Saskatchewan hasn't won a Canadian men's curling championship since 1980, but the province picked up one other significant victory on Saturday at the Tim Hortons Brier.
Saskatchewan lead Steve Laycock captured the province's first victory in men's play in the Ford Hot Shots skills competition prior to the opening draw of the Brier at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.
Laycock defeated Ontario's Richard Hart 20-19 in the final to earn a two-year lease, valued at approximately $15,240, of an all-new 2008 Ford Fusion SEL V6. The vehicle’s features include a 3.0 L V6 engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, power assisted 4-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock, electronic automatic temperature control air conditioning, leather-trimmed heated seats, power window/door locks, premium AM/FM/6-disc in-dash CD/MP3-capable audio system with 6 speakers, Ford SYNC voice-activated communications and entertainment system, remote keyless entry, automatic headlamps, anti-theft perimeter alarm and 17" machined-aluminum wheels.
"You can always use a vehicle," said a smiling Laycock after his victory. "There was a lot of pressure that last round. The scores were really high all week so I knew we had to bring good scores all day."
Hart earned $2,000 for his runner-up finish, while Alberta lead Ben Hebert picked up $1,000 after finishing third.
Laycock and Hart reached the final with 26 and 28 points respectively in the semifinal round, just a few points shy of the perfect score of 30.
The shot-making event requires curlers to execute six shots: Hit and Stay, Draw the Button, Draw the Port, The Raise, Hit and Roll and Double Takeout. Each shot is awarded points on a scale from 0-5, rating the success of each.
Hebert, with 23 points, and B.C. second Kevin Folk, with 18, were eliminated after the semifinals.
Knocked out in the round of eight on Saturday were Newfoundland/Labrador skip Brad Gushue (20 points), New Brunswick skip James Grattan (18 points), New Brunswick second Jason Vaughan (14 points) and Ontario second Brent Laing (13 points). | 
