There are way too many.

Too many heartbreaking Sunday afternoon losses which took place at Westman Communications Place in Brandon, MTS Iceplex in Winnipeg, Credit Union Place in Dauphin, the Sun Gro Centre in Beausejour and the T.G. Smith Centre in Steinbach.

Five times Mike McEwen needed that one win and his team was Brier bound.

Five times it didn't happen.

So once again the question is asked - will this be the year McEwen, BJ Neufeld, Matt Wozniak and Denni Neufeld break through and finally win those elusive Purple Hearts?

Why not.

The 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014 & 2015 finalists will play their opening game of the 2016 Viterra Provincial Men's Curling Championship bright and early Wednesday morning against Justin Reynolds of Winnipeg Beach at the Selkirk Recreation Complex.

After Tuesday's practice session McEwen said he's ready.

"I'm excited. I'd be foolish to think that at some point there won't be some anxiety. But more so, I'm excited right now. I feel in a good space overall."

"The biggest thing for us is probably identifying some of the pitfalls that can come up, that have come up in the past and being more prepared to deal with those," added McEwen. "We've got a script. It's not going to surprise us. This is how we felt before and how are we going to respond better this time around and be able to handle it that much better."

By the way Team McEwen's cheering section grew by one this curling season.

Mike's five-and-a-half month old daughter Vienna will be attending her first provincial championship with mom Dawn carrying the broom (diaper) bag.

"For whatever reason she thinks I'm a goof and she just lights up when she sees me. Dad can't do anything wrong. She'll be out here this weekend. Hopefully we're still trucking along. If you get to see her - she can make just about anyone smile."


BJ Neufeld & Matt Wozniak waiting for Denni Neufeld to deliver a rock during practice on Tuesday


2016 Viterra Championship
Wednesday, February 10th
Draw #1   8:30 a.m.
Mike McEwen, Fort Rouge 8 Justin Reynolds, Winnipeg Beach 4
Terry McNamee, Brandon 6 Murray Woodward, St. Adolphe 3
David Bohn, Granite 11 Rylan Young, Springfield 3
Dennis Bohn, Assiniboine Memorial 8 Greg Todoruk, Dauphin 6
Tyler Drews, Fort Rouge 7 Taylor McIntyre, Granite 6

Draw #2   12:15 p.m.
Matt Dunstone, Granite 8 Lorne Hamblin, Morris 4
William Lyburn, Granite 8 Troy Hamilton, Fort Rouge 5
Kyle Foster, Arborg 10 Kelly Marnoch, Carberry 6
Trevor Loreth, Granite 6 Derek Oryniak, Granite 3
Daley Peters, East St. Paul 6 Steve Pauls, Clearwater 4

Draw #3   4 p.m.
Reid Carruthers, West St. Paul 12 Shaun Parsons, Thompson 1
Alex Forrest, East St. Paul 5 Butch Mouck, Minnedosa 2
Randy Neufeld, La Salle 9 Mark Lukowich, Granite 4
Steve Irwin, Brandon 8 Doug Harrison, Granite 2
Scott Ramsay, Thistle 12 Hayden Forrester, Fort Rouge 1

Opening Ceremony 7:15 p.m.

Draw #4   8:15 p.m.
Jared Kolomaya, Stonewall vs Ray Baker, Dauphin
"B" Side
Reynolds 9 Woodward 5
Young 7 Todoruk 6
McIntyre 8 Hamblin 3
Marnoch 9 Hamilton 5