Magic Mike Finds PEI Pay Dirt

Mike McEwen of Saskatoon (photo: Anil Mungal, GSOC) defeated Swede Niklas Edin 8-3 in Friday’s B qualifier.

McEwen is reaping the rewards of an early start to the season, even though it got off to a rocky start with a 1-3 start in August’s Euro Super Series.

Since then, McEwen and his team of Colton Flasch, Kevin Marsh and Daniel Marsh have recorded 20 wins against two losses, including a dominant victory over the reigning world champions.

Edin started the game with a hammer, coming closest on a no-cut re-draw and gaining the advantage in the first end.

After Edin shut out the first game, they scored one point in the second.

McEwen opened the match in the third, scoring four points for a 4-1 lead.

McEwen brought Edin within one point in the fourth, and the teams traded singles again.

With a two-point lead and a hammer in the seventh, McEwen took advantage of Edin’s need for aggressiveness, scoring three goals to end the contest.

Coming off a $50,000 victory at the PointsBet Invitational last weekend, McEwen sat out the opening game, perhaps a little lethargic after feasting on PEI seafood.

McEwen bounced back in style with two B tournament victories, an 8-3 decision over Korey Dropkin of Duluth, Minnesota, and a 7-2 decision over Scotland’s James Craik, to advance to playoff qualifying.

McEwen will face Switzerland’s Yannick Schwaller in Saturday’s quarterfinal, scheduled for 4 p.m. Atlantic time at the Bell Aliant Center in Charlottetown.