Tim Hortons Brier 2016 Gold Medal Match: Newfoundland vs Alberta Score, Reaction

Alberta won the 2016 Tim Hortons Brier gold medal match over Newfoundland and Labrador on Sunday night, 9-5. The win punched Alberta's ticket to the 2016 World Curling Championships in Switzerland, where it will represent Canada.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Newfoundland and Labrador	0	0	1	0	1	1	0	2	0	X
Alberta	1	1	0	2	0	0	3	0	2	X

Alberta struck first with a single point in each of the first two ends to take a 2-0 lead. It wasn't the start that Newfoundland and Labrador wanted, having had the last-rock advantage early.

Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun reacted to the early proceedings:

Newfoundland and Labrador salvaged a point in the third end, but Alberta pounced with two more in the fourth to open up a sizable 4-1 lead.

But back came Newfoundland and Labrador with a point apiece in the fifth and sixth ends. Alberta was close to a double in the sixth, which would have given it a 6-2 lead, but on the last rock, skip Kevin Koe miscued on his throw and allowed Newfoundland and Labrador to record a steal. 

So instead of 6-2, it was 4-3 heading into the seventh end.

Postmedia Network's Rob Brodie looked on:

Newfoundland and Labrador didn't take advantage, though, and Alberta all but put the game away in the seventh end with three points thanks to a big shot.

Curling Canada showed the end that put Alberta up by four:

Four-time world curling champion Glenn Howard loved what he saw during the hectic seventh end:

Newfoundland and Labrador made things interesting, though, as it replied with a pair of points in the eighth end to make it a 7-5 match.

But as it did all night, Alberta punched back. This time, it delivered a decisive blow with two points in the ninth to clinch the Brier.

Koe continued his domination over Newfoundland and Labrador's skip, Brad Gushue. It was the fourth time in five matches this season that Koe has come out on top. This, of course, was the largest stage thus far. 

Gushue, who has skipped Newfoundland and Labrador's team 13 times, has yet to win the Brier, and the wait will have to continue.

Stats courtesy of Curling.ca.