Mike McEwen advances to Brier semifinal with thrilling victory over Manitoba

Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen advanced to the semifinal of the Canadian men’s curling championship with a 6-5 win over Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone.
McEwen stole a single point in the fifth and sixth ends to lead 5-1, but gave up single steals in the eighth and ninth to be tied coming home with hammer.
The skip executed a nose hit against three Dunstone counters for the win and earned a standing ovation from Regina’s Brandt Centre.
Alberta’s Brendan Bottcher and defending champion Brad Gushue were to meet in a later playoff game.
The winner earned an express ticket to Sunday night’s final while the loser dropped to Sunday afternoon’s semifinal to face McEwen.
The last Saskatchewan team to win a Brier was Rick Folk’s in 1980.