Top seeds Reid Carruthers and Mike McEwen are set to square off in the Page playoffs Saturday at the Manitoba Viterra Championship in Portage la Prairie.
Carruthers counted three points in an extra end to edge William Lyburn 8-5 during the morning draw to advance.
McEwen, the defending champion, slid into the championship round with a 7-2 win over Matt Dunstone in seven ends.
Carruthers beat McEwen to win the men’s provincial title in 2015. Both teams enter the Page playoffs with unblemished 5-0 records. The winner will move straight through to the final while the loser has to play in the semifinal for another chance at clinching a spot in the championship game.
Meanwhile, Dunstone and Lyburn had another shot to make it into the Page 2 vs. 2 playoff but both fell short. Jason Gunnlaugson topped Dunstone 5-3 and Trevor Loreth beat Lyburn 6-5.
Earlier, Gunnlaugson eliminated David Bohn 7-5 and Loreth took a 6-4 match over Dennis Bohn.
NOTES: Watch live coverage Sunday on Sportsnet starting at 9 a.m. CT. … The winner of the Manitoba Viterra Championship will represent the province at the Tim Hortons Brier running March 4-12 in St. John’s, N.L.
