The Canadian Mixed Curling Championship got underway with Team Saskatchewan, represented by Shaun Meachem, Kelly Schafer and Chris and Teejay Haichert from the Swift Current Curling Club, opening against Paul Flemming and Team Nova Scotia on Sunday afternoon at Innovationplex.
The two teams played a back-and-forth game trading singles and deuces in the first four ends. Meachem picked up a steal of two in the fifth to go up 5-3 before Nova Scotia responded with three in the sixth. After Saskatchewan got a single in the seventh to tie the game up coming home, Meachem was left with a tough decision on his last rock with Nova Scotia lying two. Opting for the freeze instead of a thin double takeout attempt, Flemming made an open hit with his last to score two and wrap up an 8-6 victory.
"We didn't leave myself in a position that I really wanted to be in that spot in the game," Meachem said. "Anytime you're having to try and do a perfect freeze on like that is not ideal, but that wasn't definitely the shot through the game that I would take back if I could. The team played unreal all game and I just struggled a little bit early, and still just feeling out the ice and getting things sorted, but I think it will come around with a few more throws and it'll be there.
"It's pretty special to be at home," Meachem added. "It's a great place to curl and they've done a great job on the ice and everybody's worked so hard on the facility and it's pretty special. I'm lucky to be here."
Saskatchewan will have two games on Monday facing Prince Edward Island at 2:00pm and Quebec at 6:00pm.
Other results in the opening draw had Quebec beating Yukon 8-4 in seven ends, the Northwest Territories edging Nunavut 8-7 and Alberta beating BC 8-6 in an extra end. The evening draw had Ontario beating Yukon 8-5, Northern Ontario defeating PEI 5-3, Manitoba routing Newfoundland & Labrador 11-4 in six ends, and New Brunswick beating Nunavut 12-2 in seven ends.
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