Inspiring performances mark memorable campaign in Calgary bubble
The three-month curling journey inside the Calgary bubble has finally crossed the finish line. Let’s take a look at some of the most memorable moments and storylines from the Calgary bubble.
Team Bottcher finally Brier champs after beating Team Koe in final
Brendan Bottcher won curling's version of the Battle of Alberta on Sunday night at the Canadian men's curling championship.
Bottcher edges Dunstone to reach Brier final against Koe
Alberta's Brendan Bottcher hit a game-winning angle raise for a 6-5 win over Saskatchewan's Matt Dunstone in Sunday's semifinal at the Canadian men's curling championship. Bottcher removed the Saskatchewan stone from the button with his final throw and stuck around to score two points for the victory.
Communication breakdown on rock papering upsets Howard
In 18 career appearances at the Canadian men's curling championship, this was a first for Glenn Howard.
Koe advances to Brier final; Dunstone and Bottcher to battle in semis
Wild Card Two's Kevin Koe defeated Wild Card Three's Wayne Middaugh 7-6 on Saturday night to earn a direct berth into the final of the Canadian men's curling championship. Saskatchewan's Matt Dunstone and Alberta's Brendan Bottcher also posted evening victories to qualify for the three-team playoff at 9-3.
Wild Cards Koe, Howard lead crowded field at Brier
Wild Cards Kevin Koe and Glenn Howard lead the Brier field at 8-2 halfway through championship pool play after a busy Friday in Calgary. Four more teams - Saskatchewan, Canada, Ontario and Alberta - are logjammed at 7-3 with two draws to play. Championship pool play continues at 2:30pm et/11:30am pt on TSN1/5, TSN Direct, and streaming on TSN.ca.
Brier bubble heats up with championship round
If the first seven days at the Tim Hortons Brier was a marathon, then the next two days will be a sprint. Let’s take a closer look at the Brier’s championship pool and which teams are in the best position.
Middaugh finishes first in Pool A
Wild Card Two's Kevin Koe was the first to book his championship pool ticket. Wild Card Three's Wayne Middaugh was the next to make the eight-team cut at the Canadian men's curling championship.
Portable, rapid-testing units grease wheels in Calgary curling bubble
The men curling in the Canadian championship don't much care there's a small, silver box processing their nasal and throat swabs in a matter of hours, but the result it produces matters deeply to them.
Koe books berth in championship round despite dropping first game
Kevin Koe and his Wild Card 2 rink (6-1) took its first loss of the Tim Hortons Brier on Wednesday night but still advanced to the championship round after a win earlier in the day over Saskatchewan's Matt Dunstone. Manitoba's Jason Gunnlaugson also took his first loss to Northern Ontario to drop to 5-1.
Vintage Middaugh ‘free rolling’ in dramatic return to Tim Hortons Brier
So far, the top story of this year’s Tim Hortons Brier hasn’t been defending champion Brad Gushue going for a fourth Brier Tankard in five years or Kevin Koe looking to capture a record fifth Canadian title. All everybody wants to talk about 53-year-old Wayne Middaugh, who has turned back the clock this week and is in the thick of things in his first Brier appearance since 2013.
Jimmy the Kid has New Brunswick in the mix at Brier
For the first time in a long time, “Jimmy the Kid” has New Brunswick in the hunt at the Tim Hortons Brier.
Manitoba's Gunnlaugson wins fifth straight to start Brier
Manitoba's Jason Gunnlaugson won two more games on Tuesday at the Canadian men's curling championship to stay unbeaten at 5-0.
Gunnlaugson, Koe last two undefeated teams left at Brier
Manitoba's Jason Gunnlaugson moved into sole possession of first place in Pool A at the Canadian men's curling championship on Monday after an 8-5 victory over Wild Card One's Mike McEwen.
Dunstone hoping Wadena experience will pay major dividends at Brier
Over the past year, many people in Canada and around the world have spent the vast majority of their time with the ones they live with. The same can't be said for most teammates preparing for this week's Tim Hortons Brier inside the curling bubble.
Koe beats Team Canada's Gushue to remain unbeaten at Brier
Kevin Koe's Wild Card Two team defeated Canada's Brad Gushue 9-7 on Sunday night to hand the defending champions their first loss at the Canadian men's curling championship.
Middaugh picks up win in return to Brier
It was a triumphant return to the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier for Wayne Middaugh. With Glenn Howard ailing, Middaugh led Howard's Wildcard 3 team to a 9-5 win over Gregory Skauge of Northwest Territories in the opening game of the tournament for both rinks Saturday.
Defending champion Gushue beats Epping to open Brier
Some of the top men's curling teams in the country returned to the ice after a long absence Friday as the Tim Hortons Brier kicked off in a bubble setting at the Markin MacPhail Centre.
Gushue set to kick off Brier defence on TSN
Defending champion Brad Gushue and his rink of lead Geoff Walker, second Brett Gallant and third Mark Nichols take on Ontario Skip John Epping as the featured draw to kick off the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT on TSN1, TSN4, TSN5, the TSN App and on TSN Direct.
A look at the odds for the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier
Following a successful Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Tim Hortons Brier is the next test for the Calgary curling bubble. Let’s take a closer look at the betting odds for the Canadian championship.
Grizzled vets Howard, Middaugh chasing another Brier
Despite their advanced ages and battered bodies, there’s no loss of enthusiasm from Glenn Howard and Wayne Middaugh who say being able to participate as a wild-card entry in the Canadian men’s curling championship is a “dream come true,” Bob Weeks writes.
Gushue: 'No idea what to expect' in Brier bubble
Brad Gushue won his first Canadian men's curling championship in a sold-out hometown venue that erupted in joy after his game-winning throw. The three-time champion will try to win another Tim Hortons Brier title in an arena setting that will be the complete opposite.
Format, pools finalized for 2021 Brier
Curling Canada confirmed the pools and format for the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier set to take place at Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park inside the Calgary curling bubble from March 5-14.
Icemaker Greg Ewasko going the distance in Calgary's curling bubble
Greg Ewasko will be an expert on curling bubble life by the time he's done tending Calgary's ice.
Veteran Middaugh to join Team Howard in Brier bubble next month
It will be like old times for Glenn Howard at the Tim Hortons Brier next month. The veteran skip will have longtime teammate Wayne Middaugh in tow at the March 5-14 national men's curling championship in a bubble setting at Calgary's Markin MacPhail Centre.
Ontario's McDonald to replace Murphy on Team Nova Scotia for Brier
Nova Scotia will have a skip from Ontario at this year's Tim Hortons Brier.
Canadian rankings to be used to determine final wild-card spots at Scotties, Brier
Curling Canada has decided to use the national ranking system as its selection criteria for the final wild-card berths at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Tim Hortons Brier.
Team Harty disappointed with Curling Alberta decision, WC chances slim
There was a clear but unusual path for three Alberta-based teams to play in the Tim Hortons Brier this season. Curling Alberta made a difficult choice that will send two rinks to the Calgary event and leave that third team on the outside looking in.
Bottcher, Walker to represent Alberta at nationals, Koe gets wild-card spot
Teams skipped by Brendan Bottcher and Laura Walker — both reigning Alberta champions — will represent the province again at the upcoming national curling championships. Kevin Koe, who skipped Team Canada at last year's Brier, will get a wild-card spot instead.
Saskatchewan sends Dunstone, Anderson to nationals
Saskatchewan cancelled its provincial curling championships on Thursday due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Matt Dunstone will represent the province at the Tim Hortons Brier and Sherry Anderson will skip the Saskatchewan team at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, CurlSask said in a release.
Three wild-card teams added to Scotties, Brier
Curling Canada is expanding the field for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Tim Hortons Brier. The usual 16-team field will have two extra wild-card teams when play begins next month in the so-called bubble at Calgary's Markin MacPhail Centre.
Brier regular Koe withdraws from NWT playdowns
Jamie Koe and his Yellowknife foursome made the tough decision to pull out of the Northwest Territories Men's Curling Championship on Tuesday.
Alberta latest province to cancel curling playdowns
Curling Alberta has cancelled plans to hold its provincial championships later this month in Sylvan Lake, Alta., due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lethbridge to host 2022 Brier
The Tim Hortons Brier will be held at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge, Alta., in 2022. Curling Canada made the announcement Friday during a video conference call.
BC sending Brown, Laycock to Calgary bubble after cancelling playdowns
British Columbia will send last year's provincial curling champions to the Calgary bubble after cancelling its 2021 playdowns on Thursday.
Calgary bubble stay could be brief for some, long for others
The stay in the curling bubble starting next month in Calgary could be brief for some athletes and a very long one for others.
N. Ontario to use previous results to determine entries for nationals
The weekend did little to settle the uneasiness that executive director Bobby Ray was feeling after the Northern Ontario Curling Association cancelled its playdowns and announced it would invite last season's winners to compete at the national championships in the Calgary bubble.
What's the status of Canada's provincial and territorial curling playdowns?
The Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Tim Hortons Brier are set to take place inside the Calgary bubble in early 2021, but first they have to figure out which teams will be playing.
