Vanier Forces Second And Deciding Game In City Championship

Deciding game could see Vanier Collegiate repeat as high school boys city curling Champions

By Robert Thomas

With the shaking of hands after five ends of play Vanier Collegiate boy's team forced a second and deciding game to crown the 2022 - 2023 city high school boys champion.

A game which could see Vanier repeat their city championship victory from last year.

The Vanier team - skipped by Kendall Ebbett - scored five in the second end that their opponents from Central Collegiate never recovered from.

Vanier would go on to steal two points in the third end.

Vanier then stole three points in the fourth end.

And then Vanier would steal a single point in the fifth end.

The final score at the hand shake was Vanier 11 - Central 2.

VANIER SKIP KENDALL EBBETT CALLS ON HIS SWEEPERS IN SECOND END ACTION - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

“I’m proud of us today to get our shots and we just got all of the breaks today,” Vanier skip Kendall Ebbett told MJ Independent just after the win.

Ebbett said the key to Vanier's Monday afternoon handshake victory was understanding the ice and taking advantage of it.

“I think its a matter we were able to read the ice early and get a feel for it. And it just held the entire game for us,” he said.

“Identifying the ice early really made it easier for us to get the win.”

Asked to describe the key second end - when Vanier had the opportunity for six points - Ebbett said it was just something that developed.

“It’s one of those ends you don’t see coming until you have five in the house. That’s the same thing that happened to us in our last playoff game against them (Peacock) and it just happened for us this time,” Ebbett said.

With the hammer on their final rock of the second end Central came up just short on a draw for a six point end.

“That looking at (a potential) six (points) felt really good. Especially since earlier on in the playoffs they put up five on us and we just couldn’t recover from it.”

KAI GAUTHIER SECOND AND DANTE CORNEA THIRD FROM CENTRAL COLLEGIATE brush HARD - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

Central Collegiate boys curling coach Arnold Cornea said the team had hoped for a victory on Monday but can live and make up for the loss in the final game.

“You can’t win every one. And so if you are going to lose one you may as well lose one that doesn't count,” Cornea said.

The championship is a double knockout event and the loss is Central's first loss.

Vanier suffered their only loss in the championship 12 - 1 versus Central.

Vanier's five ender in the second end was a bit of a surprise and largely cemented the defending city and district champs win on Monday to force Tuesday's (today's) winner take all game.

“They kind of snuck it in on us. I was hoping for a little bit better outcome for sure.”

Asked about the loss - and if the ice was a key factor - he marks up the loss to just missed opportunities by the team.

“You know it takes a team to win and it takes a team to lose. We just were not making our shots and it was all five players really who were having challenges.”

Facing a seeming do or die final game Cornea said he is expecting Central to come out with a strong game.

“The nice part is it is a sudden death thing and so we have to perform tomorrow (Tuesday). The boys are aware of that and they are going to come out and put on a good show.”

VANIER SKIP KENDALL EBBETT ASKS FOR A DRAW IN THE SECOND END TO SCORE SIX IN THE SECOND END. THE DRAW WAS JUST SHORT OF THE HOUSE WITH VANIER SCORING FIVE IN THE END - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

The girls city high school curling championship was decided on Friday when Peacock defeated Cornerstone Christian School in the double knockout event.

The high school city mixed curling championship was won by Peacock who defeated Central 9 - 5 on Monday afternoon.

The boys city curling championship final game is at 3:45 pm Tuesday February 7th at the Moose Jaw Event's Centre (110 1st Avenue NW).

Admission is free.