First Que. Win In 29 Years

Menard skips away with Canadian championship

REGINA (Monday, March 20, 2006) - Quebec won the Canadian men's curling championship for the first time since 1977 on Sunday when Jean-Michel Menard skipped his team to an 8-7 upset over Ontario's Glenn Howard in the final.

The last and only team from Quebec to win a national title prior to Sunday was a foursome skipped by Jim Ursel 29 years ago when the tournament was held in Montreal.

The closest Quebec had come after that was in 1998 and 1999 when Guy Hemmings finished runner-up.

"I'm overwhelmed," said Menard. "This is something I've dreamed about since I started curling and here I am."

Menard, third Francois Roberge, second Eric Sylvain, lead Maxime Elmaleh and alternate Jean Gagnon, out of the Victoria and Etchemin curling clubs in Quebec City, will represent Canada at the men's world curling championship April 1-9 in Lowell, Mass.

Quebec was considered a second-tier contender in the Tim Hortons Brier behind the Big Four: Ontario, Alberta's Kevin Martin, Manitoba's Jeff Stoughton and Nova Scotia's Mark Dacey.

Unlike those teams, Menard's isn't able to play much on the cashspiel circuit because Quebec doesn't have sponsors to help pay for travel costs. Quebec and Ontario each won $40,000 in prize money by reaching the final.

"Hopefully someone will want to sponsor us next year," Menard said.

Quebec finished second in the round robin at 8-3, behind Ontario at 10-1.

Quebec had lost twice to Ontario -- in the first draw of the round robin and also in Friday's Page playoff between the top two seeds.

But Quebec found a way to win Sunday. Menard was helped by a disastrous first two ends by Ontario.

As the higher seed, Howard had last-rock advantage to start the game, but gave up a steal of one in the first and a shocking three in the second to quickly fall behind 4-0.

Ontario trailed 8-5 heading into the ninth end and Quebec made no mistakes for Howard to capitalize on with last-rock advantage.

Ontario could generate only one point and was down two points without the hammer coming home.

Ontario had Quebec under some pressure in the final end, however, with three stones frozen on top of each other starting at top of the button.

Menard's takeout spilled them wide for the victory.

"I was nervous all game long, but not more nervous than on any other shot," said Menard.

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