Matt Dunstone’s Manitoba team claims victory at the Henderson Metal Fall Classic in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, with a nail-biting win in an extra end against Marco Hoesli’s Swiss team.
Dunstone’s Sault Ste. Marie Success: “A Little Bit Extra Special”
Sault Ste. Marie has become a happy hunting ground for Matt Dunstone and his Manitoba curling team. Lead Ryan Harnden hails from the city, and the team has enjoyed success in recent tournaments. Last year, they barely made their flight out after winning the inaugural Soo Curlers Fall Classic. This year, Dunstone savors his encore victory a little more.
Sunday evening saw Team Dunstone crowned champions of the Henderson Metal Fall Classic, edging out Marco Hoesli’s Swiss team in a thrilling extra-end showdown. The final score was 7-5.
“This field was a lot more difficult than last year,” Dunstone remarked after the victory.
Although proud of both Sault Ste. Marie tournament titles, Dunstone called this year’s win “a little bit extra special.” He added, “It wasn’t always pretty, but we found a way to do it. We got breaks when we needed them and made shots when we had to.”
Dunstone highlighted his team’s performance, praising their success with the hammer. Despite dropping a deuce early, they clawed their way back, building momentum and securing a decisive hit-and-roll in the seventh end that proved crucial to their win.
Road to the Finals
Dunstone’s journey to the final included a convincing semifinal victory over Italy’s Joel Retornaz, a repeat of last year’s final matchup. Hoesli secured his spot with a hard-fought win over Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen.
Quarterfinal action saw Dunstone outmuscle Northern Ontario’s John Epping while Hoesli triumphed over Manitoba’s Reid Carruthers. Other notable quarterfinal results included McEwen’s win over Newfoundland and Labrador’s Brad Gushue and Retornaz’s victory over Ontario’s Mark Kean.
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