Music: {allcanada} HOWARD LOSES TO MORRIS IN ROAR OF THE RINGS OPENER

Sunday, December 1, 2013

{allcanada} HOWARD LOSES TO MORRIS IN ROAR OF THE RINGS OPENER

The Polar Express

WINNIPEG -- Glenn Howard kept his sense of humour after losing his opening game at Sunday's Canadian Curling Trials.

"I guess we're not going undefeated," Howard said with a wry grin after losing 8-6 to John Morris of Vernon, B.C.

The four-time world champion from Penetanguishene,Ont., wasn't the only veteran skip to fall on the first day of the Trials, which will select Canada's men's and women's teams for next year's Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie team upset hometown favourite Jeff Stoughton 7-4.

Reigning Olympic champion Kevin Martin had a duel against Winnipeg's Mike McEwen, but the Edmonton skip finished with a 5-3 victory.

Toronto's John Epping was also victorious when he got by Calgary's Kevin Koe 9-8.

"They're probably going to be in it at the end of the week so that's a big first win," said Jacobs, 28, a runner-up at this year's world championships.

His team led from the beginning and widened the gap 4-1 after a double takeout in the fifth end scored two.

Even though the two-time world and three-time Brier champion Stoughton is beloved by local fans, the knowledgeable crowd of 10,214 at MTS Centre cheered in appreciation of Jacobs' tough shot.

"That extended the lead nicely and I think just kind of boosted everyone up a little bit," Jacobs said.

Stoughton said his rink didn't put enough pressure on Jacobs.

"But we didn't do much wrong, so not great, not bad," he said. "Course we'd rather win the first game than lose it, but we're not going to hang our heads. You can't in this event."

Stoughton, 50, is playing in his fifth Trials and has said this is his last crack at trying to earn an elusive berth to an Olympics.

Martin was relieved to beat McEwen.

"Holy smokes, what a game," Martin said. "Well, that's the ice, right. It's just perfect so every shot's makeable."

There's a fine line between the competitors.

"One different shot and Mike wins, and then we don't," Martin said.

"That's the way it's going to be here all week. There's going to be game's just like that all week and it's just going to be a real dog fight for the whole time."

The Polar Express