Simmons and his Winnipeg Beach, Man. rink of third Colton Lott, second Kyle Doering and lead Tanner Lott battled to a 9-4 win over Halifax’s Paul Flemming in the ‘B’ side quarter-final at the tournament in Liverpool, N.S. on Saturday afternoon.
As a result, Simmons will now face Ontario’s Glenn Howard in his next contest Sunday morning, with the victor of that game advancing to the winner-take-all contest for the second Roar qualifying spot.
Things were interesting in the early going between Simmons and Flemming, as the two teams exchanged deuces and singles over the first four ends to find themselves tied 3-3 heading into the break. Simmons scored two in the sixth to take back control, though, and after a steal in the seventh, held Flemming to one. That set the stage for the big end of the game, a Simmons three-spot that brought the contest to an early end.
Howard took a 6-4 win over B.C.’s Tyler Tardi in the other quarter-final.
Ontario’s Tanner Horgan and Manitoba’s Jason Gunnlaugson are set to play the ‘A’ final for the first Roar berth on Sunday morning; the loser of that contest will drop down and play the winner of Simmons and Howard for the second spot.
The two advancing teams will play in the Roar of the Rings Olympic qualifier in Saskatoon Nov. 20-28.
