MCA 121: MCA Drawmaster Explains the New MCA Men's Bonspiel Draw

Monday Jan 26 2009

First of a Series

One of the questions poeple are asking about the new MCA Men's Bonspiel draw is exactly that - What is the new MCA Men's Bonspiel draw? How does a 12-event, 1-side, 6-game guarantee bonspiel work?   

Drawmaster Mel Marsh explains it as a 6-games but 2-losses guarantee.   

"Everybody starts out in the Labatt event," Marsh explains. "As you lose in the Labatt event you will drop into either the Free Press or the Safeway/Lucerne event."   
 
In effect, what used to be the Labatt Aggregate for most wins across the two major events is now the main event of the one-sided bonspiel.  The Free Press and Safeway/Lucerne are still major events as it is still possible to qualify for the Safeway Championship from these events.   

"The finalists in the Labatt get a spot each, the winner of Free Press and the winner of Safeway/Lucerne each win a spot, Marsh says. "With five spots available, that leaves one spot to be determined. A playoff would be required for the last spot between the two losers of the finals of Free Press and Safeway/Lucerne."
 
Of course, eligibility and those who have a provincial spot will usually throw a wrench into the playoff picture, but that is an issue the drawroom has proven over the years that it can handle. 

The playoff will be on Tuesday at a club yet to be determined and depending on the number of playoff games the start  time is also yet to be determined. Everything being equal (meaning both final game losers are eligible for the berth), it would only be one playoff game.

The wrinkle in the six-game guarantee is with the teams who continue to win in the Labatt Event. "It is a six game guarantee, but if you stay winning in the Labatt when you lose you will drop to either Free Press or Safeway/Lucerne to still be eligible for a provincial berth," Marsh explains.

For the twelve events other than Labatt it is a six game guarantee. When you lose in the Free Press or Safeway/Lucerne you would drop into one of the 10 minor events (until you have had at least your six games).

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