Dropkin Wins Euro Super Series Opener

Duluth's Korey Dropkin (photo: Bob Weder, USA Curling) won 4-2 over Canada's Jordan Chandler in their opening match at The Peak in Stirling, Scotland. By Gerry Geurts The Euro Super Series is hosted by British Curling as an early season event played at the National Training Academy. The game started innocently enough; teams trading hits down for what appeared to be a first-end blank. Without hammer in the first end, Jordan Chandler's last rock over-curled, leaving Dropkin an open draw for a surprise deuce. Chandler bounced back in the third end, burying shot-stone with his first shot of the end, then drawing in the second scoring point to get back to even. In the fourth end, Dropkin was left with a hit-and-stick to score two in the four-foot area, though his last stone stayed straight and rolled just a bit too far following the hit. A single point was still counted, giving Dropkin a 3-2 lead at the game's halfway point. Both teams seemed content in their positions, playing open ends in the second half of the game, where Chandler finished off three straight blank ends. The game strategy would change as both teams went to the offence needed to force the issue. Dropkin managed to get a buried stone behind two centre guards, forcing Chandler, who needed two for the win, into chasing the American side for much of the end. Facing three on his last, Chandler made a brilliant hit-and-roll off a side stone, rolling four feet and settling half-buried at the back of the button. Dropkin, having controlled much of the end, yet now facing a potential loss, settled into the hack and calmly picked out shot-stone. Chandler was left with a draw to tie the game; his last shot went heavy, giving Dropkin the single-point steal for a 4-2 win. Dropkin, supported by Andrew Stopera at third, Mark Fenner at second and Thomas Howell, went 2-2 last weekend at the Baden Masters in Switzerland. Dropkin next faces Scotland's Ross Whyte at 8:30 am Scottish Time, 2:30 am Cental US Time. Dropkin follows up Thursday evening against another Scottish side skipped by Cameron Bryce, then finishes their round-robin action on Friday at 12:30 pm local Time again Switzerland's Yves Stocker. Chandler, coming off a 2-2 finish at the Baden Masters in Switzerland, is making a run at the competitive game again with a team of young players. Landan Rooney throw third stones while Connor Lawes and Robert Currie, formerly of Team Pat Ferris, joined on the front end. Chandler also next faces Whyte, taking to the ice next at 8:30 pm local Time, 3:30 pm Eastern Canadian Time. Chandler faces Bryce at 12:30 pm on Thursday, then finishes against Stocker at 8:30 am on Friday. Chandler will complete a 3-weekend trip at the Oslo Cup in Norway next weekend.