THE CANADIAN PRESS
DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Cheryl Bernard closed out the curling season in style, defeating fellow Calgary skip Crystal Webster 6-4 to win the women’s Grey Power Players’ Championship on Saturday.
Bernard’s team earned $25,000 for winning the final event of the Capital One Grand Slam of Curling season, and an additional $50,000 and the Capital One Cup for finishing the season as the top team.
"It means a lot to us to win this Cup," said Bernard, who also won a silver medal at the Vancouver Games.
"It means you’ve been steady through the year. It means you’ve peaked when you’ve needed to in the events. It’s a really important trophy to win."
In men’s action, Kevin Martin and Brad Gushue won their semifinals, setting up a Sunday final between the last two Olympic champions.
Tied at three, Webster grabbed her first lead of the game in the sixth end after Bernard’s draw to the button came up heavy, resulting in a steal of one point.
Bernard blanked the seventh end in order to continue to hold the hammer heading into the final frame.
With her final shot in the eighth end, Webster’s attempt to draw a rock into the four-foot came up heavy, allowing Bernard to score the winning three points without have to throw her final stone.
"She made a really nice shot with her first one in eight and I was a little hot with both of mine which I think really cost us," said Webster.
Bernard finished the season with 34 points, three ahead of defending Capital One Cup champion Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg. Kelly Scott of Kelowna, B.C., placed third with 24 points.
"After coming off the Olympics, winning the Trials, I think we just wanted to come out and prove that wasn’t just a one off thing," said Bernard.
"We are having a good year and this is something we wanted to show. It was really important not to show any complacency. Not to just come out and say that was good enough. The Olympics was good enough. I’m proud of us for that."
Earlier in the day, Bernard advanced to the final after rallying for a 6-5 extra end victory over Montreal’s Eve Belisle while Webster booked a spot in the championship game after edging Stefanie Lawton of Saskatoon 6-5 in eight ends.
In men’s action, Edmonton native Martin, the 2010 Olympic champion, advanced to the final with a 6-1 victory over Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton.
Gushue, the 2006 Olympic champion from St. John’s, N.L.,, slid past reigning world championship Kevin Koe of Edmonton 6-4.
Both teams enter the championship game with perfect 5-0 records.
The winner of Sunday’s championship game will also secure first place in the men’s Capital One Cup points race.
In 2005, Martin and Gushue met in the finals of the Players’ Championship in St. John’s, with Martin winning 6-3.