Team Morris Wins First Semifinal at the PINTY’S ALL-STAR CURLING SKINS GAME to Advance to Tomorrow’s Men’s Final

BANFF, ALTA. (January 17, 2015) – The 2014 TIM HORTONS BRIER finalists squared off in a dramatic PINTY’S ALL-STAR CURLING SKINS GAME men’s semifinal #1 – and this time, skip John Morris took bragging rights. Joined by his new Alberta team of Pat Simmons, Carter Rycroft, and Nolan Thiessen, Olympic gold medallist John Morris defeated Kevin Koe’s team of Marc Kennedy, Brent Laing, and Ben Hebert, winning one big skin worth $19,000 in front of a packed house earlier today at The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre in beautiful Banff National Park.  

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  Morris is competing in his first TSN skins game as a skip. During six of his seven previous appearances at a TSN skins game (2008-2014), Morris played third for Team Kevin Martin – the top money-earning skip in TSN skins game history. Team Koe will not go home empty handed, netting one skin worth $2,000 and winning the draw to the button for another $1,000. Over four TSN skins games (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015) Koe has now pocketed a total of $93,400. Draw Summary After an opening carry-over in the 1^st end, Team Koe hit the board in the next end, winning the first skin worth $2,000. Following two more carry-overs, the 5^th end saw Team Morris took a short time-out to weigh their next move. After turning to the crowd for shot advice, Team Morris played the suggested double take out to eventually force another carry-over. In total, Team Koe and Team Morris would force five straight carry-overs – leaving a whopping $19,000 skin up for grabs in the dramatic final end.  Team Morris went on to steal the skin – and secure the win – in front of a standing ovation from the entertained crowd. Team Morris will battle the winner of Team Jacobs vs. Team McEwen, who face off in the men’s semifinal #2 later today at 9 p.m. ET on TSN. Today’s PINTY’S ALL-STAR CURLING SKINS GAME action also includes the women’s second semifinal featuring Team Jones vs. Team Carey at 4 p.m. ET on TSN. TSN’s annual curling skins game caps off on Sunday with the women’s and men’s finals (see complete broadcast schedule below). Curling on TSN As the official broadcaster of the Canadian Curling Association, TSN broadcasts more than 300 hours of live Season of Champions curling each year, including the PINTY’S ALL-STAR CURLING SKINS GAME, TIM HORTONS BRIER and SCOTTIES TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS, FORD WORLD MEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP, WORLD WOMEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP, HOME HARDWARE CANADA CUP, WFG CONTINENTAL CUP, and M&M CANADIAN JUNIORS. Broadcast Schedule The draws and broadcast schedule* for the PINTY’S ALL-STAR CURLING SKINS GAME are as follows: Saturday, Jan. 17 4 p.m. ET on TSN – Team Jones vs. Team Carey 9 p.m. ET on TSN – Team Jacobs vs. Team McEwen Sunday, Jan. 18 3 p.m. ET on TSN – Women’s Final 8 p.m. ET on TSN – Men’s Final