Issue 4 – Tuesday, March 9, 2010 • An Official Publication of the Canadian Curling Association.
Don’t look now, but . . . Leaders emerge from the pack on Day 3
Mark Nichols, Jamie Korab and Newfoundland, below, are in good shape at 4-1. E.J. Harnden, Brad Jacobs and Northern Ontario, bottom, are in contention at 3-2.
Brent Laing, foreground, Craig Savill and Team Ontario are gazing down at the Brier field from a pristine 5-0 perch.
For the first time – wear what the champions wear. Official Team Canada merchandise is now available at the Tim Hortons Brier souvenir store, located at the foot of the escalator in the World Trade and Convention Centre.
Also available online at seasonofchampions.ca
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Tankard Times
Brier’s Big Four flex muscle
Above, Steve Howard of New Brunswick competes against uncle Glenn Howard of Ontario. At left, Blake McDonald and Alberta are caught in a three-way tie for second place.
But there’s still ‘a long way to go,’ notes Gushue Larry Wood Tankard Times Editor
G
oing in, the experts were calling them the Brier’s Big Four. Three days and eight draws later, they still are the Big Four — Ontario at 5-and-0, Manitoba, Alberta and Newfoundland/ Labrador at 4-and-1. So how easy was this Tim Hortons Brier at the Metro Centre to handicap? “There’s a long way to go,” said St. John’s skip Brad Gushue by way of a warning on Monday night. “A lot of big teams still have to play one another and a couple of others aren’t out of it, either.” Francois Gionest and Quebec are within hollering distance of the lead pack.
Nevertheless, the preliminary round robin was barely at the halfway mark this morning during Draw 9, with eight more draws to follow. Glenn Howard and his favoured Coldwater, Ont., crew extended its winning streak to five Monday night with a 9-3 runaway decision over winless Nova Scotia skipped by Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc. Earlier in the day, Howard and his team of Richard Hart, Brent Laing and Craig Savill
defeated New Brunswick’s James Grattan 7-4. “We’re good!” exclaimed Howard afterward, slightly understating the case. “I was a little ticked off in the first end, I threw one that didn’t curl quite enough and he stole one,” said the Ontario skip. “But he (Fitzner-LeBlanc) gave it right back in the next end, threw it a little wide and we got two and after that we pretty well controlled it.” Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton, who suffered his lone
defeat Saturday night (to Brad Jacobs of Northern Ontario), stretched Manitoba’s win skein to three by doubling Quebec’s Brier rookie Serge Reid by a 6-3 score in the afternoon. It was the only match of the day for the Bison Boys. “They seemed a little inexperienced, a couple of questionable calls here and there,” said Stoughton of his foe from Saguenay country. “But they throw pretty good so they deserve to be here.” The Quebecers (3-2)
proved that on the night shift, scoring a 10th-end deuce for an 8-7 decision against British Columbia’s Jeff Richard. “We wanted to take away his easy draw for two but my guard overcurled,” said Richard of his last rock in the 10th end. “They played better than us, though, and deserved to win the game.” Reid paints his team “an underdog” and said “that helps us. Teams don’t know us but we know them. We can play with every team here.” Reid had the tying point stashed in the four-foot and when Richard left him an avenue he drew the last rock to the middle circle
for the winning pair. The B.C. skip was far hotter in the morning when he directed a 7-5 victory over Alberta’s Kevin Koe. Newfie’s Gushue rebounded from a Sundaynight loss to Alberta’s Koe and turned in a pair of Monday successes — 10-3 over the Bluenosers in the morning and 7-3 over Rod MacDonald’s Prince Edward Islanders (1-4) on the late shift. “We were strong in the second half of that last game,” said Gushue, “and that’s a good building block going into the next games.” Alberta bounced back at night to throttle Darrell McKee of Sasakatchewan 9-5 with three-enders in the sixth and eighth panels. A cross-rings double-kill from Koe for the initial triple was the game’s turning point. “That shot is our bread and butter,” Koe said. “To miss that one would have left him (McKee) with a steal and a two-point lead. It would have been deflating to lose two in one day.” Rod MacDonald’s Prince Edward Islanders won their first, a 9-3 drubbing of Jamie Koe’s winless Territories team from Yellowknife in the afternoon. The HowardGrattan match was tighter than the score indicated but, after Howard deflected a thirdend threat with a last-rock triple takeout, Ontario remained in control.
Please see FLEX, Page 15
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Page 3
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Tankard Times
Rock Solid Gushue reflects on COVERAGE Olympic life lessons 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 been a lot of jabber, as there always is every four years along about now, regarding how rich Olympic medallists are likely to get on sponsorships and endorsements. Or how unrich! But something else about winning Olympic gold may be more telling. You think there’s pressure trying to win gold? Try learning how to handle winning it . . . afterward. “We had pressures, certainly,” Canada’s 2006 goldwinning skip Brad Gushue admits now. “When you come off a win like that your life changes and you have to figure out how to deal with that. It takes a bit of time. I think, now, we’ve done a good job of it but it took a while. If we ever did it again there’d definitely be changes and we’d do it differently. But going through it when you’re 25 years old, it’s like being thrown into a tornado.” There were team squabbles, one member — Jamie Korab
— was dumped for a year, there were problems re-forming a team worthy of taking another shot at the Games. “I didn’t want to just fall off the scene,” admits Gushue. “I didn’t want people to think that (win) was just a one-off. You know, I probably went too hard, too soon after the Olympics. I wanted to get right back into it, where a couple of the guys weren’t so sure. I don’t know whether they wanted to take some time away or put less into it for a bit or what is was, but there definitely were some issues. “I think each one of us would make some changes and do some things differently. We’d surround ourselves with the right people and get a good agent and get some good advice on the endorsement and sponsorship side of things. And even just pay attention to listening to each other and learning what’s going on with each other and what each of us wants to do instead of — I hate to say it — being selfish. “But I wanted to go and they didn’t want to go and it was kind of, you know, what do you do? It was a growing experience and I think we’ve all learned from it.” The shelf lives of Olympians, you understand, tend to run the gamut, depending on the popularity of their sport, among other things. “I think,” opines Gushue, “our shelf life was two, maybe two-and-a-half years, maybe into three. The past
year, I think there was so much focus on Vancouver and the athletes’ performances in Vancouver that I think Torino and Salt Lake City were forgotten. “But I think the winners at this year’s Olympics can expect two years. After that, things will begin to die down and they’ll start to become normal everyday people again.”
“When you come off a win like that, your life changes, and you have to figure out how to deal with it . . . I think each one of us would make some changes” Brad Gushue, on dealing with Olympic success
Sometimes, Olympic shelf life depends on geography. “We may be an anomaly because of where we’re from,” says Gushue, who was 25 when he skipped the winner in Italy. “We’re a small province and the fact we’re its
only winner of Olympic gold medals might have extended our notoriety longer than most and maybe enlarged our opportunities, too. I mean, if you come from Toronto or Calgary where they breed Olympic athletes, a goldmedal rep probably wouldn’t last as long. “But there’s a lot that goes into it, and two sides to it, too. Our scope is smaller down in Newfoundland. So the companies that will pay you for appearances and sponsorships are smaller and people aren’t going to be able to pay as much. “I think now there will be some major opportunities for teams from bigger centres . . . but probably not as many.” You can’t help but empathize with the Newfies if they feel a little left out of the national curling scene, thrust as they are out there on the Atlantic east of everywhere. “Well, on the tour we feel like we have a disadvantage,” says Gushue. “First day we travel out west we’re getting over jet lag. It takes us two or three games to get our legs under us. We get through without a couple of losses we’re OK. But a lot of times we travel out there and we’re tired, we lose a couple of games and start with our backs against the wall and people are wondering what’s wrong with us.” On the other hand . . .
Please see WOOD, Page 15
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Page 5
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Prince Edward Island: Skip: Rod MacDonald Home: Summerside Began curling at age: 18 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: General manager Employer: D. Alex MacDonald Ford/Lincoln Date of birth: May 20, 1957 Place of birth: Summerside Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Karen MacDonald Grandchildren: Ashlyn (6), Joshue (3) Favourite food: Mother’s fishcakes Favourite drink: Keith’s Celebrity dream woman: Julia Roberts Most annoying celebrity: Jim Carrey All-time favourite movie: Walking Tall Last movie he loved: Wyatt Earp Last movie he hated: No Country For Old Men Tattooed? No Never leaves home without: Phone Ten ends or eight? Eight ends Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends? Extra ends Competed in: 78, 81, 96, 05, 06, 09 Briers, 91, 95 Mixed Nationals
Third: Kevin Champion Home: Charlottetown Began curling at age: 18 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Golf pro Employer: Anderson Creek Golf Date of birth: November 11, 1963 Place of birth: Charlottetown Marital status: Girlfriend
Cabernet, Mom’s fishcakes, P.E.I. spuds, and Sarah Palin nightmares Spouse/partner: Carmelita MacKenzie Children: Matthew, Brodie, Grace Favourite food: Steak Favourite drink: Red wine Celebrity dream woman: Jennifer A. Most annoying celebrity: Madonna All-time favourite movie: Troy Last movie he loved: Four Christmases Last movie he hated: ated: Tooth Fairy Tattooed? No Never leaves home me without: BlackBerry erry Ten ends or eight? ht? Six ends. Tiebreakers or no o tiebreakers? Flip a coin Extra ends or no o extra ends? Draw w the button Competed in: 03, 3, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09 Briers
Second: Mark O’Rourke ke Home: Cumberland, and, P.E.I. Began curling att age: 12 Delivery: Right Occupation/title:: Co-owner Employer: Beaton’s on’s Wholesale Dry Goods Ltd. Date of birth: July 7, 1962 Place of birth: Charlottetown Marital status: Marrie Spouse/partner: Kathy O’Rourke Children: No. Dog, Rookie Favourite food: Beef Favourite drink: Beer Celebrity dream woman: Kathy Most annoying celebrity: None
All-time favourite movie: Walk The Line Last movie he loved: Blind Side Last movie he hated: None Tattooed? No Never leaves home without: Money Ten ends or eight? Eight ends Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends? Extra ends
Competed in: 81 Junior Nationals, 91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 01, 07, 08, 09 Briers, 89, 99 Mixed Nationals
Lead: Andrew Robinson Home: Charlottetown Began curling at age: 15 Occupation/title: General manager Employer: P.E.I. Agromart Date of birth: July 31, 1969 Place of birth: Charlottetown Marital status: Relationship
Spouse/partner: Sasha Children: None Favourite food: P.E.I. potatoes Favourite drink: Cabernet Celebrity dream woman: Sarah Connor Most annoying celebrity: Sarah Palin All-time favourite movie: Sweet Hereafter Last movie he loved: Sherlock Holmes Last movie he hated: Inglourious Basterds Tattooed? None
Andrew Robinson, left, and Kevin Champion Never leaves home without: House key Ten ends or eight? Eight ends Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends? Extra ends Competed in: 03 Mixed Nationals, 00, 09 Briers, 87 Canada Games.
Fifth: Peter MacDonald Home: Charlottetown Began curling at age: 15 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Car dealer Employer: Owner, Fair Isle Ford, Charlottetown; D. Alex MacDonald Ford/Lincoln, Summerside Date of birth: April 7, 1956 Place of birth: Summerside Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Karen Children: None Favourite food: Seafood Favourite drink: Red wine Celebrity dream woman: Raquel Welch Most annoying celebrity: Donald Trump Tru All-time favourite All-tim movie: Weekend mov Bernie’s At B Last movie he La loved: Slumdog lov Millionaire Mi Last movie he Las hated: No Country hate For Old Men Tattooed? No Tattooed Never leaves leave home withForgetting something out: Forgetti or eight? 10 Ten ends o ends Tiebreakers or no tieTiebreake breakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends? Extra Extr ends Competed in: 73 Junior Nationals, 76, 76 78, 81, 91, 93, 96 96, 01 01, 05 05, 09 Briers; 90, 95, 93 99 Mixed Nationals
Coach: Pat Aylward Home: Wellington, P.E.I. Occupation/title: Mediator Employer: Veterans Affairs Canada Date of birth: June 4, 1959 Place of birth: Charlottetown Coached/player: Three Briers, two Junior Nationals
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Tankard Times
Team Nunavut? Let’s have none of it
Sun Media Columnist
N
o, no, Nunavut? Could political correctness kill the Brier? Dramatic changes are ahead for the red hot game of curling after a ballistic Olympic Winter Games impact around the world.
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ern Ontario and a Team Canada concept similar to the one being used at the Scotties to bring back defending champions may come in to play. But if it appears that the tall foreheads of the Canadian Curling Association are going to risk everything over playing nice with Nunavut, Hansen insists they are not going to go so far as to mess with the essence of what makes the Brier an event which manages to transcend the sport itself. “This is not just another bonspiel,” he said. Enabling both the Yukon and Northwest Territories to the Junior Nationals has messed up that event beyond belief,
creating more games and more often than not leaving one Territories team with an 0-12 record and the other at 1-11. But it doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily see Nunavut at the Brier every year, says Hansen. “It’ll involve more structural change. It’s most likely to involve a relegation type of system,” he said of the lowest two finishing provinces dropping out the next year. All of this will likely be decided in July. “The key thing is that there will not be more teams in the Brier. The Brier will remain at 12 teams. The structure we have can’t be messed with.
Federation will be voting on that and other proposed changes in April. It looked like the WCF would follow the World Curling Tour eight-end cash spiel format until the Olympic TV numbers started coming in from around the world. They were massive, often because there was almost always curling to go to during the Olympic day. How that one will go now is a total tossup according to Hansen. “It had a huge TV impact,” said the Canadian Curling Association director of event management.
The whole thing has been working for 81 years. If you start tinkering with it, lord knows what you could end up with.” But isn’t that what they’re about to do? It could mean that Prince Edward Island, long a free space on the Brier bingo card like the Territories yet a legitimate province and the cradle of confederation, complete with their flag-waiving Spud Island followers, could be eliminated from many or most Briers. But there also are other changes which could be coming to the sport for the next Olympic quadrennial. Will the game go from 10 ends to eight ends? The World Curling
Please see JONES, Page 15
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But at home there are scare stories circulating behind the scenes here that political correctness could spoil the grand national sports event which celebrates Canadiana like no other. Brier boss Warren Hansen swears it won’t work that way. Political correctness, however, is almost certainly going to make separat “provinces” of Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories, likely to kick in for the 2012 Brier. Currently one team from all the Territories represents the North. And, as usual, the Polar Bears are out of it early. The status of North-
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Page 7
New technology boosts 50/50 pot Tankard Times staff
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he 2010 Tim Hortons Brier is taking 50/50 draws to new heights. Each draw of the national men’s curling championship at the Metro Centre features a 50/50 prize using a new electronic system developed by 50/50 Central, a company based in Summerside, P.E.I. The 50/50 Central technology was a huge hit at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship in Saskatoon and Regina during the December-January holiday period. It was so big, in fact, that the organizing committee had to increase both the number of fixed sales locations and handheld devices used mid-event, but both purchase options still enjoyed long lineups. The 50/50 frenzy generated dizzying prize tallies, with an average fan payout of $40,000 for each of the 21 games at the Saskatoon arena, culminating in the final game that featured Canada and the U.S., which awarded $149,700 to one Saskatoon-based fan. The crowd at Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon purchased close to $300,000 worth of 50-50 tickets, creating the cash prize. That’s almost $20 per person in ticket sales.
What makes the electronic system unique is that fans can see the running 50/50 total, up to the split second, on screens around the arena and in the Keith’s Patch. Every time someone buys a ticket — one for $5; three for $10; and 10 for $20 — the new total for the draw is immediately beamed to all of the closed-circuit televisions in the Metro Centre complex. Fixed 50/50 purchase
Halifax Metro Centre fans can see 50/50 jackpots piling up on in-house monitors. locations are positioned in the Halifax Metro Centre and outside the Patch. As well, volunteers circulate in the stands with handheld purchasing devices. The Halifax Brier host committee will use its portion of the pools to pay for various hosting expenses related to the event. Any net profits will be used for the development of curling with the majority of these funds remaining within the province
of Nova Scotia. Every curling club in the province will benefit. The firm that unveiled this technology, based in Prince Edward Island, is creating a big buzz in the sports world. Blair Smith, the company’s co-owner, told Canadian Press the final Saskatoon pot at the 31-game tournament was by far the biggest prize delivered by 50/50 Central’s technology. “When you jump over $10 a head, those are huge numbers,” Smith said. Smith’s Summerside firm charges for support and maintenance, and gets a small percentage of the total revenue. The company has only five employees, including Smith and co-owner George Roberts of Kensington, P.E.I. The system already is being used by non-profit organizations affiliated with teams in Major League Baseball, the NBA, the NHL, the AHL and the QMJHL. The system dashes skepticism regarding 50-50 draws. Tracking and security surrounding the funds is foolproof. “We soon came to realize that is was all about the accountability,” said Smith. “When you make a sale . . . the individual buying sees the pot increase right away. They know it’s in the pot . . . In any cash business, accountability is important.”
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Good luck to all participants! Bonne chance à tous les participants!
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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
Hackner derails Ryan Express with ‘The Shot’
STEE ST STEELE EELE LE FORD FOR ORD D IS THE OFFICIAL VEHICLE ICLE SUPPLIER OF THE 2010 TIM HORTONS BRIER
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The Best Shot on Ice. The creamy consistency of Amarula delights with lingering subtle flavours of vanilla, caramel and chocolate.
ALEX ROBERTS Tankard Times Columnist
1939: An exciting sudden-death playoff for the Brier championship saw Manitoba come back from a 9-3 deficit against Ontario after six ends to count five consecutive points and pull the score back to 10-8. However, Ontario skip Bert Hall put up a deuce in the 11th (12-enders in those days) and Ontario went
on to win its second Brier by a 12-10 count. 1950: Thomas Ramsay of the Kirkland Lake Curling Club hammered Nova Scotia’s Bernard Haines 14-1 in the morning-round encounter to clinch the honour of winning the first Brier Tankard for Northern Ontario. A unique event occurred in the afternoon draw when the Northern Ontario entry played William McTavish’s Manitoba team. All members of both teams were native-born Manitobans. And to rub in the Manitoba domination: The teams ended up finishing 1-2 in the final standings. 1955: Newfoundland beat New Brunswick 11-8 in the sixth draw to clinch the province’s first win
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The Official Spirit of Championship Curling
Editor: Larry Wood Associate Editor: Todd Kimberley
Amarula is the official spirit of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Tim Hortons Brier and Ford World Women’s Curling Championship. Please visit www.amarula.com to learn more. Amarula is a rare find. Appreciate it accordingly.
Photography: Michael Burns, Jr.
since the ninth draw of the 1952 championship. The 24-game losing streak was a Brier record which held up until the Territories went 27 games without a win in 2003-2006. 1973: Harvey Mazinke and his foursome from Saskatchewan showed how well they adapted to the very difficult ice conditions at the “Bad Ice Brier” in Edmonton, clinching the title with a 9-5 victory over New Brunswick. The ’73 Brier was the first championship to feature the new “concession rule” whereby teams could concede a game any time after 10 ends of a 12-end game.
See ROBERTS, Page 14
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Page 9
your guide to what’s goin’ on
Gear Up for a Wild Ride
Hop in for a high-speed blast back to the live music scene of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s as the Chevelles take to the Keith’s Patch stage tonight at 6:15 pm and again at 11:00 pm.
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The band rocked the house at the 2009 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings and again at the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. And, with appearances at the Brier and Scotties the previous year, they’ve earned the reputation as one of the acts we like to call “Legends of the Patch”.
TIM ES
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on stage
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
Needless to say, the Chevelles are one of the entertainment highlights for Canada’s curling crowd. If you haven’t had the opportunity to experience their live performance, get ready for explosive, dynamic power as they draw on a lengthy play list of fan favourites. The band features Buck Chevelle (lead vocals/ lead guitar), Kitty Chevelle (lead vocals/bass), Woody Chevelle (lead vocals/rhythm guitar/ keyboards) and T.T. Chevelle (vocals/drums/ sound tech).
Tankard Times
Page 10
Round Two’s on the Tables The second round of the Cool Curling competition is on today in Keith’s Patch. Another 32 teams will be on the boards with the top eight moving on to Friday’s championship qualifying round.
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.
Cool Curling is the game that everyone can play… and your chance to be one of only two teams that claim a championship at the Tim Hortons Brier! You won’t win a Tankard, but you could win some cash! First prize is $500, second is $250 and third is $150. You can still get in on the action at Keith’s Patch!
Meet the Personalities
of the Patch
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?
The following guide provides the corresponding letter for each flag. (See the answers on page 12)
Keith’s Patch is “party central” for the 2010 Tim Horton’s Brier – and the driving force behind the high-energy atmosphere comes from our two popular MC’s, Stuart Brown and Jim Jerome. The Brown and Jerome show has been synonymous with fun at the Patch for years. Regulars on the Season of Champions party scene have come to know the pair just as well as the stars on the ice. Jerome has long been one of the most entertaining personalities on Canada’s radio airwaves, including the Edmonton and Ottawa markets. He can also be seen in Season of Champions TV features on seasonofchampions.ca. Brown has over 25 years experience as a live event announcer working in front of crowds across North America including a recent role as main stage announcer for Sheryl Crow’s U.S. tour.
Stuart Brown and Jim Jerome - the amiable hosts of Keith’s Patch.
A Message from the Maritimes
Join them all week as they lead the way in all kinds of crazy contests and competitions.
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Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Page 11
It’s Simply
Toasting the Two Hot Shots Today – 6:30 pm
In the final of the Ford Hot Shots competition, Ontario’s Glenn Howard prevailed over Saskatchewan’s Darrell McKee to win a two-year lease on a 2010 Ford Taurus SEL FWD. Tonight they face off again in a more sociable environment at the Up Close and Personal interview in the Purple Heart Lounge.
Presented by:
! ! ! e l b a i c So
Come out and meet the curlers – they’ll be signing autographs in the Purple Heart Lounge today until Thursday. Today 2 pm Northwest Territories/Yukon 6:30 pm Quebec & Prince Edward Island
Howard is making his 12th Brier appearance – the fifth as skip, after playing third for brother Russ in seven national championships. In fact, it’s a record-setting fifth consecutive year Howard, Richard Hart, Brent Laing and Craig Savill have represented Ontario.
Wednesday, March 10 2 pm Ontario 6:30 pm Nova Scotia
McKee comes to Halifax for his second Brier - the first at the skip position - after defeating defending champ Joel Jordison in the provincial final. He is joined by teammates Bruce Korte, Rob Korte and Rob Markowsky. And, for the record, McKee picked up $2,000 for finishing second in the Ford Hot Shots.
Thursday, March 11 2 pm Alberta & Newfoundland/ Labrador 6:30 pm New Brunswick
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.
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. 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!
Tankard Times
Page 12
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Won... and Still Counting!
The Nifty Fifty 50
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:
50/50 Winners
• four purchase outlets are located in the Metro Centre and one outside Keith’s Patch • tickets are also available from 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
• 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
Sunday, Draw 5 - Trent Churchill, Bridgewater, NS - $6,968
Monday, Draw 6 - Connie Hachey, Halifax, NS - $4,423 Draw 7 - Teresa Soalton, Welland, ON - $3,150
Today’s feature stars are:
Team Quebec • 3:00 pm Noah Garnier • CFB Halifax Savannah Ryhno • Chester Team Northern Ontario • 7:30 pm Connor Corkum Megan Wile
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
• •
Lakeshore (Bedford) CFB Halifax
zone, grip, hack, and draw
Draw 1 winner Mona Mullenger, Lower Sackville, NS - $9,058
The words signaled by the “floral flags” are
The 50/50 draws use an electronic system that displays 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:
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Page 13
ROAD TO THE TIM HORTONS BRIER
Koe KOs rival Cowan for Polar crown Tankard Times staff
D
efending champion Jamie Koe of Yellowknife required a playoff showdown last month with Yukon rival Chad Cowan of Whitehorse in order to repeat as Territories men’s curling champ. It probably was fitting in that each skip had represented the Polar regions in three previous Briers and were angling for a fourth appearance. The two, boasting identical 4-2 records in the four-team double round-robin competition
at Whitehorse, locked horns after Koe was upended 8-7 by Jon Solberg of Whitehorse in the final round of the preliminaries. Solberg played third for Koe a year ago at the Calgary Brier.
NWT/YUKON Returning at third this year is Kevin Whitehead along with front-enders Brad Chorostkowski and
Martin Gavin. Koe broke open a tied affair in the fifth end of the final with a go-ahead deuce, then took complete control in the sixth by stealing a single for a 5-2 lead. Cowan blanked the seventh and eighth exchanges but was forced to take one in the ninth and ran out of granite trailing 5-3 in the 10th end. Koe got off to a fast start in the competition, winning his first three matches before bowing 8-4 to Solberg in the fourth round. Koe then nudged Cowan 7-5 in an extra end before again
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losing to Solberg. Cowan defeated Greg Skauge of Yellowknife 5-3 in the last round to force the playoff. He had earlier lost 9-3 to Koe in the second round. Koe experienced a disappointing Brier in 2009, winning only three games. He had won six games in 2006 at Regina and five in 2007 at Hamilton. The final tabulation showed Koe at 5-2, Cowan at 4-3, Solberg at 3-3 and Skauge at 1-5. Jamie Koe won a four-team, double round-robin tourney up north this year.
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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!
1977: Wayne Hamilton skipped Newfoundland to the first shutout in Brier history, trouncing Ken Macdonald of Prince Edward Island 11-0 in a seventh-round game at the Velodrome in Montreal. 1980: The first Labatt Brier featured several historic changes, including: The first tiebreakers, the first playoffs, and the first championship final. 1985: Widely regarded as the most famous shot in curling history, Northern Ontario’s Al Hackner executed a nearly impossible ultra-thin doubletakeout in the 10th end of the championship game to score two to tie Alberta’s Pat Ryan. Hackner went on to steal the win and the championship in the extra end. Hackners’s 10th-end stunner has come to be
From Page 8
ROBERTS: Dacey hits 37 known as “The Shot.” 2003: Randy Ferbey’s Alberta powerhouse completed an historic Brier three-peat, running the table with an unprecedented 13-0 record, and climaxed by an 8-4 decision over Nova Scotia’s Mark Dacey before 9,485 fans in the Halifax Metro Centre. The total attendance over the nineday event was 158,414 — an all-time record for a venue east of Winnipeg. 2009: By beating Northern Ontario 8-3 in
Cheering hard in Halifax.
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the seventh draw, Mark Dacey set a record for wins by a Nova Scotia skip at the Brier with 37. (Alex Roberts is a freelance writer based in Halifax)
Mark Dacey: 37 wins as a Brier skip.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
From Page 6
JONES
The CCA has a lot of interest in the World Curling Federation meetings in Cortina, Italy, this year. “A whole bunch of things are being presented,” said Hansen. “The elimination of tiebreakers is one which would make scheduling a lot easier. But if you had three teams tied for the final playoff spot and they had one win and one loss against each other it would be settled by draws to the button. “Elimination of extra ends is another one. It’s such a tight time squeeze. When you have an extra end, it causes problems for TV and in
the building,” he added of the complete turnover of crowds from one event to the other at the Olympics. “We’ll see what they (WCF) do with it and then decide what we (CCA) will do with it,” he said of the WCF and CCA. In Canada, there’s also the question of collecting points to qualify for the next Roar of the Rings Olympic Trials leading in to Sochi 2014. Two years? Or three years as was the case leading to Vancouver 2010? “I think the curlers are split on it,” said Hansen. But Nunavut? Better not poll the players . . . or anybody else at the Brier on that one.
Page 15 Ontario stretched a 2-1 lead to 3-1 after a blank third, then hammered the final nail in the coffin with three in the eighth. “That game, remarkably, we were set up four or five ends,” moaned Grattan, who has three straight after two wins on Saturday. “Just one shot would mess it up. I really like the way we’re playing this time. We’re playing real well.
It’s just one or two shots a game. Sometimes you just can’t win. I get a double, he gets a triple. But if I get the roll on the double he doesn’t have anything. That’s the way it’s going.” Grattan said his team needs to turn the losing
“We feel we have one advantage,” he says, “because we have weaker competition than, say, Alberta and we’re going to get to more Briers. “But I don’t think people relate to us as much because we’re so far away. An athlete from Toronto will get more exposure in the local media which means more exposure in the Toronto market which
essentially is the national market. That’s a huge advantage to them and something we never could take advantage of the last four years just because we are from a small centre.” Gushue doesn’t buy the argument, though, that winning a medal in Vancouver is worth more than one mined in Torino. “You just take the number of medals Canadian
From Page 2
FLEX
streak around this morning against Brad Jacobs of Northern Ontario. “Right now, we’re one game behind our goal, based on the draw, but that includes the necessity to finish up strong.” Jacobs posted a key win to climb to 3-and-2 with a 7-6 victory over Saskatchewan (2-3). “This was a really big win,” said Jacobs.
“They’re a tough team. Their stats were right up at the top.” Jacobs said his team checked out the Brier Patch on Sunday night, “because we didn’t play until three today, but we won’t be going back there as long as we’re playing in this. I mean, there doesn’t seem to be anything like one or two beers in Nova Scotia. So we’re going to stay out.”
From Page 6
you have to take that into account. And I think some of the Vancouver winners may be surprised because the market for athletes is limited. Plus, in Vancouver, there were great stories as well in the silver and bronze categories. Joannie Rochette come to mind. So there many not be as many opportunities as people think . . . but there’ll be a lot to start with.”
WOOD
athletes won at Vancouver versus Torino,” he reasons. “Fourteen of those Vancouver medals were gold and may dilute the exposure and the sponsorship dollars that will be spread around. Canada only won seven gold at Torino. I think
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Page 16
Tankard Times
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
New Brunswick: Skip: James Grattan Home: Oromocto Began curling at age: 11 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Customer service agent Employer: Air Canada Date of birth: July 28, 1974 Place of birth: Ottawa Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Lynn Children: Drew (3), Emma (3 months) Favourite food: Ham Favourite drink: Keith’s Light Ale (we are athletes!) Celebrity dream woman: Drew Barrymore Most annoying celebrity: Adam Carolla All-time favourite movie: The Hangover Last movie he loved: Avatar Last movie he hated: E.T. Tattooed? No Never leaves home without: Lately, diapers Ten ends or eight? 10 ends Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends? Extra ends
From left, Jason Vaughan, Steven Howard and Peter Case
Light beer, diaper daddies, a hate on for Hanna, and . . . hamming it up Competed in: 91, 95 Junior Nationals, 97, 02, 03, 04, 06, 08, 09 Briers, 01 O-trials
Third: Steven Howard Home: Moncton Began curling at age: 5 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Owner, Green Side Up Lawn Care; security officer Employer: Self-employed; CATSA Date of birth: Sept. 24, 1984 Place of birth: Midland, Ont. Marital status: Single Spouse/partner: None, yet Children: None, yet Favourite food:
Ham Favourite drink: Red Bull Celebrity dream woman: Megan Fox Most annoying celebrity: Jay Leno All-time favourite movie: The Hangover Last movie he loved: The Hangover Last movie he hated: Dear John Tattooed? Nope Never leaves home without: Pants Ten ends or eight? 10 ends tiebreakTiebreakers or no tiebre ers? Tiebreakers ends? Extra ends or no extra e Extra ends Competed in: 05 Junior Nationals, 04, 09 Briers
Second: Jason Jaso Vaugh Vaughan Ho Home: Rothesay Ro Began Be curling at cur age: ag 15 Delivery: De Right Rig OccupaOcc tion/title: tion Network Net marketer mar Employer: Emp Selfemployed emp Date of birth: July birt 1969 3, 1 Place Plac birth: of b Saint John Sain Marital Mari status: statu Married Ma
Spouse/partner: Tammy Children: Ashley (12), Joshua (9) Favourite food: Whatever goes with ham Favourite drink: Alexander Keith’s Celebrity dream woman: Married to his dream women Most annoying celebrity: Ray Turnbull All-time favourite movie: The Hangover Last movie he loved: Avatar Last movie he hated: G.I. Joe Tattooed? Yep Never leaves home without: Telling my kids I love them Ten ends or eight? Ten Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends? Extra ends Competed in: 06, 08, 09 Briers
Lead: Peter Case Home: Saint John Began curling at age: 10 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: Counter sales Employer: LifeCo. Inc. Date of birth: March 13, 1977 Place of birth: Saint John Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Ronda Case Children: Taylor (4) Favourite food: Ham Favourite drink: Beer Celebrity dream woman: Angelina Jolie Most annoying celebrity: Fran Drescher All-time favourite movie: The Hangover Last movie he loved: The Hangover Last movie he hated: Hanna Montana Tattooed? Yes, one Never leaves home without: A hat
Ten ends or eight? Ten ends Tiebreakers or no tiebreakers? Tiebreakers Extra ends or no extra ends? Extra ends Competed in: 96 Junior Nationals, 01, 08, 09 Briers
Fifth: Robert Vaughan Home: Rothesay Began curling at age: 15 Delivery: Right Occupation/title: GM Employer: Fastenal Co. Date of birth: April 27, 1965 Place of birth: Saint John Marital status: Married Spouse/partner: Janet Children: Daniel (15), Olivia (12), Noah (7) Favourite food: Chicken parm (Vito’s) Favourite drink: Beer Celebrity dream woman: Angelina Jolie Most annoying celebrity: Tom Cruise All-time favourite movie: Caddyshack Last movie he loved: The Hangover Last movie he hated: Julie and Julia Tattooed? No 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: 84 Jr Nationals
Coach: Dean Grattan Home: Oromocto Occupation/title: Teacher Employer: Oromocto HS Date of birth: April 14, 1978 Place of birth: Toronto Coached/player: Playing 20 years, coaching 14 years
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Page 17
Time out for Tim Hortons Brier trivia 8. The years and how many wins? 9. Ten skips have won 10 or more games in a Brier and failed to win the event with that number of victories. Can you name the only skip to do it twice?
10. In which years? 11. How about the other nine skips? 12. And the years they hit double figures but didn’t emerge victorious, also the skips who won those Briers? 13. Three provinces/
Answers ner), Howard 1986 (Ed Lukowich), Folk 1993 (Russ Howard), Martin 1996 (Jeff Stoughton), Peters 1997 (Kevin Martin), Ferbey 2004 (Mark Dacey), Adams 2005 (Randy Ferbey). 13. New Brunswick, P.E.I., Territories 14. Quebec.
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10. 2006 and 2008. 11. Ed Lukowich, Ed Werenich, Pat Ryan, Russ Howard, Rick Folk, Kevin Martin, Vic Peters, Randy Ferbey, Shawn Adams. 12. Lukowich 1983 (Ed Werenich), Werenich 1984 (Mike Riley), Ryan 1985 (Al Hack-
1. In what year and which champ did he beat twice? 2. Name the first skip to beat the eventual Brier champ two years running. 3. He turned the feat in what years and who did he beat? 4. Name the second
killers. Name all five and you’ll qualify to write the trivia quiz next year at London. 7. Name the skip or skips that have won the most Brier games in one year representing Newfoundland/Labrador.
Barry Fry. 6. Brad Gushue, Russ Howard, Rick Lang, Kevin Martin, Vic Peters. 7. Jack MacDuff and Brad Gushue. 8. MacDuff won 9 in 1976, Gushue won 9 in 2007. 9. Glenn Howard.
QUESTION OF THE DAY: One skip in Canadian men’s curling championship history has beaten the eventual champion twice in the same Brier. Name the giant-killer.
skip to beat the eventual Brier champ two years running and where was he from? 5. He turned the feat in what years and who did he beat? 6. There are five other two-time Brier giant-
QofD: Glenn Howard 1. 2006, Jean-Michel Menard 2. John Clark, Fredericton. 3. 1974 and 1975. He beat Hec Gervais and Bill Tetley. 4. Rick Folk, Saskatoon. 5. 1978 and 1979. He beat Ed Lukowich and
Larry Wood Tankard Times Editor
territories never have produced a Canadian men’s curling champion. Name them. 14. Only one provincial champion team in the current Brier field is comprised of a complete lineup of rookie players — none who have ever before played in the event. Name the provincial champion.
FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK...
Page 18
Tankard Times
2010 BRIER CUMULATIVE STATS (through Monday’s draws)
Sweep Today’s Country Into Your House!
Skips
Thirds
Name % age Glenn Howard (Ontario) 86 Brad Gushue (Nfld/Labrador) 81 Kevin Koe (Alberta) 80 Jeff Richard (B.C.) 79 Darrell McKee (Saskatchewan) 77 Jeff Stoughton (Manitoba) 77 Rod MacDonald (P.E.I.) 77 Brad Jacobs (N. Ontario) 76 James Grattan (N.B.) 76 Serge Reid (Quebec) 70 Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc (N.S.) 62 Jamie Koe (NWT/Yukon) 62
Name % age Richard Hart (Ontario) 88 Kevin Park (Manitoba) 85 Blake MacDonald (Alberta) 84 E.J. Harnden (N. Ontario) 81 Steven Howard (N.B.) 81 Kevin Champion (P.E.I.) 81 Mark Nichols (Nfld/Labrador) 79 Bruce Korte (Saskatchewan) 78 Tom Shypitka (B.C.) 74 Francois Gionest (Quebec) 74 Stuart MacLean (N.S.) 73 Kevin Whitehead (NWT/Yukon) 72
Seconds
Leads
Name % age Carter Rycroft (Alberta) 88 Brent Laing (Ontario) 88 Ryan Harnden (N. Ontario) 86 Rob Fowler (Manitoba) 84 Roger Korte (Saskatchewan) 84 Ryan Fry (Nfld/Labrador) 83 Mark O’Rourke (P.E.I.) 81 Tyler Orme (B.C.) 80 Kent Smith (N.S.) 80 Brad Chorostkowski (NWT/Yukon) 79 Jason Vaughan (N.B.) 78 Simon Collin (Quebec) 75
Name % age Steve Gould (Manitoba) 90 Andrew Robinson (P.E.I.) 90 Nolan Thiessen (Alberta) 89 Jamie Korab (Nfld/Labrador) 88 Phil Crowell (N.S.) 84 Martin Gavin (NWT/Yukon) 84 Craig Savill (Ontario) 84 Rob Markowsky (Saskatchewan) 81 Chris Anderson (B.C.) 80 Caleb Flaxey (N. Ontario) 80 Peter Case (N.B.) 79 Steeve Villeneuve (Quebec) 72
Teams Province Ontario (Howard) Alberta (K. Koe) Manitoba (Stoughton) P.E.I. (MacDonald) Nfld/Labrador (Gushue) N. Ontario (Jacobs)
% age 86 85 84 82 82 81
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Province % age Saskatchewan (McKee) 80 New Brunswick (Grattan) 79 British Columbia (Richard) 78 NWT/Yukon (J. Koe) 75 Nova Scotia (Fitzner-LeBlanc) 74 Quebec (Reid) 73
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
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Page 19
2010 TIM HORTONS BRIER SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Standings (through Monday’s draws)
Today’s Games Draw 9 (10:30 a.m.) Territories vs. Manitoba Saskatchewan vs. Quebec N. Ontario vs. New Brunswick Ontario vs. P.E.I.
Draw 10 (3 p.m.) Quebec vs. P.E.I. Alberta vs. Nova Scotia Ontario vs. Saskatchewan B.C. vs. Newfoundland/ Labrador
Draw 6 Results
Draw 11 (7:30 p.m.) New Brunswick vs. Nfld/ Labrador Northern Ontario vs. B.C. Manitoba vs. Alberta Nova Scotia vs. Territories
Team Ontario Alberta Manitoba Nfld/Labrador Quebec N. Ontario Saskatchewan New Brunswick B.C. P.E.I. Nova Scotia NWT/Yukon
Draw 7 Results
B.C. Alberta* %age B.C. Alberta
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 x 7 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 x 5 Lead Second Third Skip Team 86 88 85 89 87 96 84 80 74 84
N. Ontario* Saskatchewan %age N. Ontario Saskatchewan
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 3 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 x 7 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 x 6 Lead Second Third Skip Team 71 90 70 75 77 80 88 69 66 76
Nova Scotia Nfld/Labrador %age Nova Scotia Nfld/Labrador
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 x x x 3 2 0 2 0 2 1 3 x x x 10 Lead Second Third Skip Team 89 86 66 64 76 70 82 71 91 79
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T Ontario 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 x 7 New Brunswick* 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 x 4 %age Lead Second Third Skip Team Ontario 84 93 85 89 88 New Brunswick 90 78 71 68 77
W 5 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 1 0 0
L 0 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 4 5 5
Draw 8 Results Ontario* Nova Scotia %age Ontario Nova Scotia
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 2 2 0 2 1 0 2 x x 9 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 x x 3 Lead Second Third Skip Team 85/31 94 92 89 87 80 77/25 75 67 71
P.E.I. Nfld/Labrador* %age P.E.I. Nfld/Labrador
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 x 3 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 2 1 x 7 Lead Second Third Skip Team 93 71 81 64 77 96 78 79 81 83
NWT/Yukon* P.E.I. %age NWT/Yukon P.E.I.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 x x x 3 1 1 0 2 2 0 3 x x x 9 Lead Second Third Skip Team 98 80 80 63 80 96 91 82 89 90
Quebec* B.C. %age Quebec B.C.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 1 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 2 8 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 2 0 7 Lead Second Third Skip Team 76 83 83 81 81 85 80 69 80 78
Manitoba* Quebec %age Manitoba Quebec
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 x x x 6 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 x x x 3 Lead Second Third Skip Team 89 88 91 84 88 69 61 69 56 64
Alberta Saskatchewan* %age Alberta Saskatchewan
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 T 0 2 0 1 0 3 0 3 x x 9 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 x x 5 Lead Second Third Skip Team 84 88 76 79 82 83 72 69 71 74w
* —started game with the hammer
Page 20
Tankard Times
ROAD TO THE TIM HORTONS BRIER
McKee breaks down the back door Tankard Times staff
S
Darrell McKee: Back at the Brier for the first time since 2000.
Regina’s Randy Bryden won the A final, 6-5 over McKee who had earlier kayoed Jordison 7-4. In the B final, Jordison enjoyed some revenge with a 7-2 whipping of the Saskatoon team. Then McKee knocked off Carl deConinck-Smith of Eston 5-3 in the C2 final, eliminated C1 survivor Mark Herbert of Moose Jaw 9-4, upended Bryden in the semi 7-5 with a deuce in the eighth end and stolen singles in the ninth and 10th exchanges, and then won the rubber match 7-5 over Jordison, again striking like lightning in the ninth and 10th ends with a go-ahead deuce and a stolen single.
In Saskatoon city playdowns leading to the regionals and provincials, the McKee team also won two do-or-die C-section qualifiers in order to advance. The McKee-Korte combination has represented Saskatchewan in two Briers staged in Saskatoon. “Bruce and I talked about that a bit -- how it would be nice to play a Brier away from home once,” McKee told Kevin Mitchell of the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. “Not that it wasn’t special, but this (Halifax) will be different. “At the time, we didn’t think it was going to bother us. But looking back, we put a lot of pres-
sure on ourselves because we felt we could win it and things didn’t work out. Then, when you’re playing in front of that hometown crowd, and things aren’t going well, it wears on you.”
straight years before being upended in the final last year by Jordison. Simmons bombed out at Lumsden, losing 8-6 to Herbert, 8-6 to veteran Jamie Schneider of Regina, and 9-8 to Jason Ackerman of Regina. Following a go-ahead deuce in the ninth, McKee stole the 10th when Jordison rubbed on his last rock, tossing a peeler into a cluster of stones in the four-foot, two of them McKee counters. “Wwe’re gritty and we fight,” said Bruce Korte. “If the four of us can come together and play well, I think we can compete with any team at the Brier. Any team.”
SASKATCHEWAN Both Korte (2006) and McKee (2008) lost provincial finals tro Pat Simmons of Davidson during the last half-decade. Simmons won the title four
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askatoon veteran Darrell McKee and his long-time cronies, the Korte brothers from Muenster, joined forces with lead Rob Markowsky, a Prince Albert product and Brier rookie, to upend defending champion Joel Jordison of Moose Jaw in the Saskatchewan Tankard last month at Lumsden. McKee, 46, played third for Bruce Korte in one previous Brier while Korte will be playing third after two shots on Brier teeheads. Brother Roger always has been a supporting fixture.
This was a case of third time lucky for McKee, who lost A and B finals in the 16-team tripleknockout preliminary before exploding through the back door from the C section.
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