The 2011 BDO Canadian Open of Curling in December was held from December 14 to 18 at the K-Rock Centre in Kingston, Ontario. It was the second Grand Slam event of the 2011–12 curling season and the eleventh time the tournament has been held. The purse was CAD$100,000.
In the final, Mike McEwen won the final over Jeff Stoughton in seven ends with a score of 5–2. He successfully defended his title from the last edition of the BDO Canadian Open, won his first Grand Slam title of the year, and won his third career Grand Slam title.
Five-rock rule A new five-rock rule was implemented at this edition of the Canadian Open. The rule, a slight alteration to the free guard zone rule, was tested at the event in an attempt to increase offence in the game. The new rule was predicted to favour teams who play more offence, as the rule allows for a fifth guard to be placed in the free guard zone. However, concerns were raised that the new rule may possibly hinder teams that are more defence-oriented, an opinion echoed by the Canadian Curling Association. Since the Canadian Open is a Grand Slam event, the Open carried many points on the Canadian Team Ranking System, which plays a role in determining Olympic trials participants. If a team were to miss qualifying for the 2013 trials because of a poor performance at the Open influenced by the five rock rule, the team could raise complaints to the CCA. As a result, the CCA stated that it would not sanction the event unless all players participating in the Open express written consent in regards to the five-rock rule. Not all players had agreed not to challenge the outcome of the Open, but the event went ahead as planned, with the five-rock rule in place.
Teams Skip Third Second Lead Locale Tom Brewster Greg Drummond Scott Andrews Michael Goodfellow Aberdeen, Scotland Jim Cotter Kevin Folk Tyrel Griffith Rick Sawatsky Kelowna/Vernon, British Columbia Niklas Edin Sebastian Kraupp Fredrik Lindberg Viktor Kjäll Karlstad, Sweden John Epping Scott Bailey Scott Howard David Mathers Toronto, Ontario David Nedohin (fourth) Randy Ferbey (skip) Ted Appelman Brendan Melnyk Edmonton, Alberta Rob Fowler Allan Lyburn Richard Daneault Derek Samagalski Brandon, Manitoba Brad Gushue Ryan Fry Geoff Walker Adam Casey St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador Glenn Howard Wayne Middaugh Brent Laing Craig Savill Coldwater, Ontario Brad Jacobs E. J. Harnden Ryan Harnden Scott Seabrook Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Mark Kean Andrew Clayton Patrick Janssen Tim March Toronto, Ontario Kevin Koe Pat Simmons Carter Rycroft Nolan Thiessen Edmonton, Alberta Steve Laycock Joel Jordison Brennen Jones Dallan Muyres Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Kevin Martin John Morris Marc Kennedy Ben Hebert Edmonton, Alberta Dale Matchett Ryan Werenich Jeff Gorda Shawn Kaufman Bradford, Ontario Mike McEwen B. J. Neufeld Matt Wozniak Denni Neufeld Winnipeg, Manitoba Jean-Michel Ménard Martin Crête Éric Sylvain Philippe Ménard Gatineau/Lévis, Quebec Robert Schlender Chris Lemishka Darcy Hafso Don Bartlett Edmonton, Alberta Jeff Stoughton Jon Mead Reid Carruthers Steve Gould Winnipeg, Manitoba
Round-robin standings Final round-robin standings KeyTeams to PlayoffsTeams to Tiebreaker Pool A W L PF PA Mike McEwen 5 0 34 12 Niklas Edin 4 1 29 20 Brad Gushue 2 3 20 23 Tom Brewster 2 3 23 25 John Epping 1 4 17 33 Mark Kean 1 4 24 32 Pool B W L PF PA Brad Jacobs 4 1 30 21 Kevin Martin* 3 2 23 15 Jean-Michel Ménard 3 2 27 26 Kevin Koe 3 2 28 26 Randy Ferbey 1 4 23 36 Robert Schlender 1 4 18 25 Pool C W L PF PA Jeff Stoughton 4 1 38 27 Rob Fowler 4 1 32 21 Glenn Howard 4 1 33 16 Jim Cotter 2 3 32 32 Dale Matchett 1 4 23 38 Steve Laycock 0 5 14 38 *Kevin Martin advances directly to the playoffs by virtue of a draw to the button contest between Kevin Koe, Jean-Michel Ménard, and Martin.
Round-robin results Draw 1 Wednesday, December 14, 7:30 pm
Draw 2 Thursday, December 15, 9:00 am
Draw 3 Thursday, December 15, 12:30 pm
Draw 4 Thursday, December 15, 4:00 pm
Draw 5 Thursday, December 15, 7:30 pm
Draw 6 Friday, December 16, 9:00 am
Draw 7 Friday, December 16, 12:30 pm
Draw 8 Friday, December 16, 4:00 pm
Draw 9 Friday, December 16, 7:30 pm
Tiebreaker Saturday, December 17, 9:30
Playoffs
Quarterfinals Saturday, December 17, 2:00 pm
Semifinals Saturday, December 17, 7:00 pm
Final Sunday, December 18, 1:00 pm
References
External links Event Home Page Final on YouTube