The road to the Brier and the Scotties Tournament of Hearts is narrowing in Saskatchewan, as the playoff fields are now finalized at the provincial men's and women's curling championships in Melville. After intense round-robin competition, the top four teams in each division have secured their spots for a shot at the provincial title.
Men's Championship: Kleiter Aims to Defend Title
At the SaskTel Tankard men's provincial playdowns, defending champion Rylan Kleiter and his Saskatoon rink dominated the preliminary round, posting a perfect 8-0 record to seize the number one seed. Their path to a repeat championship will go through a familiar foe right away.
Kleiter will face Kelly Knapp and his Regina squad, the 2023 provincial champions, in the pivotal 1 vs. 2 playoff game on Saturday night at 7 p.m. The winner earns a direct berth into Sunday's championship final. Kleiter edged Knapp 5-4 in their round-robin encounter, setting the stage for a high-stakes rematch.
On the other side of the men's bracket, veteran Steve Laycock from Swift Current secured the third seed with a 6-2 record. He will battle Tyler Hartung of Langenburg, who claimed the fourth and final playoff position after emerging from a dramatic four-way tiebreaker. Their 3 vs. 4 game also goes Saturday at 7 p.m.
The playoff format offers a second chance. The loser of the 1 vs. 2 game will face the winner of the 3 vs. 4 contest in a semifinal on Sunday morning at 9 a.m.. The survivor then advances to challenge the 1 vs. 2 winner in the men's final Sunday at 7 p.m. The champion will represent Saskatchewan at the Montana's Brier in St. John's, N.L., from February 27 to March 8, joining the pre-qualified Mike McEwen rink.
Women's Championship: Thevenot's Squad Stays Perfect
Over at the Bunge Prairie Pinnacle women's playdowns, Ashley Thevenot and her Saskatoon team were flawless, cruising through the round robin with an 8-0 record to claim the top seed. Their formidable play has positioned them as the team to beat heading into the weekend.
Thevenot will square off against Jolene Campbell, who finished second at 6-2, in the women's 1 vs. 2 playoff game Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.. The victor books a ticket straight to Sunday's championship final.
The battle for the other finalist spot will be equally fierce. Penny Barker's Moose Jaw rink, also 6-2, takes the third seed and will meet Jana Tisdale, who locked down the fourth seed with a 5-3 record. Their 3 vs. 4 matchup is set for Saturday as well. The winner advances to a semifinal on Sunday at 9 a.m. against the loser of the Thevenot-Campbell game.
The women's provincial final is scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. in Melville. Notably, the tournament's top seed entering the week, Sara Miller, missed the playoffs with a 3-5 record, while defending champion Nancy Martin was eliminated after a 2-6 round robin.
Road to the National Stage
The stakes in Melville extend far beyond provincial bragging rights. For the men, the SaskTel Tankard champion earns the right to wear the green and gold at Canada's premier men's curling event, the Brier. On the women's side, the Bunge Prairie Pinnacle winner will carry Saskatchewan's hopes at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the national women's championship.
With the playoff picture now clear, the focus shifts to single-elimination pressure. Teams that excelled over a long week of round-robin play must now deliver under the bright lights of the weekend, where one missed shot can end a season's dream of a national title.
