Mike McEwen, Reid Carruthers, Derek Samagalski and Colin Hodgson begin defense of the Viterra Championship they won in 2019 at Tundra Oil & Gas Place in Virden on the 4 p.m. draw Wednesday at the Eric Coy Arena in Winnipeg.

After a so-so start to the curling season, the West St. Paul foursome is currently ranked fourth in Canada and fifth in the World.

“I would say the last two or three events we’ve been playing our best curling in the last year-and-a-half as a whole unit,” said McEwen after Tuesdays practice session. “Quietly we’ve had a good year and kind of snuck up the standings without anybody noticing too much.”

McEwen, who spent 11 seasons curling with B.J. Neufeld, Matt Wozniak and Denni Neufeld and won back-to-back Provincial Championships in 2016 & 2017, left his longtime teammates after the 2018 season and joined Carruthers, Samagalski and Hodgson.

McEwen said this season has been a much smoother ride and a lot more stable compared to a pretty chaotic 2019.

“We definitely had turbulence within the team. I’d be the first to admit, I wasn’t as focused myself individually. I was a little distracted with life and things like that. Combined with that stability, guys seem to be a lot more comfortable in our routines and what we’ve been building. We’ve had a heck of a lot more consistency this season.”

Last week Mike McEwen’s wife Dawn along with Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes and Jocelyn Peterman lost out in the final of the Provincial Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Rivers.

This week it's Mike McEwen turn as his team has a chance to win a second straight Viterra Championship.

“I’m pretty excited. Feels like last week was the longest week ever. I love it. This is right in my own backyard. I feel bad for driving to the rink. I should probably walk all the time. This is great. This is the neighborhood we’re raising our family. Really excited to play in Charleswood.”