Cotter: 2 down 1 to go

Photo: Contributed - Michael Burns

UPDATE 3:45 P.M.

There remains a light at the end of the tunnel as Jim Cotter hopes to play for a chance to capture the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier in Calgary.

Cotter won his second straight Thursday, a 7-4 victory over New Brunswick.

The win moved the B.C. champions to 5-5 with one round robin game left Friday morning against Saskatchewan.

Cotter also got some help as both Alberta and Manitoba lost, dropping both to five losses.

In order for Cotter to secure a tie breaker and a shot at playing on the weekend, Quebec will have to lose its remaining game Thursday night against Newfoundland while Saskatchewan would have to lose both its games with Ontario Thursday night and B.C. Friday morning.

Against New Brunswick Thursday afternoon the teams were tied 3-3 after four before Cotter pulled ahead for good. He scored one in five and stole one in six. After New Brunswick scored a single in seven Cotter shut the door with a deuce in eight.

Northern Ontario leads the pack at 9-1 followed by Newfoundland at 8-2 and Team Canada at 7-3.

Jim Cotter kept his slim playoff hopes alive at the Tim Hortons Brier in Calgary.

Cotter and his B.C. championship rink out of the Kelowna and Vernon curling clubs defeated Jamie Koe of the Northwest Territories 6-2 Thursday morning.

Cotter, third Ryan Kuhn, second Tyrel Griffith and lead Rick Sawatsky had control of the game throughout.

After blanking one they scored two in the second and singles in five and six to grab a commanding 4-1 lead.

Koe took one in eight before Cotter shut the door with a deuce in nine to close it out.

The win improved Cotter's record to 4-5 as he battles to try and earn at least a shot at a tie breaker following Friday's final round robin draw.

Cotter takes on 2-7 New Brunswick Thursday afternoon and closes round robin Friday morning against  Saskatchewan.

In order to have a chance at qualifying for the weekend Cotter must win his final two games then hope Saskatchewan (5-3) loses twice while four loss teams Alberta, Quebec and Manitoba all lose at least one more.