Nachrichten der Vorstandschaft » dThe Hammers would reduce the deficit

KAMLOOPS, B.C. -- Jeff Stoughton has dodged more than a few bullets at the Canadian mens curling championship but he was hit hard Monday night, falling 10-4 to Albertas Kevin Koe. Koes win set up a three-way tie for first at the Tim Hortons Brier, as John Morris of B.C. then beat Eddie MacKenzie of Prince Edward Island 10-4. Morris, Koe and Stoughton are all tied at 4-1 at the top of the standings. Koe grabbed a three in the third end and stole a crippling four in eight when Stoughton was forced into a low-percentage angle raise and his stone sailed past a crowded four-foot. Stoughton shook hands at that point. "We thought we had to give it a shot to score," he said. "It was one of those games, we were just a little bit light or a little heavy on some shots. . . we missed four in a row on the end where they stole three." Koes four in eight came despite a hog-line violation on third Pat Simmons final stone. "I think he said he thought he was coming out a bit light and went to add a little and you know just over the hog line," said Koe. A missed raise by Manitobas third that could have spilled Alberta stones out of the crowded four foot also put Manitoba further behind the eight ball. "They kind of missed the sweep on John Meads last shot and never moved stuff around and were chasing." Stoughton noted the kind of shots he has been forced to make by his team have brought down his percentages but he feels good about his game. "Its a reflection of lead, second and third before you," he said. "The less shots that are made in front of you, the tougher shots you are making. . ." "I felt a lot better today about the ice and the weight and throwing, so for me the confidence level went way up after this game." Newfoundland and Labradors Brad Gushue improved to 2-3 with a 9-7 win over James Grattan of New Brunswick, who won his first game in the earlier draw. Northern Ontario improved to 2-3 by beating still winless Jamie Murphy of Nova Scotia 9-6. Morris was happy about the way his team played. "Jimmy was feeling it, the ice was fantastic . . . That was probably our most solid game of the week so far," said Morris. Jim Cotter throws fourth stones for B.C. and he didnt miss much. P.E.I. shook after the final four in the ninth end. Earlier in the day, Koe won a game he never looks forward to playing. "This one, you dont get a lot of enjoyment out of," the Alberta skip said, after beating younger brother Jamie Koe from the Northwest Territories-Yukon 8-3 in eight ends. "Its never fun beating them because Im always cheering for them every year theyre here," he said. "That being said, we needed a win." "Theyre obviously better," Jamie said of the encounters with his brother. "Were going to have to play our best and hope for some breaks but its a fair battle." Monday also saw Grattan score his first against Greg Balsdon of Ontario 9-6 in the afternoon. Balsdon now sits at 2-2. Grattan gave Stoughton a fight Sunday as well and said it felt good to get a monkey off his back with the win. "When we went to bed last night we felt pretty good about it," he said of the Manitoba game. "The team in the last two games has really shown up." He says getting used to the ice has been an issue. They lost their first game 13-5 and the second 10-1. "We come from an area of the world where the ice is fairly straight all the time . . Coming out here and all of a sudden youre taking the 12-foot to get to the lid and its a different ball game." Its also important to win games at the Brier if you want a reserved spot in the future. A new system is coming into place that will force the bottom finishers to compete for the right to return. Its being brought in to keep the field the same size with the addition of a Team Canada and new rinks from Nunavut and Yukon, instead of just one Territories team. MacKenzie was 3-2 after splitting the day with an afternoon win over Quebecs Jean-Michel Menard. MacKenzie has already matched his combined record at his first two Brier appearances for Prince Edward Island, in 2011 and 2013. "Its definitely better than 0-5 or 0-6 like we were the last couple of times," he said earlier in the day. "Id say being here the last three out of four years helps for sure, playing on arena ice a little more." Saskatchewans Steve Laycock sits just ahead of MacKenzie at 3-1, after beating Nova Scotia 5-3 in the afternoon. He didnt play Monday night. "We kind of figured 3-1 or 4-0 was where wed want to be after this stretch because we do have some of the favourites coming up," he said. Murphy, meanwhile, isnt too thrilled at the Canadian Curling Association for the changes coming in 2015 that could see Nova Scotia have to compete for the right to play in the Brier. "Were firm believers that messing with traditions such as the Brier doesnt seem like a smart decision," he said of the new system, popularly known as relegation, although it seems anything but popular. "Were obviously biased when we say that because were probably going to be in the relegation pool." Cheap Shoes From China Wholesale . Stepanek gave the Czech Republic its second straight Davis Cup title Sunday, sweeping past Dusan Lajovic in straight sets in the fifth and decisive match to secure a 3-2 win over Serbia in the final. Cheap Shoes From China Online . The Packers, Lions and Bears were a combined 35-15 and as long as Jay Cutler can say healthy, all three could make the playoffs in 2012. http://www.shoescheap.us/ . The Senators return from a lengthy layoff caused by Wednesdays attack on Parliament Hill to host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. Discount Shoes Online Free Shipping . His chance at winning a Stanley Cup in Philadelphia is over. Same with Jeff Carter. And Brian Boucher. Throw in Ville Leino and Dan Carcillo. Cheap Shoes From China Free Shipping . - Olympic champion Marielle Thompson accomplished her mission of defending her skicross World Cup title at Nakiska Ski Area on Saturday.As is tradition in the Elite League it was a busy day of action on Good Friday as the 2016 campaign got underway. The Poole Pirates started their defence of the Elite League in convincing style after they thrashed Swindon Robins 61-31 at Wimborne Road.It was one-way traffic from the off in Dorset with the Pirates banging in a series of 5-1s with all seven riders on song. A tactical ride from Jason Doyle in heat six didnt go to plan with Hans Andersen winning ahead of Doyle, meaning no advantage was clawed back for the away side. The home heat advantages continued throughout and the Robins only managed one, in heat 14. There were paid maximums from four rides for Chris Holder and Adam Ellis at reserve on his Elite League debut for the club. Jason Doyle top scored for the Robins with 13.Lakeside Hammers also started the new campaign in style with a thumping 56-36 win over Kings Lynn at Purfleet. The Hammers started the meeting strongly, building a 12-point lead after five heats. Niels-Kristian Iversen won a tactical ride in heat six to put the Stars back in the meeting but it would prove to be their only heat advantage of the afternoon as the home side continued to dominate and ran out comfortable winners with Kim Nilsson top scoring with 13+1. Iversen was the Stars top man with 14. Kim Nilsson was in impressive form for Lakeside The two teams then headed to Norfolk for the return meeting later that evening and it was the Stars who avenged their earlier defeat, running out 51-39 winners at the Adrian Flux Arena. The home side gradually imposed themselves on the tie aas the meeting went on and it was mid-meeting where the points were won as the Stars ran in three 5-1s between heat seven and heat 11 to open up a 16-point gap.ddddddddddddThe Hammers would reduce the deficit by four points by the end of the meeting but it wasnt enough to claim any away points on the night. Iversen was in fine form once again, racking up 13, while it was fellow Grand Prix rider Andreas Jonsson who was the top man for the Hammers, scoring 12. Niels-Kristian Iversen was the Stars top man Coventry Bees rallied late to beat the Leicester Lions at Brandon. The Lions started well and were four up after five heats with Josh Auty in good form. It was nip and tuck up until the final three heats, with both sides trading heat advantages to leave it finely poised after 12 heats at 36-36. Chris Harris led the Bees to victory It was Gary Havelocks men who pushed on from there though, recording a 5-1 in heat 13 and following it up with two 4-2s in the final two heats to give the Bees a 49-41 win on the night.Captain Chris Harris led the Bees to victory with a paid maximum (13+2) from five rides and was well supported by Danny King, who got 12+1. For the Lions, reserve Auty bagged an impressive 10+2. Also See: Louis 2016 preview Pearsons 2016 Elite League preview ' ' '