The standings continue to take shape at the 2021 U.S. Men’s National Championship as the men’s field has completed five round robin sessions.

The Korey Dropkin rink of Chaska, Minn., has maintained a perfect 5-0 record after defeating Team Birr 7-2 and handing them their fifth loss of the tournament.

“It feels good to be playing well and off to a good start,” said Tom Howell, second for Team Dropkin.

Opening the game with a score of two in the first end, Dropkin’s squad kept their foot on the gas, stealing another pair of points in the second.

Team Birr was unable to recover from the four-point deficit with hammer in the third end, scoring only one point and giving the hammer back to Team Dropkin.

Staying patient for a multiple score with last stone advantage, Dropkin blanked the fourth and added three more points to their scoreboard in the fifth.

In their final attempt to stage a comeback, Team Birr was forced to only a single, conceding the game 7-2 after six ends.  

Despite their unblemished record, Team Dropkin isn’t getting ahead of themselves.  

“It’s been a long time since we have been in competition like this, so we know we have to be patient and not try to win all the remaining games at once,” said Howell. “We are going to continue playing our strategy and take it one game at a time. We have some tough teams ahead, so we look to keep improving with each game.”

Behind Dropkin in the standings, five teams (Birklid, Dunnam, Fenson, Persinger, Ruohonen, and Violette) are tied for second place at 3-2, Brudidge sits alone at 2-3, and Corbett and Birr are still competing for their first wins of the event with 0-5 records.  

FOLLOW ALONG

Live scoring of the 2021 U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Championships.

The Championships will be broadcasted May 25-31 on the USA Curling Youtube Channel!

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