Scott Henderson rink captures Major League of Curling crown

It’s been 11 years since Scott Henderson won a Men’s Major League of curling crown.

The drought came to an end on Wednesday night, when the former Northern Ontario men’s champion scored three in the second end and sailed to a 5-2 win over a Trevor Bonot foursome still reeling from a weekend loss at the West regional provincial qualifier final.

The win, Henderson’s fourth as a skip and fifth overall, was a great confidence booster for a team looking to earn its way to senior nationals this season.

“It feels good to come back,” said Henderson, who first won the title in 1982, winning again in 1987 and 2004 as a skip and in 1991 alongside former world champion Rick Lang.

The victory tied him with Al Hackner, the only other skip with four titles, and Henderson’s five overall wins is the most by any curler.

“We’re a senior team and we worked hard this year. We’ve been practicing and everyone is committed to winning. It’s been a great run. We used the Major League as a tune-up for the playdowns. This weekend we’re in the playdowns, so we’re pretty confident going in.”

Bonot’s team, which includes Kory Carr, Jordan Potts and Joel Adams, couldn’t recover from the three-ender in the second.

Bonot’s final stone in the third, a draw for one, went through the house and Henderson had a commanding 4-0 lead in the eight-end match.

The team’s head just wasn’t in the competition, said Bonot, just days after losing the qualifier final 7-3 to 2014 Northern Ontario champion Jeff Currie in Geraldton.

“It hasn’t been our week, let alone our night,” Bonot said.

Henderson added another in the fifth to regain the four-shot lead. Bonot, faced with a chance to blank the sixth and possible set up multiple points in the sixth, instead decided to draw for one and then promptly shook hands.

The quick start was the difference, Henderson said.

“Going into the game we wanted to come out strong. Scoring the three in the second was the turning point, actually, of the game. The ice was a little bit quicker and we caught on to it faster than they did,” Henderson said.

“It worked out great to get the lead and we were able to hold it throughout the game.”

First place was worth $2,000 to Henderson and his teammates, Mike Pozihun, Andy Peloza and Bill Peloza. The Bonot rink took home $1,000 for their efforts.