RED DEER, Alta. — Defending champions Team Brendan Bottcher of Calgary kicked off the Co-op Canadian Open with a 7-6 victory over Saskatoon's Team Mike McEwen on Tuesday morning at Servus Arena.

Bottcher drew for three points in the second end for an early hold on the game until McEwen charged back.

After the clubs alternated deuces in the third and fourth ends, McEwen made a split on a guard and also spilled in his shooter to score three in the fifth to tie it up, 5-5.

The five-time Grand Slam champion Bottcher pulled off a cross-house double in the seventh to reclaim the lead and held on in the eighth.

McEwen needed to hit and roll to potentially get the tying two points; however, his shooter stuck and he was able to add only a single.

Co-op Canadian Open on Sportsnet

Watch curling's rock stars compete in the Co-op Canadian Open live on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting Thursday through to Sunday's finals.

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Elsewhere in Draw 1, Team Brad Gushue of St. John's, N.L., downed Norway's Team Ramsfjell, 7-1.

Although Ramsfjell started with the hammer, Gushue grabbed three consecutive stolen singles to lead 3-0 at the fourth-end break. Ramsfjell got on the board with a single in the fifth as Gushue finally got ahold of the hammer in the sixth and made it count. Gushue tapped to score four points and out came the handshakes.

Scotland's Team Ross Whyte fended off Winnipeg's Team Reid Carruthers 6-5 and Team Yannick Schwaller stole four in the fourth and one in the fifth to rout Team Michael Brunner 8-1 in an all-Swiss showdown.

UP NEXT

The Co-op Canadian Open continues with Draw 2 at 1:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. local time.

Broadcast coverage begins Thursday at 2 p.m. ET / Noon local time on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

NOTES

The Co-op Canadian Open is the fourth Grand Slam of Curling event of the season, featuring 16 of the top men's teams and 16 of the top women's teams from around the world. ... Round-robin play runs through to Friday evening, with the best eight teams in both divisions advancing to Saturday's quarterfinals. If necessary, one tiebreaker round will be played Saturday morning to determine the final playoff berths. ... The semifinals are also on tap Saturday, with both finals scheduled for Sunday.

Bottcher beats McEwen to start title defence at Co-op Canadian Open

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