As sometimes happens, the biggest game of a tournament can also be the most anti-climactic. Such was the case in the men’s gold medal game of the 2014 USA Curling National Championships at IceWorks Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon.
CURLING: U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHP
CURLING: Ryan Brunt beats cousin Jon Brunt for U.S. National Curling Championship
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Members of the Pete Fenson rink pose with the U.S. National Championship trophy they won with their 9-3 victory over Craig Brown on Saturday at the IceWorks Arena in Philadelphia. They are, from left: Pete Fenson, Shawn Rojeski, Joe Polo and Ryan Brunt.
Portage native Ryan Brunt, the lead for the Pete Fenson rink, shouts instructions during his team's 9-3 victory over Craig Brown in the championship match at the U.S. Curling National Championship on Saturday in Philadelphia. It is the second national championship for Brunt, who also won one with the Fenson team in 2011.
Portage's Jon Brunt, left, and Kroy Nernberger sweep for a shot during Saturday's U.S. National Curling Championship at the IceWorks Arena in Philadelphia. Brunt, who is the lead on the Craig Brown rink, lost in the finals, 9-3, to Pete Fenson.
Members of the Pete Fenson rink pose with the U.S. National Championship trophy they won with their 9-3 victory over Craig Brown on Saturday at the IceWorks Arena in Philadelphia. They are, from left; Pete Fenson, Shawn Rojeski, Joe Polo and Ryan Brunt.
Portage native Ryan Brunt, far right, joins teammates, from left; Pete Fenson, Shawn Rojeski and Joe Polo after winning the 2014 U.S. Curling National Championship, held earlier this month in Philadelphia. The national championship means the team, skipped by Fenson, will represent the United States at the 2014 World Championships, which begins on Saturday in China. It will be the second appearance at the World Championships for Brunt, whose previous appearance came in 2011, also with the Fenson rink. The U.S. will compete in a round robin against Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Norway, Russia, Scotland, Sweden and Switzerland. The first U.S. game will be at 2 p.m. Saturday against Jiri Snitil's Czech rink. The field features five teams that competed at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games (China, Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Russia).
