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Cotter playoff bound

UPDATE 9:45 p.m.

Jim Cotter can kick back and relax for the next day-and-a-half after qualifying Thursday for the playoffs at the Canadian Direct Insurance B.C. Men's Curling Championships going on this week in Nelson.

Cotter and his combined Vernon/Kelowna foursome were the first to qualify for the four rink playoff round after going through the first two days unbeaten.

The two time defending champion capped off a perfect first two days Thursday night with a 5-4 win over Michael Johnson from the Royal City Curling Club in New Westminster.

Cotter cracked deuces in the first and third ends to grab a commanding 4-1 lead. He cruised from there, allowing Johnson only singles in six, nine and 10 while picking up a single of his own in the seventh.

Cotter, third Ryan Kuhn, second Tyrel Griffith and lead Rick Sawatsky don't hit the ice again until Saturday afternoon when they take on the "B" event winner in the 1-2 Page playoff game.

Four teams remain in the hunt to qualify from the "B" event of the triple knockout including Kelowna Jeff Richard.

Richard won his third straight, beating Wes Craig 6-3 Thursday night. He took control with a steal of two in the fourth for a 4-0 lead then picked up two more in six for a 6-1 lead.

Richard will take on former Kelowna resident Glen Jackson in the "B: side semi-final Friday morning.

The championship game is set for Sunday afternoon.


Team Johnson and Team Cotter are literally the teams to beat at the 2016 Canadian Direct Insurance BC Men’s Curling Championship as neither has lost a match.

Michael Johnson’s Royal City rink of third Chris Baier, second Ty Dillelo and lead Mitch Young defeated Team Schneider, Team Joanisse and Team Craig to earn the chance to qualify for the playoffs.

They face the Vernon/Kelowna rink of five-times B.C Men’s champion Jim Cotter, featuring third Ryan Kuhn, second Tyrel Griffith and lead Rick Sawatsky.

The Cotter rink defeated Team House, Team Martyn and Team Jackson to earn the spot.

The two teams will play tonight at 7 p.m. with the winner advancing to the page playoff on Saturday at 2 p.m. The loser will drop down to the B event to fight for another playoff spot.

A total of 16 teams qualified for this year's provincial championship. The event is a triple knockout, with some teams facing elimination from the competition Thursday.

The overall winner of the event will represent B.C. at the Tim Hortons Brier in Ottawa March 5-13.

The semi finals and finals of this year’s championship, will be televised on Sportsnet on Sunday, Feb. 14. The semi finals will be televised at 11 a.m. on Sportsnet Pacific and the finals will be televised at 4 p.m. on Sportsnet 360.

For ticket information, and to find out more about the event, go to  this website.

You can view past scores and follow the championship event at this link.

With only one loss, Teams Craig, Jackson and Montgomery, all from Victoria Curling Centre are still in contention for a B event qualification. Also in contention is Team Richard from Kelowna, Team Ducharme from Creston, Team Wenzek from Langley/Royal City, Team Buchy from Kimberley and Team Geall from Royal City.

The other teams still playing for a spot include Team Longworth from Vernon Curling Club, Team Dangerfield from Victoria Curling Centre, Team Martyn from Royal City Curling Club, Team Joanisse from Royal City Curling Club, Team Schneider from Vancouver Curling Club and Team House from Richmond Curling Club.



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