Howard cruises into GSOC National semifinals

Glenn Howard lines up a shot during Syncrude National play (Photo Credit: Anil Mungal).

Glenn Howard advanced to the Syncrude National semifinals with a 7-3 win in seven ends over Edmonton’s Kevin Martin on Saturday in Fort McMurray, Alta.

Howard scored his third deuce of the game in the seventh and the two rinks shook hands to finish their quarterfinal match.

The Penetanguishene, Ont., team led 5-1 after four but Martin cut the deficit with a single in the fifth and a steal of one in the sixth.

Howard now faces Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock, who defeated Mike McEwen 5-2 after the Winnipeg rink ran out of rocks in the eighth end.

McEwen went 5-0 in the round-robin.

Elsewhere, Brier champion Kevin Koe fell 9-6 to Sven Michel from Switzerland. Down 6-5, Michel scored three in the seventh and stole one in the ninth for the victory.

Michel, who’s 6-0 in the tournament, will meet Brad Gushue, from St. John’s, N.L., in the semifinals. Gushue scored three in the final end to lift his rink to a 7-5 win over Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson.

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