Grant Olsen's rink did what seven other Kamloops men's rinks weren't able to do on the first day of the Crown of Curling: not lose.

Olsen won both of his opening games in the triple-knockout event at the Kamloops Curling Club. The Kamloops rink is scheduled to play Bryan Miki's New Westminster foursome today, 5:45 p.m., in an A event final.

A victory over Miki would give Olsen a day off and an automatic berth in the quarterfinals. A loss would send him into the B event, which already is full of Kamloops rinks, including those skipped by Kevin Ihlen, Brook Calibaba, Brent Yamada, Dennis Graber, Mike Smith, Stan Boone and Brad Wood, whose Vernon rink includes Darren Nelson of Kamloops.

Going through the B or C event certainly isn't the end of the world, but it makes for an easier trip to the money round if you win your first three games and get an A berth.

The Olsen rink has enjoyed early success at the Crown, even with a unique five-man arrangement.

Olsen, who throws first stones, is joined by Scott DeCap, who throws fourth, his brother Pat DeCap, John Maskiewich and Ron Douglas. Pat DeCap, Maskiewich and Douglas rotate in the middle positions, meaning one of them has to sit out every game.

It's not an arrangement you see every day, but it's been working so far.

"This is our second year with this type of arrangement, but I've been playing with Scott and Pat since I was 16, 17," said the 34-year-old Olsen, who has a bad back so can't sweep and can't throw heavy shots.

"We draw straws, but we're going to stick with this rotation throughout the weekend."

Olsen opened with an 8-7 extra-end victory over Vancouver's Sebastien Robillard, before topping Boone 5-2 in six ends.

The game against Boone was a little closer than the score would indicate, and the early shaking of the hands was a bit of a surprise.

Olsen took a 2-1 lead after three, then stole one in the fourth. Olsen stole two more in the fifth for a 5-1 lead before Boone counted one in the sixth.

"They had us in trouble in two ends, and we were lucky they only took one," said Olsen, whose rink is 2-1 in Super League play. "Otherwise, it could have been a different outcome."

Miki, the 2007 Crown champion, got a bye into the second round, before coming back from a 5-2 deficit to beat Wood 7-5.

Miki, who won a world championship with Greg McAulay, plays with Dean Joanisse, a former provincial champion, and Tyler Klitch and Jay Batch.

"They're always a tough team," Olsen said. "Bryan's a good curler and Dean Joanisse is throwing last. . . . We'll see how we do tomorrow."

In the women's draw, Allison MacInnes was the only local in the A event. MacInnes, sister Grace MacInnes, Amanda Brennan and Diane Gushulak were playing Russia's Olga Zyablikova in an A semifinal late last night. A result wasn't available at press time.

Karla Thompson's Kamloops rink is in the C event after losing twice - 8-1 to Korea's Eun Jung Kim and 6-4 to Russia's Liudmilla Privivkova. Thompson, who will have to win four times to qualify for the money round, is to play Japan's Sayaka Yoshimura today at 11:15 a.m.

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Today's draws are scheduled for 8 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m., and 9 p.m. The Sunday draws will run at 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.

The Monday playoffs are scheduled for 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

mhunter@kamloopsnews.ca