling one and rolling between the remaining QC rocks. Boisvert hit the cluster removing all three. Reynen hit the QC rock just thrown and rolled to the edge of 12. Marquis removed the ON rock and rolled out. Paialunga drew into the 8 foot in the clean house. Marquis removed the ON rock. Paialunga removed the QC rock and rolled out. Lessard put up a centre line guard. Ideson drew in to the top of 12. Lessard chipped the ON rock and rolled both rocks out. Ideson threw his away to blank the end.
End 7 - Daly drew in to bite the 12 foot on the centre line. Wilcox drew in to bite the 8 foot at the side. Daly hit the ON rock and rolled to the edge of the 12 foot. Wilcox drew to the back of 12. Boisvert removed the Wilcox rock and spun to the centre line at the back of 12. Reynen attempted a removal of the high QC stone but his shot over curled and only chipped it to the side while his rolled out. Boisvert drew to the top of 4 on the centre line. Reynen removed it and stuck. Marquis removed Reynen's rock and stuck. Paialunga removed one QC rock, moved another and stuck to be second shot. Marquis removed Paialunga's rock and rolled out. Paialunga drew to the top of the 8 foot to be shot. Lessard removed the ON rock just thrown. Drawing against 3 QC stones, Ideson left his shot a bit short. QC called time out to decide whether to protect against the draw or raise. Lessard put a guard on the raise. Ideson was left with an open draw to the 8 foot and he put it in the 4 foot.
End 8 - Wilcox put up a mid-range guard. Daly threw through. Wilcox attempted to draw behind her guard but left it hittable. Daly removed the ON stone and rolled to the 12 foot at the side. Reynen drew to the button partly behind the ON guard. Boisvert removed Reynen's rock and stuck. Reynen removed Boisvert's rock and stuck. Boisvert removed the guard. Paialunga left her guard wide and the ON rock in the rings was open.Marquis removed the ON stone and rolled to the 12 foot. Paialunga, attempting to draw in, pushed her rock through. After Quebec called time out Marquis peeled the guard and rolled on top of an ON guard. After an Ontario time out Ideson put up a mid-range centre line guard. Lessard removed the guard. Ideson slipped past the guard and drew to bite the 8 foot for shot and behind cover. Lessard had an open draw to the 8 foot for the win but he came light and allowed a steal of one by Ontario.
End 9 - Wilcox put her rock just over the hog line and 2 feet off the centre line. Daly threw her rock through while attempting to draw in. Wilcox drew to bite the 8 foot on the centre line. Daly flashed her take out. Reynen put a high guard on the centre line. Boisvert peeled the guard. Reynen drew to the 4 foot but left it peeking out behind his rock in the 8 foot. Boisvert hit a double raise take out and left the ON rock on the 4 foot. Paialunga put a guard on the centre line. Marquis raised the guard and removed the shot rock. Paialunga dropped a biter on the top of 12 just off the centre line. Marquis removed the rock just thrown and rolled out. Ideson drew to the button but left half showing. Lessard nicked the shot rock and slid through now leaving about a quarter showing. Ideson drew in to the top of 12 to leave ON with three rocks counting. Quebec called "temps mort" (time out). Lessard attempted an in turn in off for the win. He hit the rock on the edge of 12 and rolled about 2 feet but not enough to reach the ON rock on the button.