A stacked lineup of teams are set to clash at the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier with the first draw of the main event set for Saturday afternoon at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary.
With a coast-to-coast field filled with former Brier winners, world champs and Olympic gold medallists, let’s break down the teams looking to be crowned the national champion.
Team Newfoundland and Labrador
Lineup: Brad Gushue (skip), Mark Nichols (third), Brett Gallant (second) and Geoff Walker (lead)
Hometown: St. John’s, N.L.
It’s no surprise seeing Gushue representing The Rock once again. Gushue won his 12th career Newfoundland and Labrador Tankard title in February after sweeping the best-of-five series against Gary Wensman.
The key for Gushue this season has been reuniting with 2006 Olympic championship teammate Nichols. The results have been golden on the World Curling Tour this season as they’ve captured both the Masters and Canadian Open Grand Slam titles. While they haven’t been totally dominant — they were on the brink of elimination during the Canadian Open triple knockout bracket before winning it all –- they have managed to pull through with key victories in the clutch.
Gushue should work his way into the playoff picture and has a great chance to finally win his first Brier title.
Team New Brunswick
Lineup: Jeremy Mallais (skip), Zach Eldridge (third), Chris Jeffrey (second) and Jared Bezanson (lead)
Hometown: Saint John, N.B.
Mallais edged 11-time New Brunswick champ James Grattan to make his first Brier appearance. His team hasn’t been as active as the other Brier rinks on tour but their upset potential could be the wrench in other teams’ plans.
Team Quebec
Lineup: Jean-Michel Menard (skip), Martin Crete (third), Eric Sylvain (second) and Philippe Menard (lead)
Hometown: Saint-Romuald, Que.
Another team not quite as busy on tour but unlike Mallais, we know what to expect from Menard. The 2006 Brier champion qualified for the playoffs a year ago and took Team Alberta into an extra end during the semifinal but came up short. They should continue to put up a fight in this round.
Team Ontario
Lineup: Mark Kean (skip), Mathew Camm (third), David Mathers (second) and Scott Howard (lead)
Hometown: Fenelon Falls, Ont.
Howard is no stranger to this event as a spectator as his father Glenn has played in 15 Brier tournaments. Scott Howard and his teammates will make their Brier debut following a strong run through the Ontario Tankard.
Team Kean is a young rink but they already have a number of years of experience on tour under their belts. Mathers and Howard won the 2012 Players’ Championship Grand Slam title while playing for John Epping.
Team Northern Ontario
Lineup: Brad Jacobs (skip), Ryan Fry (third), E.J. Harnden (second) and Ryan Harnden (lead)
Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
The 2013 Brier champs return after missing out on defending their title last year (they were kind of busy winning the Olympic gold medal at the Sochi Games).
Their incredible run and hard work over the past few seasons also include three trips to the final at Grand Slam events, a runner-up finish at the Canada Cup and taking home the most recent Pinty’s All-Star Curling Skins Game title.
Like Team Gushue, they should be a lock for the playoffs and if they’re on a roll, watch out.
Team Manitoba
Lineup: Reid Carruthers (skip), Braeden Moskowy (third), Derek Samagalski (second) and Colin Hodgson (lead)
Hometown: West St. Paul, Man.
Team Carruthers booked its Brier spot after shocking Mike McEwen’s top-ranked rink in the Safeway Championship final. Carruthers now looks to make it a Manitoba double after Jennifer Jones captured the Scotties Tournament of Hearts this past Sunday.
This isn’t Carruthers’ first rodeo as he spent the previous four seasons on Jeff Stoughton’s team making three trips to the national tournament and winning the Brier and world titles in 2011.
Carruthers and co. have put in the work on tour qualifying for the playoffs at both Grand Slam events they’ve competed in this season. They also defeated Team Jacobs to win the Stu Sells Toronto Tankard in October. Team Manitoba could slip under the radar and slide their way into a playoff spot.
Team Saskatchewan
Lineup: Steve Laycock (skip), Kirk Muyres (third), Colton Flasch (second) and Dallan Muyres (lead)
Hometown: Saskatoon
Team Laycock is hitting its stride this season picking up a pair of World Curling Tour titles and qualifying for the playoffs at all three Grand Slam events including a trip to the final at the Canadian Open.
They finished just on the outside of the playoffs at the Brier a year ago and the momentum swing this season could help them get into the top four.
Team Alberta
Lineup: Kevin Koe (skip), Marc Kennedy (third), Brent Laing (second) and Ben Hebert (lead)
Hometown: Calgary
Koe captured the Brier a year ago but gave up the guaranteed Team Canada berth to form a new rink. Nevertheless, Koe claimed his spot in the Brier winning the Boston Pizza Cup for a fourth time in his career.
The foursome have won just about everything in curling. Kennedy and Hebert earned the 2010 Olympic gold medal, a world championship and two Brier titles on Kevin Martin’s rink while Laing grabbed a pair of Brier and world titles with Glenn Howard. The four also combine for 36 Grand Slam titles.
They’ve heated up lately reaching the semifinals at the Canadian Open (falling to eventual champ Gushue) and running the table at the Alberta provincials. They should figure into the playoff picture.
Team B.C.
Lineup: Jim Cotter (skip), Ryan Kuhn (third), Tyrel Griffith (second) and Rick Sawatsky (lead)
Hometown: Vernon/Kelowna, B.C.
Can last year’s Brier runner-up be considered an underdog? It seems to be the case for Cotter’s team although they’re missing John Morris, who threw third stones for the team the previous season.
Cotter has put together a solid run of late reaching the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open and grinding through the B.C. provincials to make his fifth Brier appearance. Like Team Manitoba, they’re capable of getting those necessary wins and could qualify for the playoffs.
Team Northwest Territories
Lineup: Jamie Koe (skip), Mark Whitehead (third), Brad Chorostkowski (second) and Robert Borden (lead)
Hometown: Yellowknife
Koe is a staple of the event making his ninth career (and seventh straight) Brier appearance. Koe can hang with the best, qualifying for the playoffs in 2012, but could be in tough among this year’s field.
Team Canada
Lineup: John Morris (skip), Pat Simmons (third), Carter Rycroft (second) and Nolan Thiessen (lead)
Hometown: Calgary
The first rink to return to the Brier as Team Canada brought aboard Morris, a 2010 Olympic gold medallist, to help guide the way.
They’ll be the first to admit the results this season haven’t met their expectations (Thiessen gave his team a D- grade in his mid-season report card) but they should rise to the occasion not only competing in their hometown but also getting the chance to wear the red and white and defend their title.
Pre-qualifier spot
If you’re reading this it’s too late (sort of). The pre-qualifier round is already underway between P.E.I., Nova Scotia and Yukon to determine the 12th spot in the Brier.
Team P.E.I. (Adam Casey, Josh Barry, Anson Carmody and Robbie Doherty) should jump out of the gate and into the main draw as 3/4 of the team competed in the Brier a year ago playing for three different provinces and the all-new rink has clicked together on tour playing a demanding schedule, including a pair of Grand Slam events.