Team Laycock Back on Top as Provincial Champions!

The City of Estevan crowd that was on hand Sunday afternoon got their money’s worth as it was a clash between two of the hottest teams in Saskatchewan this past curling season!

First year team in Colton Flasch, finished top amongst all Saskatchewan teams in the Canadian Team Ranking System had left off where they started claiming the top spot in that 1vs2 Page Playoff game after a 4-3 A-Event win over Team Brady Kendel of the Saskatoon Sutherland. The team then earned a direct berth into Sunday’s final over Brock Virtue Saturday evening with a convincing win of 7-1 after seven ends of play.

Third Kevin Marsh (left) & second Dan Marsh (right) during Sunday’s Provincial Final (Wanda Harron Photography).

Skip Steve Laycock celebrates Dunstones final shot en route to the teams provincial title (Wanda Harron Photography).

The six-time provincial champion Steve Laycock fell into the C-Event this year, as it may have been a different route to the provincial final for the team as in past championships. But that did not faze the team as they had to defeat some tough teams along the way to the page playoffs. They defeated former provincial champions in Ryan Deis, Scott Bitz, & Brock Virute before they would meet with Flasch Sunday for the first time all week.

Flasch headed into the 5th end with a 2-1 lead as we eased our way into the afternoons final. But the turning point in this game was a big score of five for Laycock after a few nice hit and rolls behind cover by teammates Kirk Muyres and Matt Dunstone. But Flasch did not run away as they scored four points within two ends, forcing Matt Dunstone to make a hit and stick on his final stone to seal the deal as 2018 Provincial Men’s Champions!!

Team Laycock will now represent Team Saskatchewan at a hometown Brier here in Regina Mar. 3-11!! Make sure to get your tickets and head on down to the Brandt Centre to cheer on the boys in green & white. Congratulations gentlemen!