SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. -- Winnipeg's Mike McEwen rolled to a 7-4 win over John Shuster of Duluth, Min., in early action at the Grand Slam of Curling National.
McEwen scored three in the fourth end to jump into a 6-1 lead.
Shuster (1-3) scored a deuce in five and stole another in six to close within two of McEwen (3-1).
Reid Carruthers of Winnipeg remained unbeaten in four with a 6-4 win over Brad Gushue (1-2) of St. John's, N.L.
Carruthers is tied at the top of the standings with Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton, who defeated winless Rob Rumfeldt of Guelph, Ont., 7-5.
In other games, Calgary's Matthew Blandford (2-1) picked up a big three in the fifth end to hand Charlottetown's Adam Casey (1-3) a 5-2 loss and Mark Kean of Stoney Creek, Ont., (1-3) won his first, 8-6 over John Epping of Toronto (2-1).
