Alberta's Koe can beat you conventionally or he can beat you with a little - magic dust PAGES 2/5 - Curling Canada
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
a g i c Man
ISSUE 7 | FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF CURLING CANADA
M
Alberta’s Koe
can beat you
conventionally
or he can beat
you with a little
magic dust PAGES 2/5
OFFICIAL
PARTNER-OF-THE-DAY
TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 2
BRIER BRANDON 2019
Koe wins Battle of Alberta
Alberta skip Kevin Koe may not always be on his game, but he seems to have a knack of finding a way to win, as he did Thursday afternoon in the Championship Pool.
Pulls a rabbit out of his hat to snatch win against Bottcher
or something like that I want it to be there. I’ve
By GRANT GRANGER thrown them good all this week so I had con-
Tankard Times Writer fidence in at least hitting it where we wanted
T
to, and wait and see what happened and fortu-
nately it ended up good enough.”
he Battle of Alberta. Calgary vs. Ed- Holding a 6-4 lead heading into the 10th
monton. Flames vs. Oilers. Stampeders end, Wild Card looked to be in good shape
vs. Eskimos. Koe vs. Bottcher. It doesn’t even with Alberta having the hammer.
happen often at the Brier, but it did Thursday “We played a poor last end, so he had a
afternoon. shot for three and he made a good one,” said
And like many other of the classic clashes, Bottcher. “With Kevin, he’s always going to
this one was intense, neither side surrendering leave himself a chance and he made a really
much until the end. good shot at the end there.”
One came in to the Championship Pool of With two losses, Wild Card still looks to be
the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier presented by AGI in good shape to make the weekend playoffs
with an unblemished 7-0 record. That would although the defeat does put a crimp in reach-
be Calgary’s Kevin Koe. The other, Brendan ing the coveted 1-2 playoff game.
Bottcher of Edmonton, 6-1. A classic confron- “We’re playing a good week, and we played
tation that didn’t disappoint. a great game today and I think if we do that the
But just like the NHL and CFL these days, next three games we’ll be in the playoff picture
Calgary came out on top, although it sure and go from there,” said Bottcher.
looked like for a good portion of the game it Northern Ontario’s Brad Jacobs (Sault Ste.
would be the team from the city of ex-champi- Marie) continued to crush the competition
ons that would prevail. Brendan Bottcher of Team Wild Card lost a heartbreaker to Alberta’s Kevin Koe. disposing of British Columbia (Vernon, 4-4),
Koe crushed a takeout of a Bottcher rock skipped by Jim Cotter, 11-5. Two-time defend-
frozen to three Alberta stones to score three in well,” admitted Koe. “We really didn’t have a making it when it presents itself. He’s only go- ing champion Brad Gushue kept pace at 7-1 as
the 10th end for a 7-6 victory. That kept Alberta lot of chances after our first deuce (in the sec- ing to get better, he’s still young. Hopefully Team Canada (St. John’s) beat one of the pre-
unbeaten at 8-0 and bumped Bottcher’s Team ond end), they played so well.” he doesn’t get to be his best for the next few Brier favourites, Manitoba (4-4) skipped by
Wild Card back to 6-2 behind Alberta, North- Koe, 44, admires how good the 27-year-old years,” said Koe, who relished the final shot Mike McEwen, 6-3.
ern Ontario, also 8-0, and Team Canada (7-1). Bottcher has become, but kind of wishes he himself. Ontario’s Scott McDonald and his Kings-
“We got out-curled for sure, they played would slow down his improvement. “I’m a good hitter, on the out-turn side es- ton crew (5-3) defeated Saskatchewan’s Kirk
“He’s not afraid of having the big shot and pecially, and if I’m going to have a shot to win Muyres (Saskatoon, 4-4), 7-4.
TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 3
B.C.’s
Team Canada’s Brad ern Ontario crushed
Gushue won his aftern
oon game. Brad Jacobs of North
e afternoon draw.
Jim Cotter 11-5 in th
GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE TEAMS AT THE 2019 TIM HORTONS BRIER!
Visit one our 16 locations for all your parts, service, and equipment needs IS PROUD
in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
TO SUPPORT
ROCK SOLID.
The Experience.
A PROUD PAST, A STRONG FUTURE. The Tools.
The Know-How. remax.ca
MAZERGROUP.CA That’s the sign of a RE/MAX agent. Each office independently owned and operated.
TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 4
Proud presenting
partner of the
2019 Tim Hortons Brier
Marc Kennedy (left) and Ben Hebert were a force on the ice.
Hebert moves on
without Kennedy
Buddies were due for a break
By GRANT GRANGER
Tankard Times Writer
Ben Hebert lost his left-hand man last summer but accustomed to the same things, but we were probably
he’s thriving without him this winter. due for a break. It’s like being married, we were
The lead for Kevin Koe’s Alberta squad played together for a long time.
the last 12 curling seasons alongside southpaw hurler “I think he’s happy with where he’s at doing his
Marc Kennedy. The first eight with Kevin Martin thing, healing up an injury and spending some time
and the last four with Koe. Their accomplishments with family, or whatever he wanted to do.
together are mind boggling. They went to eight Briers “I still have the fire in my belly to play, and I’m
together, winning three times — twice with Martin not sold he doesn’t either. Maybe you’ll see him back,
(2008 and 2009) and again with Koe in 2016. They who knows? But I’ve got some great teammates with
won the world twice (2008 and 2016) while losing the Kevin and B.J. and Colton here. So I don’t dwell on
final in the third trip. it often, it was Marc’s decision to leave and we’ve
They’ve appeared at the Olympics twice winning rebounded nicely.
gold with Martin in Vancouver in 2010 and then “We’ve found some really good young players
finishing off the podium with Koe a year ago. that are making it easier on Kevin and me to be
After that event was over Kennedy decided his refreshed so we’re enjoying every bit of it. Obviously
body was too worn out and decided it was time you look back on your old team and teammates where
to give his body a rest while second Brent Laing you miss some things and don’t miss others. It’s all
returned to Ontario to play with John Epping. They good.”
have been replaced by new third B.J. Neufeld Hebert added it really hasn’t been a tough
from Manitoba and second Colton Flasch from adjustment with the new players considering they’re
AGGROWTH.COM/CURLING Saskatchewan. the top-ranked team here.
“At the start of the year it was a little weird, just “No not at all, we’re in the honeymoon stage.
because I’d played with him for a long, long time,” Next year I might start breaking some stuff, but right
said Hebert, who will turn 36 on March 16. “You get now we’re pretty good,” said Hebert.
TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 5
BRIER
Adversity comes a callin’
BRANDON 2019
By GRANT GRANGER
Tankard Times Writer
I
f Brad Jacobs was looking for adversity he got it.
And while his Northern Ontario team fought hard
to overcome it, they didn’t quite pull it off.
Brier rookie Scott McDonald (Kingston) kept his
Ontario team’s (6-3) hopes to reach the playoffs in the
2019 Tim Hortons Brier, presented by AGI, alive by
handing Northern Ontario (8-1) its first defeat, 7-6 in
11 ends Thursday.
Northern Ontario, however, along with Alberta
(9-0) and Team Canada (8-1) have clinched berths in
the final four.
“There still has been some stressful times,” Jacobs
said after defeating British Columbia 11-5 earlier
Thursday. “We’ve had some misses, faced a little
bit of adversity here and there. We welcome any
setbacks, any adversities, any challenges this week.
We hope they come our way, in all honesty. When
you face adversity it means that you’re learning and
you’re growing. We welcome the challenge, we’re
ready for it. In my mind, right now, we can’t fail.”
Well, adversity came calling later that day. After
falling behind 5-1 at the fifth-end break, Northern
Ontario battled back to force the extra end.
“We’ve got a lot of positives to take away from
that game despite losing. We really hung in there and
battled back quite well,” said Jacobs. “I was awful.
I couldn’t buy a shot in the first half of the game, in
all honesty. It’s good to come back a bit, feel human
again because at the end of the day we all are.”
Northern Ontario has won the draw to the button
for first end last shot in all nine games it has played.
Up until Thursday night’s draw, Jacobs had scored
two in the first end in six of those games and blanked
the first end in the other two before scoring three in
the second end of one and two in the other.
But against Ontario Thursday evening, Jacobs
was forced to draw for one in the first end but his shot Ontario’s Scott McDonald (right) scored a
actually ended up sliding too far and he surrendered huge victory over previously unbeaten Brad
a steal of two. It was the first time at this Brier that
Northern Ontario had trailed. Jacobs (above) of Northern Ontario in the
“We’ve been 8-0 in the Brier before and things evening draw Thursday at the Brier.
haven’t gone our way,” said Jacobs, who has a 37-6
round-robin record at the last four Briers without Northern Ontario and Alberta, Team Canada, skipped
winning the title. “I’m well aware of that. But to be by Brad Gushue, has quietly kept pace. An 8-4 victory
honest with you, we’ve won this bonspiel before over Saskatchewan’s Kirk Muyres (Saskatoon, 4-5)
(2013) and if we win it again, great, and if we don’t, gave Team Canada an 8-1 record. Gushue feels
great, it’s OK.” they’ve been flying a bit under the radar, too, if that’s
Ontario needs to defeat Team Wild Card (7-2) this possible for a team that has won the last two Briers.
afternoon to pull Brendan Bottcher’s Edmonton team “Kevin’s team is playing so well and Brad’s team is
back to his to have any chance at joining the top three. too and I think we’re going a little unnoticed, which is
“We’re hitting our groove. We’ve been playing fine by me,” said Gushue. “Maybe it’s just perception,
pretty well all week and Brad’s been playing but I’m not too worried about it. I know people are still
outstanding and we knew we’d have to really elevate gunning for us because they’re playing well.”
our game,” said McDonald. “We’ve flown under the Gushue has his eyes on a spot in the 1-2 page
radar most of the season. We’ve put a lot of work in playoff game but finishes with games today against
and people might not know who we are, but that’s Jacobs and Bottcher.
cool. It shows people that you don’t have to be a “I put a lot of value on it. We’ve been in it the last
name team to be successful at the Brier.” four years, five years. It gives you two chances to get
Koe scored two in the 10th end to escape with into the final,” said Gushue. “The way it shapes up we
a 6-5 victory over Manitoba and eliminate the probably have to win both to get in the 1-2 game.”
Winnipeg squad skipped by Mike McEwen (4-5). In the evening draw’s other game, Wild Card
While much of the attention has been directed at downed British Columbia’s Jim Cotter (Vernon, 4-5)
8-3.
Any Shape. Any Size.
We’ll Build It For You.
We’ll Build It For You.
TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 6
Ready to take your growing business to the next level?
Ready to take your growing business to the next level?
Quick Zip Steel Buildings can help. With our advanced Butler ®
Quick Zipsystems
building Steel Buildings can help.
and custom With
design our advanced
expertise, Butlerfor
your vision ®
building
growth issystems and custom
only limited Contact
design expertise,
by your imagination. us today.
your vision for
growth is only limited by your imagination. Contact us today.
204-637-2580
www.quickzipsteelbuildings.com
204-637-2580
www.quickzipsteelbuildings.com
2018BlueScope
© 2018 BlueScopeBuildings
BuildingsNorth
North America,
America, Inc.
Inc. AllAll rights
rights reserved.
reserved. Butler
Butler Manufacturing™
Manufacturing™ is a division
is a division of BlueScope
of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc.
Buildings North America, Inc.
© 2018 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing™ is a division of BlueScope
Buildings North America, Inc.
TEAM PROFILE
SPONSORED BY
TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 7
Jim
Cotter
POSITION: Skip
AGE: 44 (October 15, 1974, Kamloops,
B.C.)
FAMILY: Wife Bobbi; Children Jaelyn
(19), Taylor (14), Emerson (12)
OCCUPATION: Health Information systems
programmer/Analyst (Iatric Systems)
British
LIVES: Vernon, B.C.
YEARS CURLED: 37
Steve
Columbia
Laycock
POSITION: Vice-skip
AGE: 36 (October 29, 1982, Yorkton,
Sask.)
FAMILY: Wife Gina; son Owen (6)
VERNON CURLING CLUB OCCUPATION: Compensation manager
(University of Saskatchewan)
HISTORY LIVES: Saskatoon
YEARS CURLED: 27
Tyrel
Griffith
POSITION: Second
AGE: 33 (December 22, 1985, Calgary)
BRITISH COLUMBIA Last championship — Greg FAMILY: Single
AT THE BRIER McAulay (2000) OCCUPATION: Golf Operations
Manager/PGA of Canada Golf
Last five years: Canadian titles — 4 Professional (Black Mountain Golf Club)
2018: Sean Geall (2-6) World titles — 3 (Greg LIVES: Kelowna, B.C.
2017: John Morris (7-4) McAulay 2000, Rick Folk YEARS CURLED: 22
2016: Jim Cotter (3-8) 1994, Lyall Dagg 1964)
2015: Jim Cotter (5-6) Other prominent B.C. male
2014: John Morris (9-2 curlers — Bernie Sparkes, Rick
Silver) Reg Stone Sawatsky
POSITION: Lead
AGE: 43 (February 26, 1976, Sioux
Lookout, Ont.)
FAMILY: Single
OCCUPATION: Meter technician (Tribus
Services)
LIVES: Kelowna, B.C.
YEARS CURLED: 35
Actress Pamela Anderson was born on July 1st, 1967, in ALTERNATE:
Ladysmith, BC, on Vancouver Island. She was the first child Bill MacPhee
born in Canada on the 100th celebration of Canada Day,
and was therefore named Canada’s “Centennial Baby”. COACH:
Kevin Patterson
party at the
TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 8
PAT C H
What’s a PARTY
without
GREAT FOOD?
The menu at the 2019 Brier Patch
Brandon 2019
of od
is sure to satisfy all your cravings!
MARCH 2-10
KEYSTONE CENTRE’S MANITOBA ROOM – WESTOBA PLACE
c
@FAMOUSPATCH #BRIER2019 OFFICIAL SUPPLIER
mu s i fun& s?
g a m e
B B I N G F R A G G L E S
TONIG HT! THE CLU
th e 80’s pop
and
t e r b e l i e v e i t !
t
in g
e
v id
b
ve been p ro 07. Formed
You
ra g g le s h a ll s in c e 2 0
Clubbing F t your good
times ro
s h e d themselv
es as
c k to le e s ta b li
party ro y have
ands in the
area.
n M anitoba the v e r b
in B ra n d o
re party ro c k c o ecome
th e p re m ie a in to d a y and have b ou Don’t miss out on COOL SHOTS — a free-to-play mini
one of
ri g in a l m e mbers rem T h e y p la y the songs y
All three o e ties”. curling game with a daily $50 winners’ prize. The ultimate
a s “ th e g uys with th fun! champion wins $250 and the runner up wins $150.
known u m dance floor
or... try your skills at
m a x im
know for
! B R A D JOHNER R BOYS
W JOHNE
TOMORRO AND THE
Jenga, Connect 4, Jenga Quake Game, SORRY! Sliders, Canadian Trivia,
Battleship, GoSports Giant Dice, Bola Ball or Giant Dominos.
THE PATCH IS OPEN AT 12 NOON DAILY AND IS LOCATED IN THE MANITOBA ROOM IN THE KEYSTONE CENTRE
TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 9
Saskatchewan skip
Kirk Muyres, left, dis-
cusses strategy with
brother Dallan at the
Tim Hortons Brier on
Thursday. Alas, the
Saskatchewan boys
are out of the running
to win the title.
WIN A 2020 TIM HORTONS BRIER EXPERIENCE
• Two Closing Weekend Event Passes • Travel & Accommodations • Special Behind-the-Scenes Tour •
• Two Autographed 2020 Tim Hortons Brier Jackets •
5 FOR
$25 $50 $100 ENTER AT:
10 FOR 20 FOR
For The Love Of Curling.ca
HEADER AND AD IN CLOSE PROXIMITY
TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 10
OFFICIAL BEER OF THE
Original16.com
Enjoy responsibly.
WESTMAN’S
GREATEST COUNTRY WE TAKE CARE OF YOUR INSURANCE
PAU L B RA NDT
NEEDS SO YOU CAN ENJOY THE VIEW
Qcountryfm.ca
www.guildhmsinsurance.ca
Listen.
Anytime.
Anywhere.
S H AW N M E N D E S
TO DAY ’ S The Road To Energy Savings Starts Here
BEST M U S I C
Toll-Free: 877.466.9863
STARFM.CA Phone: 905.646.3892
ARIANA GRANDE
varaxis.caTANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 11
TEAM PROFILE
Mike
McEwen
POSITION: Skip
AGE: 38 (July 30, 1980, Brandon, Man.)
FAMILY: Wife Dawn; daughter Vienna
(3)
OCCUPATION: Sales representative
(Hardline Curling)
LIVES: Winnipeg
YEARS CURLED: 28
Manitoba
Reid
Carruthers
POSITION: Vice-skip
AGE: 34 (December 30, 1984,
WEST ST. PAUL CURLING CLUB Winnipeg)
FAMILY: Wife Jodi
OCCUPATION: Substitute teacher
HISTORY (Louis Riel School Division)
LIVES: Winnipeg
YEARS CURLED: 21
Derek
Samagalski
POSITION: Second
MANITOBA Stoughton (2011) AGE: 34 (September 9, 1984,
Winnipeg)
AT THE BRIER Canadian titles — 28 FAMILY: Fiancée Selena; daughter
Last five years: World titles — 6 (Don Duguid Dekkar (4 months)
2018: Reid Carruthers (5-6) 1970-71, Orest Meleschuk OCCUPATION: Curler
2017: Mike McEwen (9-2 1972, Kerry Burtnyk 1995, Jeff LIVES: Brandon, Man.
Bronze) Stoughton 1996, 2011) YEARS CURLED: 27
2016: Mike McEwen (8-3) Other prominent male curl-
2015: Reid Carruthers (4-7)
2014: Jeff Stoughton (9-2)
ers from Manitoba — Gord
Hudson, Ken Watson, Pappy
Colin
Last championship — Jeff Wood, Vic Peters Hodgson
POSITION: Lead
AGE: 28 (June 8, 1990, Edmonton)
FAMILY: Single
OCCUPATION: Director of operations/
owner (Dynasty Curling Ltd.)
LIVES: Winnipeg
YEARS CURLED: 25
Folklorama, held in Winnipeg each August, is the
world’s largest and longest running multicultural festi- ALTERNATE:
val featuring over 40 cultural pavilions. Matt Wozniak
COACH:
Rob MeakinTANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 12
Back where it
all happened
Brandon special to Meakin
2019 Tim Hortons Brier presented by AGI.
By GRANT GRANGER “It certainly does,” said Meakin, who
Tankard Times Writer coaches the Manitoba champions of skip Mike
McEwen, vice-skip Reid Carruthers, second
As soon as Rob Meakin steps from behind the Derek Samagalski (a Brandon resident), lead
curtain and into the bowl at Westoba Place he hears Colin Hodgson and alternate Matt Wozniak. “Just
the cheers. walking in here, the memories from ’95, it’s quite a
It doesn’t matter the clapping and the shouting while ago, but yeah, it’s special.
was 24 years ago and the only sound is the echo “They day we won (April 16, 1995), my
of rocks being thrown during practice. That’s daughter turned five that day. I feel old when I say
because it’s where he and the rest of his Winnipeg it that way.”
teammates, skipped by Kerry Burtynk, reached After winning the Brier in Halifax that year,
the pinnacle of their sport and won the world. many expressed their sympathies to the Winnipeg
The moments don’t get any better than that for an team that they would only be making a two-
athlete, and Meakin is back where it all happened hour zip down Highway 1 and get to fly to some
with the goal of the Manitoba team he coaches exotic locale in the mountainsnot of Europe. But
Rob Meakin has very special memories of Brandon. getting a similar exhilarating experience on the being at home, so to speak, made it an even more
same ice as he did on Sunday in the final of the exceptional experience.
THE TOP
LOCAL TEAM
AT THE LEARN BY
DOING
CHRIS JASTER
at Assiniboine
THOMAS FRIESEN 48K
$
AVERAGE FIRST-YEAR
GRAD $ALARY
93%
OF GRADS
$ $ $ HAVE JOBS
CATCH THEIR COVERAGE
EVERY DAY IN 91%
WOULD RECCOMEND
ASSINIBOINE
91%
OF GRADS CHOOSE
MANITOBA
PROUD MEDIA PARTNER
TIM SMITH assiniboine.netTANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 13
Meakin “I jumped. I was a little more nimble
then. It was exciting.”
So now the challenge for his charges is
to do the same.
FROM Page 12
“I think we’re going to stay pretty
“It was incredible to have all the fans loose and enjoy the moment. You’ve got to
cheering for us. They say, ‘oh, you played at remember to have some fun and enjoy it and
home in the worlds.’ And I said, ‘yeah, and take a look around. They’ll be focused for the
I’m glad we did,’ versus going to Europe or games. We’ve come to this to try and win,”
somewhere else. It was just special to be in said Meakin.
our home province.” Adding McEwen to the team this season
The team was special all that week, not to give it two strong skips has meant an
just that day. They rolled through the round experimental stage with him and Carruthers
robin 9-0, took out Tim Somerville of the switching skipping and rock-throwing roles
United States 10-7 in the semifinals and then back and forth. Meakin thinks they’ve found
defeated Scotland’s Gordon Muirhead (yes, the right composition.
that’s Eve’s dad), 4-2 in the final. “It’s settled. But that was on purpose
The support Burtnyk, third Jeff Ryan, we did that. We wanted to explore every
lead Keith Fenton and Meakin received that combination we could to see what gave us
week — and for another Winnipeg team the best chance, and hats off to the guys for
skipped by Connie Laliberte who won a silver doing that. Now they’re embracing their
at the event when both genders competed for roles, and they have each other’s backs,” said
the world titles at the same event — was off Meakin.
the charts. It was different in ’95. They knew their
“You’re so focused in on what you’re roles and there was no question Burtnyk was
doing, the noise and stuff, that you’re the boss. But there was another chemistry the
not really hearing it the same way. I just two teams do share.
remember how loud it was when Kerry “We were really good friends, and did
made the double on his last shot. It was just things together in the off-season, and that’s
deafening,” said the 54-year-old Meakin the same with these guys,” said Meakin.
before laughing when asked what he did at
the end.
STORAGE NEAR YOU
4 WEEKS FREE!
*based on availability
Rent Today:
1-877-217-8673
accessstorage.caT:5.13”
TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 14
Manitoba, there are over OFFICIAL PARTNER
chameleon reasons to join us.
Like how you can call from the cabin. Or send emojis from deep in the trees. Actually, we
can’t even count all the amazing things you can do when you’re on Manitoba’s largest and
fastest LTE network. But it’s a lot.
Join TELUS today or visit telus.com/network to learn more.
T:5.55” LiquorMarts.ca
© 2019 TELUS.
TRLGH5654_NetworkPrints_TankardTimes_5_13x5_55_EN_vf.indd 1 2019-01-22 1:47 PM
elus vf TRLGH5654_NetworkPrints_TankardTimes_5_13x5_55_EN_vf.indd Created 1-22-2019 1:47 PM
aron D Creative None Producer Marietta S Mac Artist Shebby L
.13" W x 5.55" H Mech Trim 5.13" W x 5.55" H Mech Safety 5.13" W x 5.55" H Printed @ None
.13" x 5.55" Insertion Date(s) None Ad # None 倀爀漀甀搀
one
Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black
猀瀀漀渀猀漀爀 漀昀 琀栀攀
019 Tankard TImes 吀椀洀 䠀漀爀琀漀渀ᤠ猀
as process match unless indicated otherwise. Please check before use. In spite of our careful checking, errors infrequently occur and we request that you check this proof for accuracy. The&Partnership’s liability is limited
ting the disc from which this proof was generated. We cannot be responsible for your time, film, proofs, stock, or printing loss due to error. 䈀爀椀攀爀
APPROVAL
e Team Proofreader Producer Studio Client/Account Manager
圀䔀䔀䬀一䤀䜀䠀吀匀 㘀
眀椀渀渀椀瀀攀最⸀挀琀瘀渀攀眀猀⸀挀愀
䴀䄀刀䄀䰀䔀䔀 䌀䄀刀唀匀伀 䄀一䐀 䜀伀刀䐀 䰀䔀䌀䰀䔀刀䌀HIRED GUN
TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 15
Cotter brings
curling talents
to west coast
« GRANT
GRANGER
S teve Laycock is the latest hired gun from
the prairies to join Jim Cotter in targeting a
Brier title.
This is Cotter’s eighth time tracking a Tan-
kard title from British Columbia’s Okanagan
Valley. (Welcome back, Cotter!) Over the years
the 44-year-old from Vernon has had a variety
of thirds from B.C., most notably Bob Ursel,
Kevin Folk and Ryan Kuhn. The constants have
been, for the most part, second Tyrel Griffith
and lead Rick Sawatzky.
A few years back he imported Jason Gunn-
laugson from Winnipeg in search of not only
winning a Brier but also becoming Canada’s
Olympic team. But they didn’t even make it
out of the 2013 provincial championship. Then
it was the talented but mercurial John Morris.
The marriage, to a large extent, was success-
ful making it all the way to the Tim Hortons
Olympic trials final in 2013 and the 2014 Brier
“
final. Morris returned in 2017 for another crack B.C. skip Jim Cotter (left) and his new recruit at third, Steve Laycock of Saskatoon.
at the Olympics. Same result, though. A trip to
the Brier and a swing and a miss at an Olympic and play really good, make a ton of shots and
berth. hopefully put yourself in a position [to win the
Brier]. Also it gives you a chance to play the best
This year Laycock called Cotter after his
Saskatchewan squad split. So far it’s paid off for teams in the world which is a lot of fun, too.” I’ve always
both of them reaching the 2019 Tim Hortons Cotter’s crew was reaching out to a couple of
other thirds in B.C., including trying to con- played
Brier presented by AGI allowing Cotter a ninth
crack at hoisting the tankard. He’s in the Cham- vince their third for the last two seasons, Ryan competitive
sports all
pionship Round, and the title is within sight. Kuhn, not to retire when Laycock called.
“I’m not getting any younger that’s for sure,” “I had a lot of respect for them, and they
admitted Cotter about why he keeps chasing were guys I had gotten along with very well
on the tour over the years, and then when the
my life, so
curling glory. “It’s just that long-time dream
of trying to put yourself in a position to win a opportunity came up and of all the stuff I was that side
Brier, but that obviously hasn’t happened.
“I’ve always played competitive sports all my
considering this was the one that appealed to
me the most,” said Laycock. of it keeps
life, so that side of it keeps me coming back. me coming
And you’re at the Brier! This is awesome! To be
able to say we’ve won as many purple hearts as
See B.C. back.
we have is special. You just want to come out Page 16 — Jim CotterTANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 16
B.C.
FROM PAGE 15
THE WORLD OF WORK IS CHANGING. “I knew the talent was there, that more traditional route.”
WE NEED OUR YOUTH we were at the same place in our ca-
reers. With the experience we have
Cotter’s enjoying being the boss
and throwing the last brick again.
TO SUCCEED. it wouldn’t take a whole start over in
teaching to curl kind of thing, and
“Sometimes you have a feel for
what you want to throw, where
that wasn’t something I wanted to they might be thinking one thing
sign up for at this point. I knew it and I might be thinking another
Despite their drive, determination and capability, Canada’s youth will soon was a team with a chance of some thing just off a feel perspective.
find it increasingly difficult to navigate and succeed in an ever-evolving instant success.” It’s worked really well in the past.
job market. Along with our youth-focused partners, RBC® is focusing our Both Cotter and Laycock have Obviously John [Morris] is an un-
capabilities, assets and resources to ensure youth have greater access been through a cornucopia of com- believable player and I trusted in
to skills development, networking opportunities and work experience.
binations between skipping, throw- what he had to say. I just wanted to
ing third or fourth rocks, and sweep- try it again, plus now I don’t have
Because when Canada’s youth succeed, we all succeed.
ing. They settled on Cotter calling to sweep. I’m getting old, let the
RBC Future Launch. Empowering Canadian youth the game and throwing last rocks young guys sweep.”
with Laycock throwing third and Speaking of young guys, Cot-
for the jobs of tomorrow.
sweeping for the shots by Sawatzky ter admits he’s got his eyes on some
and Griffiths. spectacularly good young guns,
“Definitely Steve’s more than specifically two-time world champi-
RBC FUTURE LAUNCH ™
capable of skipping this team. With onship skip Tyler Tardi and his older
RBC.COM/FUTURELAUNCH him he really wanted to sweep more brother Jordan.
because of the mixed doubles [with “I’m sure we’ll stick together.
Kristen Streifel], so that worked out We’ve never really talked about that,
SKILLS
DEVELOPMENT NETWORKING
WORK
EXPERIENCE
well. you never know. Maybe the Tardis
®/TM
Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada.
119508 (01/2019)
“I sort of wanted to try and get will want to pick up the old guy,”
back into the skipping and go the joked Cotter.
VPS103600
welcomes you to
southwestern Manitoba and
the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier
PROUD SPONSORS OF
THE 2019 TIM HORTONS BRIER
PROUD SPONSORS OF Contact: 204.945.3709 | pccaucus@leg.gov.mb.ca
THE 2019 TIM HORTONS BRIERTANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 17
Fans come
They’re
from all
over to
CRAZY
watch the
Tim Hortons
Brier
in person.
about the Brier!
«DAVE
KOMOSKY
T
hey come from places like Sioux Lookout,
Balzac and Lemberg.
The curlers may be on the TV
screens all across the country, but the real faces
of the Tim Hortons Brier are the fans — Canadi-
ans from all walks of life with a common bond:
the need to watch big pieces of granite slide up
and down a sheet of ice, all while holding a cold
one or a flag in their hands.
to parts of the country they would never other-
wise see, thus understanding and appreciating
the rest of the country.
The nature of the Brier has remained
the same for decades. Saskatchewan people
will always travel to watch whatever farming
brothers are representing the province. New-
foundlanders will always make everyone drink
Screech or kiss a fish. Albertans will wear their
same thing. For people who love curling, it’s
the ultimate vacation.
The Brier also offers a chance to meet
new friends and visit with old ones in the Brier
Patch.
Some are hooked on the experience.
The Brier is unique because it brings
thousands of Canadians from disparate parts of
the country, often from different walks of life,
Curling is the quintessenial Canadian big belt buckles and boast or complain about and unites them in lasting friendship.
game: anyone can play it and there’s a big the price of oil.
party afterward. And the Brier could be the Whether it’s their first Brier or 27th, they See FANS
quintessential Canadian sporting event. It an- all agree there’s no show quite like the Brier.
nually causes thousands of Canadians to travel Talk to any of them and they’ll say the Page 18TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 18
Fans
FROM PAGE 17
For many, the social aspects of the Brier are
what the event is all about. It was what hooked them
on the game in the first place. And you can find them,
day after day, in the Brier Patch, the heartbeat of the
event.
Some of them can’t help coming. The Brier
makes them do it. Tell them they can stay at home
and watch it all on TV and they’ll agree. Tell them
flights are expensive or the drive across the country is
long, and they’ll nod in agreement.
But tell them to pass on the Canadian men’s
curling championship? Sorry. They won’t go for that.
They are some of the event’s most faithful followers.
The old impulses kick in. They gotta go.
That’s the way it is for Cheryl-Ann Shaw from
Gainsborough, Sask. She’s been to six Briers and
says she’ll keep coming.
“We love curling and we love coming to the
Brier,” said Shaw, who was enjoying the hospital-
ity of the Brier Patch with a bunch of friends from
Saskatchewan. “ We mingle. We’re happy here. You
meet a lot of friends. That’s the only time you meet
them at curling functions.”
Shaw will party it up at the Brier, take all it has
to offer, and head for home to watch the final on TV.
Then there’s Brenda Crowe who came all the
way from Okotoks, Alta., to come back to her former
home of Brandon.
“We’re here to see all of our friends,” she said.
“And the quality of the curling. It’s the best.” Cheryl-Ann Shaw (second from right) with her happy bunch of Saskatchewan fans here for the Brier.
Can
®
13139-CI-TimHortonsbrier [TankardTimes 5.13x2.71]Jan2019-FNL-Paths.indd 2 2019-01-08 4:42 PMTANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 19
Proud Sponsor of the 2019 Tim Hor tons Brier
We Play Where You Play. F AN
r isiser
draa
Fund er
Fun
SATURDAY MARCH 9
Held during the third end break
of the 7pm game.
All proceeds will support youth curling
programs across Canada
Great from
the get go
Get great RRSP rates
and enter to win.
Contribute to a registered plan and you are automatically
entered to win one of two prizes; a $500 WestJet Travel Card or
a $1,000 Fusion Term Deposit.
For full contest details visit:
Start strong with Fusion. fusioncu.comCount ’em up, that’s seven!
In his curling career, Brad Gushue has been a trend-setter,
BRIER
a jet-setter and a record-setter. On Wednesday night it was the
latter as his Team Canada squad scored a converted touch-
down in the first end of their final preliminary pool game
against Nunavut’s David St. Louis won by Team Canada 11-
2. That tied a Brier record held by several others, mostly dur-
ing the early days of Canada’s men’s curling championship.
NOTEBOOK BRAD
GUSHUE
But it was also done at last year’s Brier in Regina by New
Brunswick’s James Grattan against Sean Geall of British Men’s Curling Championship, presented by Service Experts
Columbia. It came in the fifth end of a seeding round game Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing in Lethbridge, Alta.,
for the teams that didn’t make the Championship Pool, which March 30 to April 7. And they know the Brier champ will
was ditched this year. B.C. played that game, won by New be Team Canada at the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier in Kingston,
Brunswick 12-5, with three players because lead David Ont., Feb. 29 to March 8. But there are a few other perks, too,
Harper and third Jeff Richard returned home to be with their both on the ice and in their bank accounts.
wives who were due to give birth. Alternate Brad Wood, who The Brier champion also gets a spot on the North
is B.C.’s fifth player this year as well, played with Geall and American team at the 2020 World Financial Group Conti-
second Andrew Nerpin in that game. nental Cup. The dates and locations for the cup have yet to
The previous seven-ender was at the 2000 Brier in Sas- be announced.
katoon when Prince Edward Island’s Eddie Robinson got a The champion will receive $70,000 and, like all the teams
steal of seven against Shawn Adams of Nova Scotia. That in the Championship Pool and page playoffs do, an additional
is the only steal of seven in Brier history. You have to go $2,000 for each win during the Championship Pool and page
back another half century to find the previous Brier seven- playoff round from the Curling Canada Athlete Assistance
ender. It came in 1950 in Vancouver when Manitoba’s Bill Fund. The rest of the prize pool has the runner-up getting
McTavish inflicted seven on Jim Vance of New Brunswick. $50,000, third place $30,000 and fourth $18,000.
Prior to that, seven enders had occurred at the 1928, 1931, The winner will also receive Sport Canada funding of
1936 and 1947 Briers. reach-
$1,765 per month for two years and $20,000 for the crest- ing the Championship
n n ing on their Canada uniforms in Lethbridge. Pool and finishing fifth to eighth pick up $5,250 per team
Of course most curling fans know this weekend’s winner Tim Hortons also purchased cresting for the Brier uni-
gets to represent Canada at the 2019 Pioneer Hi-Bred World while the rest get $2,625 per team.
forms with the page playoff teams getting $10,500. ThoseTANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 21
Making bad days good.
And good days better.®
caamanitoba.com Visit us at our booth on March 8th and 9th, 2019.
®CAA trademarks owned by, and use is authorized by, the Canadian Automobile Association. Making bad days good. And good
days better. is a registered trademark of CAA Club Group. ©2019 CAA Club Group.
Kevin Martin (right) with his old coach Jules Owchar.
KEVIN MARTIN
Kevin Martin? A wild child? A guy who once had a head of hair that
made the Beatles’ mop tops look like brushcuts? Who knew?
Apparently it’s true, though.
We know this because of his longtime coach, Jules Owchar, who
played Tonto to Martin’s Lone Ranger for three decades.
“You couldn’t miss him because he had this great mop of blonde
hair,” Owchar once said of the young Martin who showed up one
day and asked to join the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
curling team. “He was a little wild back then. He liked to party. I re-
member his dad saying, ‘Whew, I’m glad you’ve got him so you can
do something with him.’ ”
Over time, Martin’s wild streak and his hair vanished, but the Alberta skip’s
passion for the game never waned, whether battling foes on the pebble or
the establishment in the boardroom.
Oh, there’s one more thing: Silver-haired old ladies fancied the Old Bear.
“Grandmas love him,” Owchar said. “When we do an autograph
signing, every grandma within 65 miles wants a picture.”
So picture this: Olympic champion, world champion, Brier champi-
on, World Curling Hall of Fame member. Talk about a big hairy deal.
Thanks to our Friends!TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 22
Canadians in playoffs Brier
Memories
at Universiade
Canada’s Kristen Streifel has their own in nine and ten to force Rick Folk
clinched a spot in the women’s
playoff round and Karsten Sturmay
an extra end, but when Italian skip
Stefania Constantini’s final draw slid Saskatchewan/B.C.
is closing in on a berth in the men’s too far, Streifel did not have to throw
playoffs as the round robin nears her last rock and Canada took a I have all sorts of wonderful Brier
completion at the 2019 Winter Uni- single for the 7-6 win. memories. First time I stepped on the ice
versiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. The Canadian women will play at the Brier, 1978 at Vancouver, was one of
On Thursday morning, Streifel their final game of the round robin them. What an awesome feeling that was.
and her team of vice-skip Danielle on Friday against South Korea’s To finally put on a Saskatchewan sweater
Schmiemann, second Selena Stur- Minji Kim. and walk in with curling equipment on for
may, lead Jesse Iles, alternate Paige The men’s playoff picture is still
Papley and coach Garry Coderre up in the air, but despite a loss on the first time, it was the dream come true.
won a nail-biter against Russia’s Thursday, Sturmay is still in the Then you win it for the first time, like we did
Maria Komarova with a steal of one in mix. He and his University of Al- in 1980, to finally step on the top podium in
the tenth for a 9-8 victory in front of a berta team of third Tristan Steinke, Calgary in 1980. Then to move to B.C. and
loud, pro-Russia crowd. second Chris Kennedy, lead Glenn go to the Brier in my hometown of Saskatoon,
“It was a huge day for us and re- Venance and coach Rob Krepps to stepping on the ice to wear a non-
ally exciting,” said Streifel after the lost 10-3 to Czech Republic’s Saskatchewan sweater. But it was Red Deer
win. “We knew this morning’s game Jaroslav Vedral and now join three in ‘94. That was the most emotional. First of
against Russia would have lots of other teams with 4-3 records vying
all I beat Russ Howard in the final after he
energy and we turned that loud for qualifying positions behind first-
noise into positive energy for us.” place United Kingdom and Sweden. beat me the year before. But my father was
In that evening game, Canada The Canadian men will know in ill health. It was special for him. As it turned
had the edge after a steal of two how they fit into the playoff scenario out, he passed away between the Brier and
in the seventh put them ahead after their final two games of the world championships. So that will always be
6-3. Italy responded with steals of round robin. the one for me.” RICK FOLK
Proud supporter
of the Autograph
Sessions.
Visit us outside the Patch!
Maureen Bonar will be onsite
breaking down the Brier!
Official Supporter of the
2019 Tim Hortons Brier.
12950-MBH-BrandonBrierAd [2.5x5.5] Dec2018-FNL.indd 32019-01-07 3:51 PMTANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 23
There’s something
about having a cold
one and watching the
Tim Hortons Brier.
These lovely ladies
were enjoying
themselves Thursday
at the Brier, toast-
ing each other at the
same time.
EDITOR
Dave Komosky
PHOTOGRAPHER
Mike Burns, Jr.
cinderella
stories
are Built in
HOUSE
specialfeature
$
1500
WRITERS GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Grant Granger Corinne Ball
John Korobanik
Celebrating upset victories, including
the ‘giant-killing’ Brandon College Caps
from 1965, with skip Gary Lumbard, Ron Sliders & Curl-y Fries
FREE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Westcott as third, Al Dahl as second and Home blend beef patties topped with roasted
lead John Adamski. garlic, red pepper relish, cheese, lettuce and
onion tangelers. Served with curly fries.
Available for a limited time only.
WWW.SANDHILLSCASINO.COM
10 MIN SOUTH OF CARBERRY ON HWY 5TANKARD TIMES • March 8 • 2019 | PAGE 24
BRIER SCOREBOARD
LINESCORES
CHAMPIONSHIP POOL
STANDINGS
Draw 15
2 a.m.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total
Sask. (Muyres) 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 4
CHAMPIONSHIP POOL Ontario (McDonald) *0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 — 7
W L
Alberta (Koe) 9 0 Alberta (Koe) *0 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 — 7
Canada (Gushue) 8 1 Wild Card (Bottcher) 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 — 6
N. Ontario (Jacobs) 8 1 N. Ontario (Jacobs) *2 0 5 0 2 0 2 0 x x — 11
WC (Bottcher) 7 2 BC (Cotter) 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 x x — 5
Ontario (McDonald) 6 3 Canada (Gushue) *1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 2 x — 6
Manitoba (McEwen) 4 5 Manitoba (McEwen) 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 x — 3
BC (Cotter) 4 5 Draw 16
Sask. (Muyres) 4 5
7 p.m.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Total
SCHEDULE
Manitoba (McEwen) *1 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 — 5
Alberta (K. Koe) 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 2 — 6
TODAY Ontario (McDonald) 2 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 — 7
2 p.m. Draw N. Ontario (Jacobs) *0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 2 0 — 6
A — NO vs. CA; B — BC vs MB; C — ON vs. WC; D — AB vs. SK
7 p.m. Draw Canada (Gushue) 0 2 0 1 0 1 2 0 1 x — 8
Sask. (Muyres) *1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 x — 4
A — BC vs. SK; B — WC vs. CA; C — AB vs. NO; D — MB vs. ON
Wild Card (Bottcher) *1 0 0 2 3 0 2 0 x x — 8
BC (Cotter) 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 x x — 3 B.C. skip Jim Cotter hops to it in the house.
CIMCO Refrigeration
welcomes all
participants and fans
to the...
www.cimcorefrigeration.com
HERITAGECO-OP.CRSYou can also read
