THUNDER BAY – The reigning Tbaytel Major League of Curling champions still have their crown.
The Dylan Johnston foursome on Saturday downed Mike Desilets 6-3 to capture their second straight championship out-duelling Desilets after a marathon day of competition at the Port Arthur Curling Club.
Going back-to-back is never easy, said Johnston, who won in 2020.
No winner was named last season, the schedule wiped out by COVID-19 restrictions.
“It was nice to have time off,” said Johnston, who most recently competed in the Northern Ontario men's play-downs in Sault Ste. Marie, finishing 3-2, but out of the playoffs.
“But it's good to be back. It was a tough year. There are a lot of good teams.”
Johnston started his day facing off against the reigning Scotties Tournament of Hearts finalist Krista McCarville rink, needing two in the eight to force an extra end.
Instead he scored four and claimed victory outright.
He took on Trevor Bonot in the semifinals, scored five in the fourth and secured his spot in the final with a 10-6 triumph.
Johnston and Desilets, who will be taking part in the Northern Ontario senior championship in two weeks, were content to blank the opening two ends, and it looked like they'd do it again in the third, but Desilets forced Johnston to one, his opponent wrecking on a guard to surrender the steal of one.
Johnston fought back in the fourth, and end that appeared to be headed toward another blank, until Desilets flashed on his first stone, setting up an easy double, Johnston hitting and sticking for a pair and a 2-1 lead.
Johnston, whose team includes Brennan Wark, Chris Briand and Kurtis Byrd, picked up a steal of one in the fifth, Desilets flashing again trying for a hit-and-stick for two.
A clogged front of the house was Desilets undoing with hammer in the sixth Playing peel weight, and following a lot of pre-shot discussion with teammates Scott Henderson, Dale Wiersema and Bill Peloza, the veteran skip played peel weight, looking to move some rocks in the four-foot to salvage a point.
Instead he crashed off one of his own rocks and gave up yet another steal, finding himself down 4-1.
Desilets, who beat Gary Weiss and Kory Carr to make the final, battled back with a pair in the ninth, but rolled out on his final shot with a chance to pick up a third point and tie the match heading to the eighth and final end.
It was the story of his day, he said, but it was competitive down to the end.
“We made him throw his last stone in the eighth and we put the pressure on those guys. It was a great weekend,' said Desilets, who needed a regulation win on Wednesday night at Kakabeka Falls Curling Club just to earn a spot in the playoffs, knocking out two-time world champion Al Hackner out of playoff contention.
“This is a great tune-up for us.”
Johnston closed things out with a double to score two.
“Winning Major League is a big thing in Thunder Bay. All the top teams are here and it's really tough to win,” Johnston said.
