- Tim Hortons Brier
-
The Tim Hortons Brier, or simply (and more commonly) the Brier, is the annual Canadian men's curling championship, sanctioned by the Canadian Curling Association (CCA). The current event name refers to its main sponsor, the Tim Hortons coffee and doughnut shop chain.
The Brier has been held since 1927, traditionally during the month of March. The winner of the Brier goes on to compete as Team Canada at the World Championships of the same year. The Brier is regarded by most curlers as the world's premier curling championship. Many Canadian teams feel it is more of a privilege to win the Brier than the World Championship.[citation needed] The Brier is by far the best supported curling competition in terms of paid attendance, attracting crowds far larger than even those for World Championships held in Canada.
For the first fifty years, the Brier was sponsored by Macdonald Tobacco (later RJR Tobacco Company and now part of JTI-Macdonald Corporation). The name "Brier", in fact, came from a brand of tobacco being manufactured by Macdonald at the time (a brier being a small shrub whose roots are commonly used to make tobacco pipes ).[1] Macdonald was also responsible for introducing both the Brier Tankard (originally named the British Consols Trophy after a brand of cigarettes), and the now famous heart-shaped patches awarded to the tournament winners. The patches were modeled after a small tin heart pressed into the centre of Macdonald tobacco plugs, along with the slogan “The Heart of the Tobacco.” The same heart appeared on tins of Macdonald pipe tobacco. Later, when other national championships were developed, many took the heart as their identifying symbol as well.[2]
Labatt became the title sponsor of the Brier in 1980, and remained so until 2000. Nokia Canada was the title sponsor from 2001 to 2004. On September 10, 2004, the CCA announced that Tim Hortons would be the new title sponsor, beginning with the 2005 Tim Hortons Brier in Edmonton, Alberta. Since that time, Monsanto has also been an important sponsor.[3]
Contents
Qualification and eligibility
The Brier is currently contested by 12 teams: most provinces are represented by one team while Ontario sends two teams (Ontario and Northern Ontario). The territories send one team. Teams qualify for the Brier through their respective provincial championships, which are held every year and are open to any Canadian men's curling team consisting of Canadian citizens. The formats for these championships vary from province to province but most entail a series of club, municipal, district and/or regional playdowns prior to the provincial championship.
Unlike the Canadian women's championship the defending champions do not automatically qualify for the Brier and must re-enter their provincial championship. Most provincial associations now automatically qualify their respective champions for the provincial championship, but until recently that was often not the case.
Winners
Macdonald Brier
Brier Winning province Winning team Host 1927
Nova ScotiaMurray Macneill, Al MacInnes, Cliff Torey, Jim Donahoe Toronto 1928
ManitobaGordon Hudson, Sam Penwarden, Ron Singbush, Bill Grant Toronto 1929
ManitobaGordon Hudson, Don Rollo, Ron Singbusch, Bill Grant Toronto 1930
ManitobaHoward Wood, Sr., Jimmy Congalton, Victor Wood, Lionel Wood Toronto 1931
ManitobaBob Gourlay, Ernie Pollard, Arnold Lockerbie, Ray Stewart Toronto 1932
ManitobaJimmy Congalton, Howard Wood, Sr., Bill Noble, Harry Mawhinney Toronto 1933
AlbertaCliff Manahan, Harold Deeton, Harold Wolfe, Bert Ross Toronto 1934
ManitobaLeo Johnson, Lorne Stewart, Linc Johnson, Marno Frederickson Toronto 1935
OntarioGordon Campbell, Don Campbell, Gord Coates, Duncan Campbell Toronto 1936
ManitobaKen Watson, Grant Watson, Marvin MacIntyre, Charles Kerr Toronto 1937
AlbertaCliff Manahan, Wes Robinson, Ross Manahan, Lloyd McIntyre Toronto 1938
ManitobaAb Gowanlock, Bung Cartwell, Bill McKnight, Tom McKnight Toronto 1939
OntarioBert Hall, Perry Hall, Ernie Parkes, Cam Seagram Toronto 1940
ManitobaHoward Wood, Sr., Ernie Pollard, Howie Wood, Jr., Roy Enman Winnipeg 1941
AlbertaHoward Palmer, Jack Lebeau, Art Gooder, Clare Webb Toronto 1942
ManitobaKen Watson, Grant Watson, Charlie Scrymgeour, Jim Grant Quebec City 1943 Cancelled due to World War II 1944 Cancelled due to World War II 1945 Cancelled due to World War II 1946
AlbertaBilly Rose, Bart Swelin, Austin Smith, George Crooks Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 1947
ManitobaJimmy Welsh, Alex Welsh, Jack Reid, Harry Monk Saint John, New Brunswick 1948
British ColumbiaFrenchy D'Amour, Bob McGhie, Fred Wendell, Jim Mark Calgary 1949
ManitobaKen Watson, Grant Watson, Lyle Dyker, Charles Read Hamilton, Ontario 1950
Northern OntarioTom Ramsay, Len Williamson, Bill Weston, Billy Kenny Vancouver 1951
Nova ScotiaDon Oyler, George Hanson, Fred Dyke, Wally Knock Halifax, Nova Scotia 1952
ManitobaBilly Walsh, Al Langlois, Andy McWilliams, John Watson Winnipeg 1953
ManitobaAb Gowanlock, Jim Williams, Art Pollon, Russ Jackman Sudbury, Ontario 1954
AlbertaMatt Baldwin, Glenn Gray, Pete Ferry, Jim Collins Edmonton 1955
SaskatchewanGarnet Campbell, Don Campbell, Glenn Campbell, Lloyd Campbell Regina, Saskatchewan 1956
ManitobaBilly Walsh, Al Langlois, Cy White, Andy McWilliams Moncton, New Brunswick 1957
AlbertaMatt Baldwin, Gordon Haynes, Art Kleinmeyer, Bill Price Kingston, Ontario 1958
AlbertaMatt Baldwin, Jack Geddes, Gordon Haynes, Bill Price Victoria, British Columbia 1959
SaskatchewanErnie Richardson, Arnold Richardson, Garnet Richardson, Wes Richardson Quebec City 1960
SaskatchewanErnie Richardson, Arnold Richardson, Garnet Richardson, Wes Richardson Fort William, Ontario 1961
AlbertaHec Gervais, Ron Anton, Ray Werner, Wally Ursuliak Calgary 1962
SaskatchewanErnie Richardson, Arnold Richardson, Garnet Richardson, Wes Richardson Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario 1963
SaskatchewanErnie Richardson, Arnold Richardson, Garnet Richardson, Mel Perry Brandon, Manitoba 1964
British ColumbiaLyall Dagg, Leo Hebert, Fred Britton, Barry Naimark Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island 1965
ManitobaTerry Braunstein, Don Duguid, Ron Braunstein, Ray Turnbull Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 1966
AlbertaRon Northcott, George Finks, Bernie Sparkes, Fred Storey Halifax, Nova Scotia 1967
OntarioAlf Phillips, Jr., John Ross, Ron Manning, Keith Reilly Hull, Quebec 1968
AlbertaRon Northcott, Jim Shields, Bernie Sparkes, Fred Storey Kelowna, British Columbia 1969
AlbertaRon Northcott, Dave Gerlach, Bernie Sparkes, Fred Storey Oshawa, Ontario 1970
ManitobaDon Duguid, Rod Hunter, Jim Pettapiece, Bryan Wood Winnipeg 1971
ManitobaDon Duguid, Rod Hunter, Jim Pettapiece, Bryan Wood Quebec City 1972
ManitobaOrest Meleschuk, Dave Romano, John Hanesiak, Pat Hailley St. John's, Newfoundland 1973
SaskatchewanHarvey Mazinke, Billy Martin, George Achtymichuk, Dan Klippenstein Edmonton 1974
AlbertaHec Gervais, Ron Anton, Warren Hansen, Darrel Sutton London, Ontario 1975
Northern OntarioBill Tetley, Rick Lang, Bill Hodgson, Peter Hnatiw Fredericton, New Brunswick 1976
NewfoundlandJack MacDuff, Toby McDonald, Doug Hudson, Ken Templeton Regina, Saskatchewan 1977
QuebecJim Ursel, Art Lobel, Don Aitken, Brian Ross Montreal 1978
AlbertaEd Lukowich, Mike Chernoff, Dale Johnston, Ron Schindle Vancouver 1979
ManitobaBarry Fry, Bill Carey, Gordon Sparkes, Bryan Wood Ottawa Labatt Brier
Brier Winning province Winning team Finalist province Finalist team Host 1980
SaskatchewanRick Folk, Ron Mills, Tom Wilson, Jim Wilson
Northern OntarioAl Hackner, Rick Lang, Bob Nichol, Bruce Kennedy Calgary 1981
ManitobaKerry Burtnyk, Mark Olson, Jim Spencer, Ron Kammerlock
Northern OntarioAl Hackner, Rick Lang, Bob Nichol, Bruce Kennedy Halifax, Nova Scotia 1982
Northern OntarioAl Hackner, Rick Lang, Bob Nichol, Bruce Kennedy
British ColumbiaBrent Giles, Greg Monkman, Al Roemer, Brad Giles Brandon, Manitoba 1983
OntarioEd Werenich, Paul Savage, John Kawaja, Neil Harrison
AlbertaEd Lukowich, Mike Chernoff, Neil Houston, Brent Syme Sudbury, Ontario 1984
ManitobaMichael Riley, Brian Toews, John Helston, Russ Wookey
OntarioEd Werenich, Paul Savage, John Kawaja, Neil Harrison Victoria, British Columbia 1985
Northern OntarioAl Hackner, Rick Lang, Ian Tetley, Pat Perroud
AlbertaPat Ryan, Gord Trenchie, Don Mckenzie, Don Walchuk Moncton, New Brunswick 1986
AlbertaEd Lukowich, John Ferguson, Neil Houston, Brent Syme
OntarioRuss Howard, Glenn Howard, Tim Belcourt, Kent Carstairs Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario 1987
OntarioRuss Howard, Glenn Howard, Tim Belcourt, Kent Carstairs
British ColumbiaBernie Sparkes, Jim Armstrong, Monte Ziola, Jamie Sexton Edmonton 1988
AlbertaPat Ryan, Randy Ferbey, Don Walchuk, Don McKenzie
SaskatchewanEugene Hritzuk, Del Shaughnessy, Murray Soparlo, Don Dabrowski Chicoutimi-Jonquière, Quebec 1989
AlbertaPat Ryan, Randy Ferbey, Don Walchuk, Don McKenzie
British ColumbiaRick Folk, Bert Gretzinger, Rob Koffski, Doug Smith Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 1990
OntarioEd Werenich, John Kawaja, Ian Tetley, Pat Perroud
New BrunswickJim Sullivan, Charlie Sullivan, Jr., Craig Burgess, Paul Power Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario 1991
AlbertaKevin Martin, Kevin Park, Dan Petryk, Don Bartlett
SaskatchewanRandy Woytowich, Brian McCusker, Wyatt Buck, John Grundy Hamilton, Ontario 1992
ManitobaVic Peters, Dan Carey, Chris Neufeld, Don Rudd
OntarioRuss Howard, Glenn Howard, Wayne Middaugh, Peter Corner Regina, Saskatchewan 1993
OntarioRuss Howard, Glenn Howard, Wayne Middaugh, Peter Corner
British ColumbiaRick Folk, Pat Ryan, Bert Gretzinger, Gerry Richard Ottawa 1994
British ColumbiaRick Folk, Pat Ryan, Bert Gretzinger, Gerry Richard
OntarioRuss Howard, Glenn Howard, Wayne Middaugh, Peter Corner Red Deer, Alberta 1995
ManitobaKerry Burtnyk, Jeff Ryan, Rob Meakin, Keith Fenton
SaskatchewanBrad Heidt, Mark Dacey, Wayne Charteris, Dan Ormsby Halifax, Nova Scotia 1996
ManitobaJeff Stoughton, Ken Tresoor, Garry VanDenBerghe, Steve Gould
AlbertaKevin Martin, Don Walchuk, Shawn Broda, Don Bartlett Kamloops, British Columbia 1997
AlbertaKevin Martin, Don Walchuk, Rudy Ramcharan, Don Bartlett
ManitobaVic Peters, Dan Carey, Chris Neufeld, Scott Grant Calgary 1998
OntarioWayne Middaugh, Graeme McCarrel, Ian Tetley, Scott Bailey
QuebecGuy Hemmings, Pierre Charette, Guy Thibaudeau, Dale Ness Winnipeg 1999
ManitobaJeff Stoughton, Jon Mead, Garry VanDenBerghe, Doug Armstrong
QuebecGuy Hemmings, Pierre Charette, Guy Thibaudeau, Dale Ness Edmonton 2000
British ColumbiaGreg McAulay, Brent Pierce, Bryan Miki, Jody Sveistrup
New BrunswickRuss Howard, Wayne Tallon, Rick Perron, Grant Odishaw Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Nokia Brier
Brier Winning province Winning team Finalist province Finalist team Host 2001
AlbertaRandy Ferbey, David Nedohin, Scott Pfeifer, Marcel Rocque
ManitobaKerry Burtnyk, Jeff Ryan, Rob Meakin, Keith Fenton Ottawa 2002
AlbertaRandy Ferbey, David Nedohin, Scott Pfeifer, Marcel Rocque
OntarioJohn Morris, Joe Frans, Craig Savill, Brent Laing Calgary 2003
AlbertaRandy Ferbey, David Nedohin, Scott Pfeifer, Marcel Rocque
Nova ScotiaMark Dacey, Bruce Lohnes, Rob Harris, Andrew Gibson Halifax, Nova Scotia 2004
Nova ScotiaMark Dacey, Bruce Lohnes, Rob Harris, Andrew Gibson
AlbertaRandy Ferbey, David Nedohin, Scott Pfeifer, Marcel Rocque Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Tim Hortons Brier
Most Brier wins as skip
Three people have won the Brier four times as skip:
- Ernie Richardson (1959, 1960, 1962, 1963)
- Randy Ferbey (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005)
- Kevin Martin (1991, 1997, 2008, 2009)
Top 3 finishes table
- Starting in the 2011 Tim Horton's Brier event in London, ON Bronze Medal games will be played between the losers of the Page 3-4 playoff and the semifinal games, with Bronze Medals awarded to the winner
Province 1st 2nd 3rd Total Notes
Manitoba27 13 13 53
Alberta25 17 8 50
Ontario9 18 11 38
Saskatchewan7 15 15 37
British Columbia4 12 14 30
Northern Ontario4 5 11 20
Nova Scotia3 3 6 12
Quebec2 4 4 10
Newfoundland and Labrador1 1 2 4
New Brunswick0 3 7 10
Yukon/
Northwest Territories0 1 0 1
Toronto0 0 5 5
Prince Edward Island0 0 2 2 Awards
Bronze Medal Winners
- 2011 - Newfoundland/ LabradorBrad Gushue (S) Mark Nichols (V) Ryan Fry(II) Jamie Danbrook (L)
Hec Gervais playoff MVP award
- 2011 - Jon Mead, Manitoba
- 2010 - Kevin Koe, Alberta
- 2009 - Kevin Martin, Alberta
- 2008 - John Morris, Alberta
- 2007 - Glenn Howard, Ontario
- 2006 - Jean-Michel Ménard, Quebec
- 2005 - David Nedohin, Alberta
- 2004 - Mark Dacey, Nova Scotia
- 2003 - David Nedohin, Alberta
- 2002 - David Nedohin, Alberta
- 2001 - David Nedohin, Alberta
- 2000 - Bryan Miki, British Columbia
- 1999 - Jeff Stoughton, Manitoba
- 1998 - Graham McCarrel, Ontario
- 1997 - Kevin Martin, Alberta
Ross Harstone Sportsmanship Award
- 2011 - Jim Cotter, British Columbia
- 2010 - Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc, Nova Scotia
- 2009 - Dean Hicke, Saskatchewan
- 2008 - Gerry Adam, Saskatchewan
- 2007 - Mark Whitehead, NWT/Yukon
- 2006 - Jean-Michel Ménard, Quebec
- 2005 - Randy Dutiaume, Manitoba
- 2004 - Daniel Lafleur, Quebec
- 2003 - Bob Jenion, Manitoba
- 2002 - Mark Lang, Saskatchewan
- 2001 - Paul Flemming, Nova Scotia
- 2000 - Bryan Miki, British Columbia
- 1999 - Gerald Shymko, Saskatchewan
- 1998 - Toby McDonald, Newfoundland
- 1997 - Vic Peters, Manitoba
- 1996 - Brian Rafuse, Nova Scotia
- 1995 - Rick Folk, British Columbia
- 1994 - Mark Noseworthy, Newfoundland
- 1993 - Trevor Alexander, NWT/Yukon
- 1992 - Jim Armstrong, British Columbia
- 1991 - Rick Lang, Northern Ontario
- 1990 - Craig Lepine, British Columbia
- 1989 - Bert Gretzinger, British Columbia
- 1988 - Thomas Hakansson, Nova Scotia
- 1987 - Jim Armstrong, British Columbia
- 1986 - Bill Campbell, Jr., Nova Scotia
- 1985 - Daniel Hildebrand, Manitoba
- 1984 - John Helston, Manitoba
- 1983 - Jim Armstrong, British Columbia
- 1982 - Mark Noseworthy, Newfoundland
- 1981 - Mel Watchorn, Alberta
- 1980 - Wayne Hamilton, Newfoundland
- 1979 - Wayne Matheson, Prince Edward Island
- 1979 - Dave Durrant, Nova Scotia
- 1978 - Peter Murray, New Brunswick
- 1977 - Joe Power, Jr., Newfoundland
- 1976 - Jim Ursel, Quebec
- 1975 - Harvey Mazinke, Saskatchewan
- 1974 - Larry McGrath, Saskatchewan
- 1973 - Mel Watchorn, Alberta
- 1972 - David Sullivan, New Brunswick
- 1971 - Bob Pickering, Saskatchewan
- 1970 - Ed Steeves, New Brunswick
- 1969 - Bill Piercey, Newfoundland
- 1968 - Charles Piper, Jr., Nova Scotia
- 1967 - Douglas S. McGibney, British Columbia
- 1966 - George F. McCharles, Newfoundland
Shot-Of-The-Week Award
- 2011 - Jeff Stoughton, Manitoba
- 2010 - Richard Hart, Ontario
- 2009 - Glenn Howard, Ontario
- 2008 - Glenn Howard, Ontario
- 2007 - Dean Joanisse, British Columbia
- 2006 - Mark Dacey, Nova Scotia
- 2005 - David Nedohin, Alberta
- 2004 - Jay Peachey, British Columbia
- 2003 - Bruce Lohnes, Nova Scotia
- 2002 - David Nedohin, Alberta
- 2001 - Kerry Burtnyk, Manitoba
- 2000 - Peter Corner, Ontario
- 1999 - Guy Hemmings, Quebec
- 1998 - Guy Hemmings, Quebec
- 1997 - Kevin Martin, Alberta
Ford Hot Shots
Further information: Ford Hot ShotsTop Attendance Records
# Brier Venue Total attendance 1 2005 Rexall Place, Edmonton 281,985 2 2000 Saskatchewan Place, Saskatoon 248,793 3 2009 Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary 246,126 4 2002 Pengrowth Saddledome, Calgary 245,296 5 1999 Skyreach Centre, Edmonton 242,887 6 2004 Saskatchewan Place, Saskatoon 238,129 7 1997 Canadian Airlines Saddledome, Calgary 223,322 8 2008 MTS Centre, Winnipeg 165,075 9 2003 Metro Centre, Halifax 158,414 10 2001 Civic Centre, Ottawa 154,136 11 1989 Saskatchewan Place, Saskatoon 151,538 12 1998 Winnipeg Arena, Winnipeg 147,017 13 1994 Centrium, Red Deer 130,625 14 1993 Civic Centre, Ottawa 130,076 15 1996 Riverside Coliseum, Kamloops 127,746 16 2006 Brandt Centre, Regina 125,971 17 1995 Metro Centre, Halifax 121,896 18 1992 Agridome, Regina 121,555 19 2011 John Labatt Centre, London 113,626 20 2010 Metro Centre, Halifax 107,242 21 2007 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton 107,199 22 1982 Keystone Centre, Brandon 106,394 Perfect games
A perfect game in curling is when a player scores 100% on all their shots in a game. Statistics on shots have been kept since 1985.
See also
- Bruadar Scottish Men's Championship
- United States Curling Men's Championships
- Scotties Tournament of Hearts (national women's championship)
References
- ^ http://archives.cbc.ca/sports/curling/clips/2790/
- ^ http://www.curling.ca/start-curling/the-history-of-curling
- ^ Claire Mellor, "Monsanto curls up with Brier organizers ", Chronicle Herald (Halifax, Nova Scotia), March 12, 2010.
External links
Further reading
- Bonspiel! The History of Curling in Canada at Library and Archives Canada
- SOUDOG'S Curling History Site
Canadian Men's Curling Championships National Championships Macdonald Brier
1927 · 1928 · 1929 · 1930 · 1931 · 1932 · 1933 · 1934 · 1935 · 1936 · 1937 · 1938 · 1939 · 1940 · 1941 · 1942 · 1943 · 1944 · 1945 · 1946 · 1947 · 1948 · 1949 · 1950 · 1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954 · 1955 · 1956 · 1957 · 1958 · 1959 · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979
Labatt Brier
1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000
Nokia Brier
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004
Tim Hortons Brier
2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Men's provincial and territorial curling championships
Tim Hortons Brier ·
Alberta ·
British Columbia ·
Manitoba ·
New Brunswick ·
Newfoundland and Labrador ·
Northern Ontario ·
Nova Scotia ·
Ontario ·
Prince Edward Island ·
Quebec ·
Saskatchewan ·
Yukon / Northwest TerritoriesCurling Season of Champions Major events: Continental Cup · Olympic Trials · Canadian Juniors · Olympics · Tournament of Hearts · the Brier · Canada Cup · World ChampionshipsOther events: Mixed · Canadian Seniors · World Juniors · Canadian Masters · Canadian Wheelchair · World Wheelchair · World Seniors · World Mixed Doubles · CIS/CCA · The Dominion Curling Club ChampionshipsCategories:- The Brier
- Bonspiels
- Curling in Canada
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