Tankard Times March 8th 2010

Issue 3 – Monday, March 8, 2010 • An Official Publication of the Canadian Curling Association.

Like a house afire!

Glenn Howard’s Ontario crew won twice Sunday, improving to 3-0.

Ontario, Alberta stay perfect after two days of action ■ Another fast start, Page 2

■ Koes’ parental pride, Page 4 ■ Spring in their step, Page 6

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Page 2

Tankard Times

Howard holding a hot hand

The host Bluenosers are still looking for their first win of the 2010 Brier.

Larry Wood Tankard Times Editor

A

nother Brier, another fast Ontario start.

Playing in his fifth straight Tim Hortons Brier, Glenn Howard and his team of Richard Hart, Brent Laing and Craig Savill of Coldwater stretched their record to 3-and-0 on Sunday at the Metro Centre.

Howard has a habit of getting off to fast starts at Briers.

A year ago, he was 8-and-0 before losing in the preliminary round robin. In 2008 he was 6-and-0.

The year he won it all, 2007, Howard was beaten after piling up four straight wins. In 2006, he won six before losing.

Ontario gets out to another fast start “It’s where we want to be, obviously,” Howard was saying Sunday. “But we’re still not quite comfortable with the conditions, we still have some work to do.”

Howard drew the fourfoot cold with his last rock to vanquish Kelowna’s Jeff Richard 7-6 on Sunday afternoon to extend the record.

On the nightshift, meanwhile, Alberta’s Kevin Koe kept pace with his third win, a vital 7-6 decision against Brad Gushue of Newfoundland/ Labrador.

The score probably flattered the Newfs. They appeared to be chasing throughout.

“It was a horrible game,” offered Gushue.

“I thought they outcurled us. We were hanging on right from the get-go. If Kevin makes a good one in the fourth end it’s pretty well over early.

It seemed like every shot I had was all or nothing, and I made a lot of them,

Bruce Korte and the ’Toon Town gang battle New Brunswick.

and unfortunately missed one in the eighth end to give them three and that was the ball game there.”

Gushue had twice forged his way in front after yielding a first-end deuce, but he eschewed a risky corner-double tight to a guard in the eighth, missed a hit and roll off an outside rock instead and left Koe a draw to the four-foot for the three.

“We weren’t getting the rocks in play early and we weren’t getting the shots in there to get us out of trouble early enough,” said Gushue. “We kept digging holes but we couldn’t get out of that one in the eighth.”

Koe, who flashed a hit to enable the Newfs the go-ahead theft of two in

the fourth, agreed: “The eighth was the turning point,” he said.

“That was definitely the key. Even when they stole the two I didn’t panic because I thought we were dominating them. Even on the two ends they stole we had them in piles of trouble and Brad made great shots. I went aggressive on that one shot and missed it but the way we were playing I wasn’t too worried.”

He added: “The longer you go without losses the better off you are.”

Alberta goes right back at it this morning against Richard (1-and-2). The B.C. skip broke into the win column Sunday night with a 9-5 decision over winless Nova Scotia.

“We knew we played well enough against Manitoba and Ontario in the first two games,” said Richard, who lost on last rock in both. “And our confidence remained high.

But we didn’t want to go into tomorrow with a shutout threatening us.”

Howard said he’s been happy with his performance since winning the Ford Hot Shots on Saturday.

“From a personal perspective, it was a great way to start,” he said.

“You make a lot of shots out there and that gives you some momentum and helps you catch on to the ice. And Tim Yeo’s ice seems fantastic right now.”

Please see HOT, Page 15

Monday, March 8, 2010

Page 3

Net yield diff. (bu/ac)*

A LITTLE ELBOW GREASE: Brad Gushue’s Newfoundland outfit, left, and Brad Jacobs’ Northern Ontario crew, below, wield the brushes Sunday at the Metro Centre.

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Page 4

Tankard Times

Ma and Pa Koe cheering twice as hard

Sun Media Columnist

L

inda and Fred Koe of Yellowknife are bringing their polar bear flag to the the Brier at the Metro Centre.

Sitting in Section 21 behind sheet C on Saturday where son Kevin was

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sister Kerry Galusha in the past.

“The trouble is our parents have to come to every draw,” says Jamie.

“There isn’t a draw when one or the other of us isn’t playing.”

When Kevin and Jamie play against each other Thursday morning, it will be only the third time in all of Brier history – yet the second year in a row – when brothers have faced each other as skips.

In 1942, Donald Campbell represented B.C, and Gord Campbell skipped Ontario at a Quebec City Brier. Last year, Russ and Glenn Howard went against each other representing New Brunswick

and Ontario respectively at the Calgary Brier.

But that’s just trivia, says Linda.

Two boys skipping teams at the Brier who grew up curling in the Territories is special stuff north of the tree line, she maintains.

Fr4ed was taking accounting in Edmonton when Kevin was a New Year’s baby in 1975. Then they moved back north where Jamie was born two years later.

Fred is a past-president of the Inuvik Curling Club. “Also the head icemaker,” he laughed of the duties involved in keeping that three-sheeter going.

“Kevin started spend-

alternate in two others.

“When Kevin was little he wanted to throw the rocks but first he had to scrape, shave and pebble the ice with me,” says Fred, who said he has a photo in his head of the three Koe kids that he sees when he closes his eyes.

“We were in Inuvik flooding ice. We were all holding hoses flooding the ice. It was minus 40 degrees outside and minus 45 degrees inside. Natural ice. We were sort of lined up tallest to shortest,” he recalls.

Fred Koe: Proud but conflicted father. ing a lot of time at the rink when he was eight or nine. All our kids were my icemakers,” he added.

That includes Kerry, Jamie’s twin, who has skipped Territories teams in six Scotties Hearts tournaments and been an

Please see JONES, Page 15

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skipping Alberta and sheet D where son Jamie was skipping the Territories, it seemed like a bit of favoritism for one son over the other.

But Linda, a nurse from Saskatchewan who heard the call of the North and met her husband in Inuvik in the late 1960s, said the polar bear flag is most appropriate for the occasion.

“People in the Territories have two teams to cheer for this year,” she says.

“Everybody in the Territories will be watching the games this year,” adds Fred Koe, who has coached Territories teams skipped by Jamie and

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Page 5

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

British Columbia: Skip: Jeff Richard Home: Kelowna Began curling at age: 10 Delivery: Left Occupation/title: Food and beverage manager Employer: Sunset Ranch Golf and Country Club Date of birth: March 24, 1979 Place of birth: Kelowna Marital status: Single Spouse/partner: None Children: None Favourite food: Steak and green papaya Favourite drink: Captain and Coke Celebrity dream woman: Kelly MacIntosh Most annoying celebrity: Kathy Griffin All-time favourite movie: Gladiator Last movie he loved: Up Last movie he hated: Watchmen Tattooed? Nope Never leaves home without: BlackBerry Ten ends or eight? Ten ends Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends?

Definitely extra ends Competed in: 99 Junior Nationals

Third: Tom Shypitka Home: Cranbrook Began curling at age: 12 Delivery: Left Occupation/title: Owner/operator Employer: Self-employed (Finnegan’s Wake Irish Sports Pub) Date of birth: Sept. 28, 1962 Place of birth: Cranbrook Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Carrie Children: Dustin (20), Allie (4),

Jack Black worship, Mrs. Right Now, steak, lobster, and Finnegan’s burgers Adam (1) Favourite food: Greek, Finnegan’s burgers, day-old Pizza Favourite drink: Coors Light, Captain and Pepsi Celebrity dream woman: Carrie Shypitka, Raquel Welch Most annoying celebrity: Andy Rooney, Jamie Smith (Jammer) All-time favourite movie: Tenacious D, Pick of Destiny, Nacho Libre, Blues Brothers Last movie he loved: The Hangover Last movie he hated: Tom Buchy’s Revenge Tattooed? Born To Party Never leaves home without: BlackBerry Ten ends or eight? 10 Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends?

Extra ends Competed in: 91 Brier, 79 Canada Winter Games

Place of birth: New Westminster Marital status: Looking Spouse/partner: Mrs. Right Now Children: None.

Favourite food: Butter chicken Favourite drink: Rye and Coke Celebrity dream woman: Charlize Theron Most annoying celebrity: Tom Green All-time favourite movie: Die Hard Last movie he loved: Cars Last movie he hated: None Tattooed? If she has them in the right spots Never leaves home without: Cellphone Ten ends or eight? 10 ends Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers

Second: Tyler Orme Home: Vernon Began curling at age: Seven Delivery: Right Occupation/ title: Millwright, industrial mechanic Employer: B.C. Hydro Date of birth: May 4, 1979

Tom Shypitka

Extra ends or no extra ends?

Extra ends Competed in: 97, 99 Jr Nationals

Lead: Chris Anderson Home: Kelowna Began curling at age: 11 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Design and inspection technologist Employer: District of W. Kelowna Date of birth: March 22, 1979 Place of birth: Winnipeg Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Lindsay Children: None Mexican, Favourite food: Mexi lobster!

Greek and Atlantic lob Favourite drink: Coors Coo Lite, Captain and cola Celebrity dream woman: wom Nicole Kidman celebrity: WilMost annoying celeb fred Godfrey Lord Of The Favourite movie: Lor Rings (trilogy) Last movie he loved: Avatar 3D Last movie mov he Maiden hated: M Heist, The Bucket List Buck Tattooed?

Ta No Never Ne leaves lea home withho out: His ou brand-new bra iPhone 3GS iPho loves it!

— lo ends or Ten e eight? 10 ends, eight especially if losespec ing after af eight Tiebreakers Tieb or no tiebreakers? bre Tiebreakers, Tieb

if needed.

Extra ends or no extra ends?

Extra ends, if needed Competed in: 99 Jr Nationals

Fifth: Kevin MacKenzie Home: West Kelowna Began curling at age: 12 Delivery: Right Occupation/ title: Sales manager Employer: Nutri-lawn Okanagan Date of birth: July 21, 1974 Place of birth: Winnipeg Marital status: Happily married Spouse/partner: Lynnette Children: Emma (5), Ethan (3) Favourite food: Atlantic lobster Favourite drink: Keith’s Celebrity dream woman: Linda Moore Most annoying celebrity: Sam Kinison Favourite movie: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Last movie he loved: Cars Last movie he hated: The Doodlebops Tattooed? Nope Never leaves home without: BlackBerry Ten ends or eight? Twelve, with corn brooms (old school) Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends?

Extra ends Competed in: 92, 94 Junior Nationals, 02, 03 Briers

Coach: Gerry Richard Home: Kelowna Occupation/title: Firefighter (captain) Employer: City of Kelowna Date of birth: Feb. 26, 1956 Place of birth: Kelowna Coached/played: 2005, 06, 07, 08, 10 Scotties, 06, 07 World women’s/1974 Junior Nationals, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2002 (fifth) Brier, 2004 Worlds

Page 6

Tankard Times

Glenn’s gang has Rock Solid COVERAGE ‘spring’ in its step For complete coverage of the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier, read sports reporter Monty Mosher’s stories daily.

LARRY WOOD Tankard Times Editor Proud sponsor of the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier

T

here’s a spring in the step of Glenn Howard at this particular Tim Hortons Brier.

Something of the same stride is notable when Richard Hart dipsy-doodles around the Metro Centre.

“Hey, we’re at the Brier here and it’s exciting,” explains Hart, a member of Canada’s first legitimate Olympic medal winner at Nagano in 1998.

“By the end of the week, maybe I’ll be back to normal.

But this is what you come to the Brier for. You want to have fun. No matter where it is. I haven’t been to a bad one yet. But Halifax is extra special. This is a fun town, the people are friendly and they love curling.”

He recalls visiting Halifax as fifth man for the Brier in ’95. “It really opened my eyes to the Brier,” he admits.

Now he and Howard and Brent Laing and Craig Savill are riding a record (for Ontario) fifth straight Brier rollercoaster.

“We’re feeling awesome,”

says Howard. “We played really well in our provincials. It was terrific and it really pleased me because it was tough coming off those (Olympic) Trials.”

Maybe that’s part of the excitement? No Kevin Martin to deal with this time around?

“Obviously his is the best team in the world and we don’t have to play against the best team in the world so it’s kind of nice,” Howard is saying.

“By the same token, Alberta sent a very worthy representative in his place. He’s been top three or four in the world.

But, the fact that Kevin isn’t here doesn’t really upset us.”

You don’t have be told there is a sly grin on Howard’s face as he imparts that last line.

“But you want to win,” he says. “I don’t care if it’s against Kevin Koe, against Fitzner-LeBlanc, it’s against Kevin Martin, you just want to win and win your country’s national championship.

“We went into the provincials with a goal: We were going to be undefeated. We’ve done it before but it was never our goal. Well, we did it this time. We got a few breaks along the way and we’re really confident coming in here.”

Hart agrees: “Maybe that’s why I am a little more intense.

I definitely feel I’m into it this week. We put that Olympic thing behind us and we would love to represent Canada in Italy at the Worlds.”

Not too shabby an alternative to the Vancouver Olympics, to be sure.

Now Hart suggests this

most recent three-week layoff may have something to do with an energy renewal.

“We haven’t played too much. We won the provincials and then we said, ‘See yuh later’ to the guys and everybody went and did their own thing and there was some practice in there and that was it. But, you know, we do that all the time. We normally have two or three layoffs over the

“We’re feeling awesome . . . we’re really confident coming in here” Ontario skip Glenn Howard, whose rink is making its fifth straight Brier appearance

season. This is fairly typical, before the Brier.”

How much better would this team be if its four members hailed from the same geographical locale as opposed to four different towns around one of Canada’s most populated provinces?

“Good question,” said Hart.

“I don’t have anything to

compare it to. We’ve been like this for 10 years now. I personally like it. When I go to practice I can practise by myself and I get a lot of rocks thrown in an hour. When you’re with the team there’s lots of other stuff involved and it takes more time, and time is something none of us have in great amounts.

“I think it lessens team pressure and might prolong the shelf life of our team because we spend less time together.

If we were together more, it might become a little more stale. This way, when we get back together it’s always something of a celebration — ‘Hey guys, how are yuh, what’s been going on?’ You get caught up and you’re happy to see each other again and then you get that break and I think there’s something to be said for that.

“Also, at the level we’re at, we don’t need to practise a lot of the things that maybe a junior team or less-experienced team might want to work on. We’re already at the top of our game when it comes to sweeping and positioning rocks and that sort of thing.

We just maintain our own physical level and go through our own mechanics.”

With the Olympics pasttense, another four-year cycle looms for competitive curling.

“I’m not committed for another four years right now but who knows?” allows Hart.

Please see WOOD, Page 15

Monday, March 8, 2010

Page 7

ROAD TO THE TIM HORTONS BRIER

Jimmy the Kid takes aim once again

Tankard Times staff

T

hey called him Jimmy The Kid back in 1997 at the Brier in Calgary.

Responding to some of the largest crowds ever to watch Brier curling, 23-year-old James Grattan skipped his Saint John team to a 9-4 record and a tertiary finish behind Vic Peters of Winnipeg, New Brunswick’s semi-final conqueror, and eventual champion Kevin Martin of Edmonton.

But that was 14 Briers ago, seven for Grattan who is back at the Metro

Centre directing another New Brunswick contender, making his eighth appearance and still trying to improve on that Brier debut.

For that matter, he’s also still trying to win New Brunswick’s first-ever Brier title.

Grattan didn’t get back to the big show for five years after Calgary. When he did, it was the start of a three-year hitch at third with Russ Howard of Moncton.

Those campaigns were of the close-but-no-cigar variety. So in 2006, Grattan returned to the teehead but managed only a 5-6

record. Two years later, he was a disastrous 2-9.

Then last year he returned at third for Howard’s swan-song appearance at Calgary.

NEW BRUNSWICK The remains of that team hung in and won a tightly-contested New Brunswick Tankard tournament last month. With Steven Howard, Jason

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Vaughan and Peter Case in front, Oromocto’s Grattan won eight of 10 games in the eight-team competition after finishing tied for second in the round-robin preliminary.

Three teams were 5-2 after seven rounds while veteran Terry Odishaw of Moncton led the way at 6-and-1.

Grattan required two post-preliminary wins just to get another crack at Odishaw, who’d doubled Grattan 8-4 back in the first round of scuffling.

A three-ender in the fifth launched Grattan to a 6-3 tiebreaker win over Ryan Sherrard of Rothe-

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James Grattan has participated at seven previous Briers. say. Another fifth-end trio propelled Grattan past Rick Perron of Moncton 6-5 in the semi, although the eventual winner needed to steal

the duke in an extra end.

The final against Odishaw was a relative breeze. Grattan socred two in the second, stole one in the third to lead 3-1, and refused to look back. Another deuce in the eighth proved the clincher in a 6-3 verdict.

Behind Grattan’s 8-2 showing, Odishaw was 6-2, Perron and Sherrard each were 5-3, Scott Jones of Moncton was 4-3 and teams skipped by former champion Jim Sullivan of Rothesay, Trevor Hanson of Fredericton and Paul Dobson of the host Saint John Thistle-St. Andrews club each won one game.

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Page 8

Tankard Times

Here’s a Unique Opportunity to own a part of the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier!

Steele Ford, the Official Vehicle Supplier of the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier, will be offering for sale the twenty four 2010 Ford Escape XLT 4-Wheel Drive’s and six 2010 Ford Flex’s used during this event.

These Limited Edition vehicles go on sale March 16th at a very special price and include 2 Steele Ford Lincoln Brier Jackets and Souvenirr Pins!

Hurry in to Steele Ford and secure your own part of the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier while they last!

THIS DATE IN BRIER HISTORY

Richardsons’ mighty roar nets title No. 4

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ALEX ROBERTS Tankard Times Columnist

1934: Nearly 2,000 fans were shoehorned into the Granite Club in Toronto to see the finalround match between Manitoba and Ontario for the Brier Tankard. The easterners fought back after giving up a disastrous six in the third end and, trailing 7-2 after five, tied the game 8-8 in regulation time. However, Leo Johnson’s Manitoba team

scored a point in the extra end to win the game and the championship 9-8.

1950: Bill McTavish drew into a gaggle of rocks in the last end against P.E.I., giving Manitoba only the fifth seven-ender in Brier history; the last one for the next 50 years of championship play.

1951: Don Oyler’s Kentville Curling Club team continued its winning ways at the Halifax Brier, hammering New Brunswick 13-4 to maintain its unbeaten record.

After the first five games, the Nova Scotia quartet had outscored the opposition by an amazing 58 to 32 margin in running up a 5-0 record.

1957: At the Kingston Memorial Centre, Matt Baldwin skipped his Al-

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berta team to a morningdraw, Brier-clinching 7-4 win over Manitoba’s Howard Wood Jr., in the penultimate draw. In the afternoon round, Alberta hammered Ralph Simmons’ Bridgewater team 12-3 to finish with an unbeaten 10-0 record. It was Baldwin’s second of three Brier titles.

1963: Ernie Richardson, along with third Arnold Richardson, second Garnet Richardson, and lead Mel Perry, clinch the 1963 title in the last round when they handily beat P.E.I. by a 10-4 count. In so doing, the Richardsons became the first team to win Brier honours four times.

See ROBERTS, Page 14

Monday, March 8, 2010

Page 9

your guide to what’s goin’ on

A Very Fine Kettle of Fish!

Two of the top pub acts in Halifax will be mixed together tonight in Keith’s Patch at 6:15 pm – and boiled down to a tasty mix that’s sure to be the hit of the party!

All the Right Signals!

Signal Hill may hail from Newfoundland, but the band has secured a place as a mainstay of the Halifax music scene. Tonight, they’ll perform at 11:00 pm on stage at Keith’s Patch.

The quartet has gained a reputation across Canada as the quintessential East Coast group, based on a repertoire that has expanded beyond the standard traditional compositions to celebrate music that spans decades and genres.

The quartet – including Jason Campbell, Jason Meadus, Terry Chaplin and Jordie Weale – is an acoustic guitar based band with a strong emphasis on four part vocal harmony.

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Hear it all tonight as the unique style of Signal Hill sets the beat for an authentic East Coast party at the Patch!

TIM ES

BRE

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on stage

Tuesday, March 9 – The Chevelles • 6:15 & 11:00 pm Wednesday, March 10 – The Chevelles • 6:15 & 11:00 pm Thursday, March 11 – Da’ Rock • 6:15 pm Matt Minglewood Band • 11:00 pm Friday, March 12 – Blue Bay • 6:15 pm Sons of Maxwell • 11:00 pm Saturday, March 13 – Big Fish • 3:00 pm Mellotones • 11:00 pm Sunday, March 14 – Blueberry Grunt • 5:00 pm

Little Fish is an accomplished acoustic trio that’s as much fun to hear as they are to watch. Take two front men from the local music scene, add one of the hottest bass players in town and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a great night in the Patch.

The group encompasses the chemistry, professionalism and years of experience that guarantees a performance that’s sure to get you up on your feet.

Tankard Times

Page 10

Floral Flags Carry a Message Signal flags are a common sight in the Maritimes where they’re used on ships for communication at sea. At the Brier we’re using them to send messages to the fans.

There may be no other shot in curling packed with as much pressure as the cold draw to the button! Especially during the semi-finals in front of a capacity crowd at the Metro Centre.

Attractive “floral flag” arrangements, situated in the four corners of the Metro Centre, replicate the flags used by Maritime sailors.

Can you interpret the four words in the message?

Well, just imagine yourself trying to make it – using a golf ball and a new Odyssey White Ice putter. It’s a 93-foot putt with a $100,000 prize on the line!

Stop by the White Ice Challenge, now located in the Upper Concourse of the Metro Centre, between now and Thursday and enter the contest for your chance to be one of those competitors contest closes Thursday at 8 pm.

The following guide provides the corresponding letter for each flag.

Instant prize giveaways will be awarded… plus, out of all the entrants in the Purple Heart Lounge, one will emerge to putt for the big pot in the Metro Centre - with the chance to win the $100,000!

(See the answers on page 12)

Twenty-four Nova Scotia junior curlers were selected by a random draw to an honorary position with a Tim Hortons Brier team.

The junior stars receive: • the opportunity to participate in one practice with the team • introduction and march with the curlers in a pre-game ceremony • 3 tickets to one of the team’s round robin games • a gift package from the host committee Today’s feature stars are:

Team Manitoba • 3:00 pm Junior Stars Coordinator Heather Caldwell poses with Scott Callaghan (CFB Halifax) and Jodi Vacheresse (Truro) at Saturday’s Junior Stars ceremony where they appeared with Team Northwest Territories/Yukon.

Jonathan Wadden • Lakeshore (Bedford) Sydney Buell • Chester Team Ontario • 7:30 pm Jacob Hatfield Sarah Buell

• •

CFB Halifax Chester

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Monday, March 8, 2010

Page 11

It’s Simply

Let’s Discuss…

a Brier without Russ!

Today – 6:30 pm

The New Brunswick representatives for the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier are nearly identical to the curlers that competed last year. The only one missing is the legendary Russ Howard.

With Russ stepping down, James Grattan moved up to the skip position - with the support of Steven Howard, Jason Vaughan and Peter Case - and went on to Presented by: defend the title. All four curlers were part of last year’s team with Howard and Vaughan rotating on the front end. For Grattan, this marks his eighth Brier championship.

Northern Ontario’s team doesn’t have quite the same attendance record, but Saulte Ste. Marie’s Brad Jacobs has been to the big show before. He appeared in the Tim Hortons Brier in both 2007 and 2008 under the leadership of Eric Harnden. The 2010 lineup includes E.J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden and Caleb Flaxey.

The curlers are open to your questions starting at 6:30 pm in the Purple Heart Lounge.

Today, the Cool

Get Hot!

The Cool Curling competition gets underway at noon today in Keith’s Patch as the first 32 teams take their shot at the prizes. The championship wraps up Saturday and the winner takes home $500 with $250 for second and $150 for a third place finish.

Come out and meet the curlers – they’ll be signing autographs in the Purple Heart Lounge today until Thursday.

Today

2 pm British Columbia 6:30 pm Manitoba Tuesday, March 9

2 pm Northwest Territories/Yukon 6:30 pm Quebec & Prince Edward Island Wednesday, March 10

2 pm Ontario 6:30 pm Nova Scotia Thursday, March 11

2 pm Alberta & Newfoundland/ Labrador 6:30 pm New Brunswick

At the end of today’s action the first eight teams will qualify to play in the Friday playdowns. Another 32 teams will be at the tables each day until Thursday with their eyes on the prize. There’s still time to enter… just drop by the Patch and get into the game!

Hit Us With Your Best Shots!

Picture Perfect is the “fan’s eye” view from Halifax. When you’re capturing your favourite memories from the Tim Hortons Brier, send them in… they may just show up in The Party Line.

Email pictures to: partylinepics@curling.ca (Please note: Cameraphone images may not be of suitable quality to reproduce.)

Picture Perfect

50/50 Winners Draw 1 - Mona Mullenger, Lower Sackville, NS - $9,058 Draw 2 - John Douglas, Truro, NS - $8,750

Sunday

Draw 3 - Brian Holder, Fredericton, NS - $4,423 Draw 4 - Steve Miller, Lower Sackville, NS - $8,888

The 50/50 draws for the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier are based on the electronic system used at Saskatoon’s recent World Junior Hockey Championships – where five-figure payouts were standard, and the winning ticket for the gold medal game was nearly $150,000!

The new process allows fans to view real time pool updates on the video screen in the Halifax Metro Centre and Keith’s Patch.

A 50/50 prize will be awarded for each Brier draw.

Here’s how it works: • four purchase outlets will be located in the Metro Centre and one outside Keith’s Patch • tickets may also be purchased from several vendors with handheld devices in the Metro Centre and Patch • tickets are printed at the point of sale and the total pot is automatically updated so you can watch it grow

zone, grip, hack, and draw

Saturday

The words signaled by the “floral flags” are

y y

The Party Line • Your guide to what’s goin’ on

Page 12

Monday, March 8, 2010

Page 13

BRIER NOTEBOOK

Polars skip ready to drop the broom and hit the books Larry Wood Tankard Times Editor

J

amie Koe, the fourtime Territories Brier skip, has something else other than curling on his mind this week.

Like, would you believe, a final Certified General Accountant exam on Tuesday night at St. Mary’s University.

When the Polars tumbled behind 7-0 to Quebec’s Serge Reid on Sunday morning’s Draw Three at the Metro Centre, skip Koe pulled himself and inserted the Territories lineup that will be facing Nova Scotia on Draw 11 Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m.

“It’s bad timing but I knew it was going to happen,” said Koe following Sunday’s loss to Quebec.

“I have to write it now.

I can’t miss it because I won’t be able to write it again for eight months.”

The Territories outfit had a less-than-exhilarating opening three draws.

“It has been pretty bad, we’ve been missing everything by inches,” said Koe. “I’ve been struggling myself. I have to get my act together. I think we’ll do all right yet. We need one win the get the confidence going.”

Koe hoped that by moving third Kevin Whitehead to skip and inserting fifth-player Jon Solberg at third, the position he played on this team last year, “that lineup would get some confidence for Tuesday night.”

Koe says the looming exam isn’t adversely affecting his play: “I haven’t thought about it (exam) but I know I’m going to have to start studying here pretty soon.” ***** Al Forsythe of Moncton, a Canadian Curling Association past-president, passed away this week. He had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour a few weeks ago and, apparently, his condition deteriorated very quickly.

“Al had hoped to attend the Brier in Halifax this weekend and would have loved to meet up with many of his curling friends,” said Graham Prouse of Fort Nelson, B.C., the chairman of the CCA’s board of governors “Sadly, it wasn’t to be.” ***** At every Brier and Ford Worlds event, curling

fans reunite for 10 days of fun, sociability, and curling. The 2010 Tim Hortons Brier is no different.

On Wednesday evening, March 10, there will be an International Tour Reunion, 6:308:30 p.m. at Stayner’s Wharf on the waterfront. This event is open to anyone who has been on a TransAtlantic Curling/Friendship Tour — male or female, Canadian, American, or Scot.

These friendship tours happen every five years and are truly a trip of a lifetime.

The cost is $20 per person, payable in advance, and interested partiers must register by noon today.

Then, on Thursday, March 11, the Governor General’s Curling Club will hold a reunion dinner for members and guests at the Five Fishermen Restaurant on Argyle Street, 6-8 p.m. The cost is $58.50 per person, also payable in advance, and registration closes at noon Tuesday, March 9.

For either event, please contact Ian or Anne MacDonald in Section 6, Row O, Seats 14 or 15, Metro Centre.

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Page 14

Tankard Times

Mayor Peter Kelly and Members of Halifax Regional Council are pleased to welcome all athletes and sports enthusiasts to the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier. Come share in the excitement as the country’s most accomplished male curlers compete in one of the most anticipated events of the Canadian Men’s curling scene. We wish you all success and trust your visit will be a truly memorable experience. Enjoy!

1968: Ron Northcott skipped his Alberta foursome to a 9-1 record and the province’s second national title in three years. It was Northcott’s second of three national championships.

1981: Manitoba took the third Halifax Brier, after an exciting 5-4 comefrom-behind win in the championship game over Al Hackner’s Northern Ontario quartet. Trailing 4-2 with the hammer in the last end, Manitoba skip Kerry Burtnyk took advantage of several Northern Ontario miscues to make a free draw for three points to pull off the memorable victory. At 22, Burtnyk was the youngest ever Brier-winning skip.

1992: Northern Ontario’s Al Hackner became the winningest skip in Brier history when he defeats Ted McFadyen’s

From Page 8

ROBERTS: ‘Hack’ makes history P.E.I. foursome in the opening draw for his 46th win, surpassing Saskatchewan curling legend Ernie Richardson.

1995: Prince Edward Island reeled off nine consecutive points (including seven from “steals”) and beat Newfoundland 11-5 in a 12th-round encounter.

Skip Robert Campbell led all the curlers with a 92 per cent shooting percentage.

2001: Curling 88 per cent in a final round 7-2

Cheering hard in Halifax.

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win over the Territories, Ontario skipped by Wayne Middaugh finished the round-robin with a record-high team-shooting percentage of 89 per cent (tied by Kevin Martin’s Alberta team in 2008).

(Alex Roberts is a freelance writer based in Halifax)

Team Middaugh ’01: Hot shooters

Monday, March 8, 2010

From Page 4

JONES The Koe boys suggest their parents, as Jamie puts it, “are the most conflicted fans at this Brier.”

But Jamie, while he went away and came home a couple times, knew he was going to live his life in the North where he’s the senior financial management board analyst for the Government of the N.W.T. And Kevin knew he was going to live his life in Alberta where he’s lived in Calgary (playing three years at third for John Morris), Edmonton and most recently Grande Prairie where he’s a surface landman for Talisman Energy.

In 1994, with his brother

at third, Kevin became the first skip to lead a team from the Yukon/NWT to a national final at any level, losing a controversial match to Edmonton’s Colin Davison. The two also curled together in Alberta three years, making it to a provincial championship at Stettler where they are best remembered for playing the piano after the losing banquet with their heads with their pants pulled down around their knees exposing their boxer shorts.

“Talk to him about that,” Kevin gestures toward Jamie. “It was his idea.”

“Maybe it’s good we’re not still curling together,” says Jamie. “It was a takeoff with the Muppets guy who played the piano with his head. We had way too much fun together those three years.”

Page 15

From Page 6

WOOD “I think Glenn will take another shot, he says he still has the fire. And if he wants to do it, good for him.

And I do, too, but it’s just hard, my business partners have been more than understanding, supportive of our team, they sponsor our team, given me all the time off I need.

I don’t know know if it’s them or me, maybe it’s me, maybe I feel I owe them a little bit more with work.

“But I still want to keep this team going so we’ll see where they’re at with that.

I think a lot of teams will cut back next

year. There’s definitely a burnout factor.

“I was talking to Dave Nedohin and he said, ‘you know, this four-year thing just kills me’, and I don’t know what his plans are but I’ve heard the rumours that team might break up. But he told me, ‘I can’t keep doing what I’m doing, I’ve got to sit down and assess this’.

“There are a lot of people involved in this now with work and growing families.

You can’t just keep asking people to sacrifice over and over again.”

It’s a problem, though, that won’t be solved this week for the Howards. And maybe not for at least another month or more.

From Page 2

HOT Manitoba’s Jeff Stoughton won his third on the late draw, kayoing James Grattan of New Brunswick (2-2).

“We’re getting on to the conditions,” said the Manitoba skip who moved to 3-and-1 with an 8-4 win and has one assignment today against Quebec. “The ice could be a little faster but we’ll see what they can do.

There’s lots of curl and the rocks are running like you’d expect them to run.”

Gushue is snarled with Quebec and Saskatchewan at 2-and-1. New Brunswick and Northern Ontario’s Brad Jacobs were 2-and-2.

Jacobs throttled Jamie Koe’s winless Territories team 9-5 in another late match. Earlier, Serge Reid Quebec scored a last-end

deuce to beat Nova Scotia 8-7 in the afternoon while Gushue clobbered Darrell McKee of Saskatchewan 11-5 and Koe thumped Rod MacDonald’s Prince Edward Islanders 9-4.

The Alberta win over Newfoundland was the province’s fifth in sixth games against Gushue, whose only Brier conquest of Alberta was an 8-6 win over Kevin Martin in 2007.

Koe said he wasn’t concerned about such winning records: “I’m more concerned about the record at the end of the week.”

Gushue tossed plaudits in directions of the Koe team afterward: “They’re a good team. There’s not much difference between them and Martin’s team. Martin is the best in the world right now but those guys (Koes) aren’t that far behind. If you don’t play well against them, you see what happens.”

The Discovery Centre | 1593 Barrington Street Halifax’s hands-on science centre is the perfect place to bring the kids in between draws. Especially since it’s now featuring a giant Lego exhibit titled Wheels, Wings & Waves: A Lego World of Transportation. Everything from submarines to flying saucers has been recreated for this exciting new exhibit.

Look for insider’s tips every day during the Brier and visit us at the novascotia.com booth. And for more ideas on how to make the most of your vacation, visit novascotia.com/brier or follow us at twitter.com/cynatnovascotia.

Page 16

Tankard Times

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Saskatchewan: Skip: Darrell McKee Home: Saskatoon Began curling at age: 12 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Retail pricing director Employer: Federated Co-operatives Ltd. Date of birth: July 20, 1963 Place of birth: Lanigan, Sask.

Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Peggy Children: Zach (17), Slade (15), Ali (11) Favourite food: Pizza Favourite drink: Rye and Coke Celebrity dream woman: Halle Berry Most annoying celebrity: Mark Harmon All-time favourite movie: Invincible Last movie he loved: Avatar Last movie he hated: Cloverfield Tattooed?

None Never leaves home without: Keys, wallet, cellphone Ten ends or eight?

Ten

Pizza, BBQ, Halle Berry fantasies, Zuzu’s petals, and a dog named Brier Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends?

Extra ends Competed in: 00, 04 Briers

Third: Bruce Korte Home: Saskatoon Began curling at age: 10 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Customer service representative Employer: Hewlett-Packard Date of birth: July 22, 1967 Place of birth: Muenster, Sask.

Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Marj Children: Britni (18), Robyn (15), Lace (12) Favourite food: A good homemade burger Favourite drink: Guinness beer Celebrity dream woman: Wife says he doesn’t have any Most annoying celebrity: Madonna

All-time favourite movie: It’s A Wonderful Life Last movie he loved: The Sacketts Last movie he hated: Reservoir Dogs Tattooed? No Never leaves home without: Forgetting something Ten ends or eight? Ten for championships, eight for bonspiels.

Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends?

Extra ends.

Competed in: 00, 04 Briers

Second: Roger g Korte Home: Saskatoon Began curling at age: Eight Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Petroleum Operations Director Employer: Federated Co-operatives Ltd. Date of birth: October 11, 1970 Place of birth: Muenster, Sask.

Marital status: Yes Spouse/partner: Nancy Children: Sydney (7) Luke (5) Favourite food: Anything BBQ’d

Favourite drink: Many Celebrity dream woman: Many Most annoying celebrity: Many All-time favourite movie: Braveheart Tattooed? None Never leaves home without: Wallet Ten ends or eight? 10 ends Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends?

Extra ends Competed in: 00, 04 Briers

Lead: Rob Markowsky Hom Saskatoon Home: Began curling at age: 14 Bega Delivery: Right Deliv Occupation/title: General manOccu ager Employer: Custom Cycle and Emp Marine Mari Date of birth: August 30, 1973 Place of birth: Prince Albert, Plac Sask.

Sask Marital status: Married Mari Spouse/partner: Stacey Spou Children: Brooklyn (6), Rylan (4) Child Favourite food: Spaghetti Favo Favourite drink: Rye, Coke Favo press Celebrity dream woman: Halle Cele Berry Most annoying celebrity: Ellen Mos DeGeneres DeG All-time favourite movie: Top Gun All-tim Last movie he loved: The Hangover Hang Last movie he hated: Funny People Peop Tattooed? No Tatto Ten ends or eight? 10 ends

Bruce Korte, left, and Rob Markowsky

Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends?

Extra ends Competed in: 93 Jr Nationals

Fifth: Jason Jacobson Home: Saskatoon Began curling at age: 13 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Police officer Employer: Saskatoon Police Service Date of birth: June 8, 1977 Place of birth: Yorkton, Sask.

Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Amanda Jacobson Children: None, dog named Brier Favourite food: Pineapple Favourite drink: Coffee Celebrity dream woman: Jessica Alba Most annoying celebrity: Tom Cruise All-time favourite movie: Pulp Fiction Last movie he loved: The Hangover Last movie he hated: None recently Tattooed? No Never leaves home without: Usually, everything Ten ends or eight? Eight ends Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends?

Extra ends Competed in: 09 Mixed Nationals

Coach: Gene Friesen Home: Saskatoon Occupation/title: Semi-retired Employer: Self Date of birth: Nov. 2, 1944 Place of birth: Swift Current, Sask.

Coached/player: 12 years with this team.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Page 17

Time out for Tim Hortons Brier trivia

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It takes

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11. Nine wins.

12 James Grattan won 9 in 1997, Russ Howard won 9 in 2000.

13. 10 wins 14. Jean-Michel Menard in 2006.

Proud Sponsor 2010 Tim Hortons Brier

We can help.

skips who have scored the most victories at the Canadian men’s championship, the number of wins and the years they posted that number.

11. The most wins ever turned in by a

Answers in 2005.

8. David Jones.

9. Jones lost 10 in 1992.

10. Alan Smith won 7 in 1968 and 1969, Robert Campbell won 7 in 1995, Peter MacDonald won 7 in 1996.

1. How about the provinces/territories for which he played?

2. How about the years in which he played for those provinces/territories?

3. Heading into the current renewal, a total of 25 players have competed for at

for each and in which years?

8. Name the Nova Scotia skip(s) who lost 10 or more games at the Brier.

9. How many losses and in which year(s)?

10. Name the P.E.I.

5. Name the other province/territories for which they previously played, and when.

6. Name Nova Scotia skips who have won 10 or more games at the Brier.

7. How many wins

Park, Manitoba.

5. Fry, Manitoba 2007; Park, Alberta 1991, 1992, 1995.

6. Don Oyler, Mark Dacey, Shawn Adams.

7. Oyler won 10 in 1951, Dacey won 12 in 2004, Adams won 10

QUESTION OF THE DAY: One man has played for three provinces at the Brier. Name him.

least two provinces or territories at the Canadian men’s championship. Two are playing at the Metro Centre.

They are: 4. Name the provinces/territory for which they are playing.

QofD: Earle Morris.

1. Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario 2. Manitoba 1980, Quebec 1982, Ontario 1985.

3. Ryan Fry, Kevin Park 4. Fry, Newfoundland;

Larry Wood Tankard Times Editor

to WIN.

New Brunswick team at the Canadian men’s championship was?

12. The skip/skips and the year/years?

13. How about the most wins ever recorded by a Quebec team?

14. Name the skip/ skips and the year.

FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK...

Page 18

Tankard Times

2010 BRIER CUMULATIVE STATS (through Sunday’s draws)

Sweep Today’s Country Into Your House!

Skips

Thirds

Name % age Darrell McKee (Saskatchewan) 84 Glenn Howard (Ontario) 84 Kevin Koe (Alberta) 82 Rod MacDonald (P.E.I.) 78 Brad Gushue (Nfld/Labrador) 78 James Grattan (N.B.) 77 Jeff Stoughton (Manitoba) 76 Brad Jacobs (N. Ontario) 76 Jeff Richard (B.C.) 75 Serge Reid (Quebec) 69 Jamie Koe (NWT/Yukon) 62 Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc (N.S.) 61

Name % age Blake MacDonald (Alberta) 88 Richard Hart (Ontario) 87 Bruce Korte (Saskatchewan) 85 Kevin Park (Manitoba) 84 E.J. Harnden (N. Ontario) 84 Steven Howard (N.B.) 83 Kevin Champion (P.E.I.) 81 Mark Nichols (Nfld/Labrador) 81 Stuart MacLean (N.S.) 75 Francois Gionest (Quebec) 73 Kevin Whitehead (NWT/Yukon) 71 Tom Shypitka (B.C.) 71

Seconds

Leads

Name % age Carter Rycroft (Alberta) 89 Roger Korte (Saskatchewan) 87 Ryan Harnden (N. Ontario) 85 Ryan Fry (Nfld/Labrador) 85 Brent Laing (Ontario) 84 Rob Fowler (Manitoba) 83 Mark O’Rourke (P.E.I.) 81 Kent Smith (N.S.) 79 Jason Vaughan (N.B.) 78 Brad Chorostkowski (NWT/Yukon) 78 Tyler Orme (B.C.) 77 Simon Collin (Quebec) 76

Name % age Steve Gould (Manitoba) 90 Jamie Korab (Nfld/Labrador) 90 Nolan Thiessen (Alberta) 88 Andrew Robinson (P.E.I.) 88 Craig Savill (Ontario) 84 Phil Crowell (N.S.) 83 Caleb Flaxey (N. Ontario) 82 Martin Gavin (NWT/Yukon) 81 Rob Markowsky (Saskatchewan) 80 Peter Case (N.B.) 77 Chris Anderson (B.C.) 76 Steeve Villeneuve (Quebec) 71

Teams Province Alberta (K. Koe) Ontario (Howard) Saskatchewan (McKee) Manitoba (Stoughton) Nfld/Labrador (Gushue) N. Ontario (Jacobs)

% age 87 85 84 83 83 82

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Province % age P.E.I. (MacDonald) 82 New Brunswick (Grattan) 79 British Columbia (Richard) 75 NWT/Yukon (J. Koe) 74 Nova Scotia (Fitzner-LeBlanc) 74 Quebec (Reid) 72

Playoffs

Friday, March 12

Friday, March 12

One draw — 3 p.m.

Two draws — 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Three draws — 10:30 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m. — Page Playoff 1-2 game Saturday, March 13 Noon — Page

Playoff 3-4 game 7:30 p.m. — Semifinal Sunday, March 14 8 p.m. — Championship final

Monday, March 8, 2010

Page 19

2010 TIM HORTONS BRIER SCHEDULE AND RESULTS

Standings (through Sunday’s draws)

Today’s Games Draw 6 (10:30 a.m.)

British Columbia vs.

Alberta Nova Scotia vs. Nfld/ Labrador

Draw 7 (3 p.m.)

N. Ontario vs. Saskatchewan Ontario vs. New Brunswick Territories vs. P.E.I. Manitoba vs. Quebec

Draw 3 Results

Draw 8 (7:30 p.m.)

Ontario vs. Nova Scotia P.E.I. vs. Newfoundland/ Labrador Quebec vs. B.C. Alberta vs. Saskatchewan

Team Ontario Alberta Manitoba Nfld/Labrador Quebec Saskatchewan New Brunswick N. Ontario B.C. Nova Scotia P.E.I. NWT/Yukon

Draw 4 Results 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 2 0 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 7 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 8 Lead Second Third Skip Team 75 80 65 59 70 79 74 64 79 74

W 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 1 0 0 0

L 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 3 4

Draw 5 Results

Ontario* N. Ontario %age Ontario N. Ontario

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 1 0 2 1 1 1 0 1 2 x 9 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 x 4 Lead Second Third Skip Team 96 89 90 82 89 86 88 74 67 78

Nova Scotia Quebec* %age Nova Scotia Quebec

Manitoba P.E.I.* %age Manitoba P.E.I.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 4 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 x 9 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 x 4 Lead Second Third Skip Team 93 83 93 82 88 85 78 78 76 79

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T Nfld/Labrador 3 0 3 0 4 0 1 x x x 11 Saskatchewan* 0 1 0 3 0 1 0 x x x 5 %age Lead Second Third Skip Team Nfld/Labrador 95/50 96 95 88 92 Saskatchewan 81/100 77 82 63 76

Quebec* NWT/Yukon %age Quebec NWT/Yukon

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 1 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 x x 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 x x 3 Lead Second Third Skip Team 61 91 78 72 75 94 75 55/83 38/83 72

B.C.* Ontario %age B.C. Ontario

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 6 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 1 7 Lead Second Third Skip Team 86 74 73 76 77 78 79 84 93 83

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T New Brunswick* 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 x 4 Manitoba 1 2 0 1 0 1 2 0 1 x 8 %age Lead Second Third Skip Team New Brunswick 82 69 78 72 75 Manitoba 93 86 85 78 85

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T Saskatchewan 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 3 7 New Brunswick* 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 4 %age Lead Second Third Skip Team Saskatchewan 85 91 85 85 87 New Brunswick 79 83 81 73 79

P.E.I. Alberta* %age P.E.I. Alberta

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 x x 4 3 0 2 1 0 1 0 2 x x 9 Lead Second Third Skip Team 88 80 73 73 79 94 98 95 88 94

Nova Scotia B.C.* %age Nova Scotia B.C.

* —started game with the hammer

Nfld/Labrador Alberta* %age Nfld/Labrador Alberta

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 x 6 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 x 7 Lead Second Third Skip Team 88 73 83 75 79 85 86 89 79 85

N. Ontario* NWT/Yukon %age N. Ontario NWT/Yukon

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 3 x 9 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 x 5 Lead Second Third Skip Team 86 82 83 83 84 69 71 74 68 70

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 x 5 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0 2 x 9 Lead Second Third Skip Team 81 75 81 71 77 67 89 64 76 74

Page 20

Tankard Times

ROAD TO THE TIM HORTONS BRIER

Richard crew wows the West Coast Tankard Times staff

J

eff Richard of Kelowna ventured 50 klicks up the Okanagan to Vernon and lost three of his first four matches at the British Columbia provincial curling championship.

Heading into Round Four of the 10-team round-robin competition, Richard was tied with five other teams, trailing Kelowna clubmates Bert Gretzinger and Bob Ursel (4-0) and defending champion Sean Geall and Jay Wakefield of New Westminster (3-1).

Then, suddenly, the

Richard team that includes third Tom Shypitka of Cranbrook and frontenders Tyler Orme and Chris Anderson, woke up with as start, won eight in a row — all the while, living on the edge of extermination — and collected tickets to the Brier in Halifax.

B.C.’s surprise Brier entrant is skipped by a former national junior runnerup. Richard, a lefthander, lost the 1999 national final to John Morris, late of Olympic fame, then of Ottawa. Orme and Anderson also played on that junior team.

Shypitka, also a lefthander, played in the

1991 Brier at second for Gerry Kent of Cranbrook, third-place finisher at that Hamilton Brier, but hasn’t been back since.

BRITISH COLUMBIA Ursel’s team was the stunner at Vernon. With Jim Cotter tossing the last rocks, it cruised through the round robin without a setback, then lost two straight in the playoffs.

Precisely Put. When the margin of error is small, precision wins the game.

John Deere is a proud supporter of the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier. www.JohnDeere.com

Richard, meanwhile, shrugged off losses to Geall (6-3), 2000 world champion Greg McAulay of Richmond (9-7) and Ursel (7-4) and picked up a head of steam with which nobody else could contend.

At the end of preliminary play, Ursel was 9-0, Geall was 8-1, Richard was 6-3 and the grizzled Gretzinger was 5-4.

Richard shaded Gretzinger 5-3 in the Page Three-Four playoff while Geall scored a pair of three-enders en route to an 8-7 Page One-Two victory over Ursel.

In the semi-final, Richard stole two in an

extra end to win 8-6 over Ursel. And the unheralded Kelowna team then duplicated the feat against Geall in the championship final, battling from behind all the way before notching a tying deuce in the 10th end and a stolen single in the 11th to emerge a 9-8 survivor.

Brier opponents should beware of this B.C. team in the late going. During earlier round-robin play, Richard scored two in the last end to nudge Steve Waatainen of Nanimo 7-6, then scored three in the last end of a last-round tussle to defeat Jay Tuson of Victoria 9-6.

Richard wound up the

provincial tournament with a 9-3 record. Geall and Ursel were 9-2. Gretzinger led the also-rans at 5-5 while Wakefield and Tuson were 4-5.

B.C. skip Jeff Richard is a former national junior runner-up.