Winning Moves Bottcher to #1 in World Rankings
Brendan Bottcher earned his third title of the season Sunday with a 5-4 win over Kevin Koe in the latest edition of curling's Battle of Alberta at the Insitu Players Open.
Bottcher picked up an early force and blanked the next four ends. He scored four in the sixth and won with a single in the eighth after Koe tied the game.
"I think Kevin might have missed one shot all game and we were able to capitalize with a four in the sixth," said Team Bottcher second Brett Gallant. "That was the turning point of the game. Overall, it's our second final against those guys this year and it's been an inch that's the difference in both games."
Gallant said being tied with hammer coming home is "all you can ask for."
"(Lead) Benny (Hebert) made a great tick on one just off the centre line to start the eighth and we were able to make a double peel and keep it open," he said.
The win moves Bottcher to #1 in the World Curling Federation World Team Rankings, counting three victories in their three events slots to open the season. Bottcher beat Koe 4-3 in the final of the ATB Okotoks Classic and defeated Catlin Schneider to win the Saville Shootout in the team's season opener.
Bottcher was knocked out in the second round of the PointsBet Invitational a few weeks ago before rolling to a 7-1 record in Dundas. The team's only loss in the preliminary round was to Koe.
"Our second half of last season, we had a lot of good results, picked up a couple Slam wins, and we've just continued where we left off of last year," Gallant said. "We're working on a few things. Honestly we won this week and I don't think we all had our A-game at the same time.
"So I think there's still room to improve. But we're getting some great results and we're really learning how to curl together."
Bottcher, Gallant, Hebert and third Marc Kennedy first teamed up together last season. They entered the Insitu Players Open ranked second in the world behind reigning world champion Bruce Mouat of Scotland.
Gallant said Bottcher has a deep skillset.
"He can throw the high hard one just on a laser and he can also draw the side of the button too," he said. "So he's got every shot and just has a killer instinct. He can play with rocks in play and he can play a bit of a defensive method. He's just comfortable with both sides of things."
The 24-team men's draw at this inaugural event boasted a strong field with a $70,000 purse.
Anna Hasselborg beat Isabella Wrana in a women's final between Swedish teams. The 24-rink women's draw also included many of the world's top teams and had an identical purse.
Many teams will be making the short trek now to Niagara Falls, Ont., for the upcoming Grand Slam. There are two tiers to the HearingLife Tour Challenge, which starts Tuesday and runs through Sunday.
Bottcher is scheduled to open against Dutch skip Wouter Gosgens on Tuesday night at the Gale Centre.
Bottcher picked up an early force and blanked the next four ends. He scored four in the sixth and won with a single in the eighth after Koe tied the game.
"I think Kevin might have missed one shot all game and we were able to capitalize with a four in the sixth," said Team Bottcher second Brett Gallant. "That was the turning point of the game. Overall, it's our second final against those guys this year and it's been an inch that's the difference in both games."
Gallant said being tied with hammer coming home is "all you can ask for."
"(Lead) Benny (Hebert) made a great tick on one just off the centre line to start the eighth and we were able to make a double peel and keep it open," he said.
The win moves Bottcher to #1 in the World Curling Federation World Team Rankings, counting three victories in their three events slots to open the season. Bottcher beat Koe 4-3 in the final of the ATB Okotoks Classic and defeated Catlin Schneider to win the Saville Shootout in the team's season opener.
Bottcher was knocked out in the second round of the PointsBet Invitational a few weeks ago before rolling to a 7-1 record in Dundas. The team's only loss in the preliminary round was to Koe.
"Our second half of last season, we had a lot of good results, picked up a couple Slam wins, and we've just continued where we left off of last year," Gallant said. "We're working on a few things. Honestly we won this week and I don't think we all had our A-game at the same time.
"So I think there's still room to improve. But we're getting some great results and we're really learning how to curl together."
Bottcher, Gallant, Hebert and third Marc Kennedy first teamed up together last season. They entered the Insitu Players Open ranked second in the world behind reigning world champion Bruce Mouat of Scotland.
Gallant said Bottcher has a deep skillset.
"He can throw the high hard one just on a laser and he can also draw the side of the button too," he said. "So he's got every shot and just has a killer instinct. He can play with rocks in play and he can play a bit of a defensive method. He's just comfortable with both sides of things."
The 24-team men's draw at this inaugural event boasted a strong field with a $70,000 purse.
Anna Hasselborg beat Isabella Wrana in a women's final between Swedish teams. The 24-rink women's draw also included many of the world's top teams and had an identical purse.
Many teams will be making the short trek now to Niagara Falls, Ont., for the upcoming Grand Slam. There are two tiers to the HearingLife Tour Challenge, which starts Tuesday and runs through Sunday.
Bottcher is scheduled to open against Dutch skip Wouter Gosgens on Tuesday night at the Gale Centre.