Lepine rink edges Team Shypitka to capture Senior Men's Curling Crown
By The Nelson Daily Sports
So close, but yet so far away for the Cranbrook’s Tom Shypitka rink.
Craig Lepine of Langley scored three in the ninth to break open a close game and defeat Shypitka 5-2 in the final of the im Horton’s BC Senior Men’s Curling Championship Saturday at the Trail Curling Club.
The win avenged a loss to Shypitka, third Fred Thomson of Nelson, second Don Freschi of Trail and Bill King of Fruitvale.
Lepine now advances to the Canadian Senior Men’s Finals.
In the women’s championships played at the same time in Trail, Karen Lepine defeated Brenda Ridgeway of Nanaimo 9-5.
Shypitka advanced to the final by defeating Kootenay rival Myron Nichol 8-4 in nine ends Friday during the semi final.
The two rinks exchanged ends of three before Shypitka reeled off points in four consecutive ends to build an 8-3 advantage.
Nichol, third Rick Brown, second Terry Kryzcka and lead Rob Babiarz, advance to the semi final by blasting Mel Steffin of the Royal City Curling Club 7-3 Friday afternoon.
The win came on the heels of Nichol’s amazing comeback win during the final round robin game against Kelowna’s Garry Gelowitz.
Trailing 8-4 after eight ends, Nichol scored two in the ninth before shocking the tournament with a steal of four in the tenth to knock the Kelowna rink out of the championships.
