Bottcher alone in first with undefeated record in Medicine Hat

Thursday night proved to be another easy-going outing for Bottcher as his rink remained in control for the most part to keep his undefeated streak alive. Brendan Bottcher got the better of Jordan Steinke defeating him 7-3 to improve his record to 4-0 and saw Steinke's record drop to 1-3.


Dylan Webster of Sundre clipped Brett Vavrek of Sexsmith in the evening draw as well to see Webster remain in a tie for the third and final playoff position. Also in the tie for third is Dylan Gousseau of Edmonton, who defeated Calgary's Scott Smith 8-3, and Edmonton's Shane Parcels who setback Kyler Kleibrink. Brendan Bottcher could face a run for his money as he has yet to play Parcels, Webster and Vavrek. Kleibrink and Smith and Steinke will likely need to win-out to force any form of a tie-breaker and potentially require help from other rinks before their playoff hopes slip away.


In women's action, playoffs look promising for Edmonton's Brittany Whittemore after rolling off three consecutive wins to remain in a tie for first place. Thursday evening, Whittemore edged Red Deer's Megan Orr 4-3 taking advantage of hammer in the tenth end. Jocelyn Peterman came out flying crushing Stephaine Powell's rink by a score of 10-3 to improve her record to 3-1. Also, Keely Brown defeated Kellie Henricks 11-2 to join Peterman and Whittemore in a three way tie for first place. The final round-robin game of draw four saw Courtney Missikewitz of Airdrie edge Athena Sturmay 8-6 to keep her playoff hopes alive. Missikewitz improved to 2-2 with the win and dropped Sturmay to 2-2 as well. Megan Orr is also tied with both rinks at 2-2.


Tomorrow, Jocelyn Peterman controls her own playoff destiny as she matches up against both Brittany Whittemore and Keely Brown. Wins against both rinks would secure first place and a bye straight through to Sunday's final. Athena Sturmay is in similar circumstances as a successful Friday against Brown and Whittemore could clarify her playoff or tiebreaker picture. Tomorrows draws take place at 1:00pm and 7:00pm at the Medicine Hat Curling Club.