Saskatchewan’s Knapp loses opening game at Tim Hortons Brier

A couple of big ends by Manitoba sent Saskatchewan to a loss in its opening game of the 2023 Tim Hortons Brier.

While Kelly Knapp’s Regina rink kept things close in the early ends, Manitoba and skip Matt Dunstone — who skipped in Saskatchewan for five years — scored four in the sixth and three in the eighth en route to a 9-3 win Saturday in London, Ont.

The Highland curling club rink — comprising Knapp, third Brennen Jones, second Mike Armstrong and lead Trent Knapp — is making its first appearance at the Brier as a team after winning the SaskTel Tankard last month.

The Saskatchewan champions scored a single point in the opening end with hammer, with Dunstone’s rink answering in the second with a single of its own.

Saskatchewan then gave up a steal of one in the third.

In the fourth end, the No. 1-ranked Manitoba team appeared to be on its way to stealing two, but Knapp’s final stone got past two guards and got enough of the two yellow Manitoba stones to push them out and give Saskatchewan a single.

But Knapp wouldn’t score again until the seventh end and the game came to an end after the eighth.

Knapp is in action again Sunday at 8 a.m. against the Newfoundland and Labrador rink skipped by Nathan Young.