B.C.’s John Morris and Manitoba’s Jeff Stoughton open with wins at Brier

KAMLOOPS, B.C. – The hometown crowd was cheering as B.C’s John Morris stole one in the 10th end to beat Alberta’s Kevin Koe 7-6 on Saturday in the opening draw of the Canadian men’s curling championship in Kamloops.

They were tied 6-6 after eight, blanked nine and a couple of well-placed B.C. rocks left Koe only long runbacks to try and move a well-packed shot stone.

Three-time Brier winner Jeff Stoughton from Manitoba recovered from a slow start to beat Eddie MacKenzie and his Prince Edward Island rink 7-5.

Stoughton stole singles in six, seven and eight to overcome a 3-2 deficit and take control of a tight game.

Northern Ontario’s Jeff Currie jumped to a 5-0 lead over New Brunswick’s James Grattan in the second, scored two in four, four in six and two in eight to win 13-5 after Grattan shook hands.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Brad Gushue and Nova Scotia’s Jamie Murphy were close until Gushue picked up a three in the eighth end and another in nine en route to a 7-2 win.