Epping edges Retornaz 5-4 to win Henderson Metal Fall Classic in Sault Ste. Marie

John Epping of Winnipeg went unbeaten through the Henderson Metal Fall Classic presented by Kioti Tractors of Ontario, closing out the week with a 5-4 victory over Italy's Joel Retornaz in the final Saturday at the KC Security Curling Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Epping is backed by third B.J. Neufeld, second Ryan Wiebe and lead Ian MacMillan.

Retornaz scored two in the fourth end and two more in the seventh, but Team Epping held on for its first title of the 2026-27 season. The Winnipeg rink finished 6-0 overall, the only team to go through the event without a loss.

Epping opened the playoffs with a 6-3 quarterfinal win over Jayden King of Tillsonburg, Ont. He then edged Felix Asselin of Montreal 4-3 in the semifinals to set up the final. Retornaz, of Brunico, Italy, beat Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi of Karuizawa, Japan, 5-4 in the quarterfinals and Brad Jacobs of Calgary 5-2 in the semifinals.

Asselin and Jacobs shared third place. Asselin beat Matt Dunstone 5-3 in the quarterfinals, while Jacobs got past John Shuster 6-5. Dunstone, Shuster, Yamaguchi and King tied for fifth.

Epping topped the round-robin standings at 6-0, followed by Retornaz at 5-1. Shuster and Asselin each went 5-2, and Jacobs finished 5-3. The 24-team field was led by Dunstone, ranked third on the Men World Team Ranking, and Jacobs, ranked fourth. Epping entered ranked 10th.

The win paid $21,000 and 43.5 ranking points for Epping. Retornaz took home $16,000 and 31.9 points, and Asselin and Jacobs each earned $10,000 and 24.7 points.

Epping next plays the GSOC Masters in Medicine Hat, Alta., Nov. 3-8, followed by the Morris Superspiel in Morris, Man., Nov. 26-29. Rich Ruohonen of Chaska, Minn., won last year's edition, skipping Team Casper.