Howard edges McEwen for Players’ title

Glenn Howard and his team are on a serious hot streak, but all the top teams from around the world will be looking to cool them down at the Canadian Open in the Grand Slam of Curling. (Anil Mungal)

TORONTO — Glenn Howard scored a deuce in the eighth end to defeat Mike McEwen 4-3 and win the Players’ Championship on Sunday at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.

McEwen’s final shot was off by just a few inches and Howard nailed the double takeout to earn his second career Players’ title.

The Coldwater, Ont., rink ran the table at the tournament with a perfect 7-0 record.

McEwen opened the scoring with a steal of one in the first end when Howard couldn’t knock McEwen’s stone out of the house with his final shot.

Howard blanked the second and tied it up with a single in the third.

McEwen then attempted to grab a three-ender in the fourth but couldn’t get his last stone through the guards and Howard stole one to lead 2-1.

The Winnipeg rink then blanked the fifth and scored a point in the sixth to square it 2-2.

Howard gave up a one-point lead in the seventh when he attempted to score two but couldn’t get his final rock past McEwen’s guards.

McEwen defeated Jeff Stoughton 5-2 in the semifinals while Howard edged Brier champion Brad Jacobs 6-4.

The loss for Jacobs also meant Toronto’s John Epping clinched the sixth and final direct spot for the Canadian Olympic trials.

2012-13 Grand Slam of Curling winners 

Masters — Kevin Koe

Canadian Open — Glenn Howard

National — Jeff Stoughton

Players’ Championship — Glenn Howard

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