2021 Tim Hortons Brier

The 2021 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship, will be held from March 5 to 14 at the Markin McPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta.[2] The winning team will represent Canada at the 2021 World Men's Curling Championship.

2021 Tim Hortons Brier
Host city	Calgary, Alberta
Arena	Markin McPhail Centre, Canada Olympic Park[1]
Dates	March 5–14[1]
« 2020 2022 »

The event was originally scheduled to be held in Kelowna, British Columbia.[3] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, it was announced that most Curling Canada championships still being held in the 2020–21 curling season (including the World Men's Curling Championship, which will be held at the same site) would be would be moved to a centralized "bubble" (similar to that of the NHL as in Edmonton) at Canada Olympic Park. All events will be held behind closed doors with no spectators admitted.[4] In addition, due to COVID-19 restrictions and logistics, many provincial playdowns have been cancelled, with teams being selected by their respective member association instead.

Teams

Source:[5]

Canada	Alberta[6]	British Columbia[7]
St. John's CC, St. John's Skip: Brad Gushue Third: Mark Nichols Second: Brett Gallant Lead: Geoff Walker Alternate: Ryan McNeil Lamswood	Saville SC, Edmonton Skip: Brendan Bottcher Third: Darren Moulding Second: Brad Thiessen Lead: Karrick Martin Alternate: Pat Janssen	Vernon CC, Vernon Skip: Steve Laycock Third: Jim Cotter Second: Andrew Nerpin Lead: Rick Sawatsky Alternate: Tyler Tardi
Manitoba[8]	New Brunswick[9]	Newfoundland and Labrador
Morris CC, Morris Skip: Jason Gunnlaugson Third: Adam Casey Second: Matt Wozniak Lead: Connor Njegovan Alternate: Jacques Gauthier	Gage Golf & CC, Oromocto Skip: James Grattan Third: Jonathan Beuk Second: Andy McCann Lead: Jamie Brannen Alternate: Kevin Keefe	St. John's CC, St. John's Skip: Greg Smith Third: Greg Blyde Second: Alex McDonah Lead: Evan McDonah Alternate: Adam Boland
Northern Ontario[10]	Nova Scotia[11]	Ontario[8]
Community First CC, Sault Ste. Marie Skip: Brad Jacobs Third: Marc Kennedy Second: E.J. Harnden Lead: Ryan Harnden Alternate: Lee Toner	Halifax CC, Halifax Skip: Scott McDonald Third: Paul Flemming Second: Scott Saccary Lead: Phil Crowell Alternate: Kevin Ouellette	Leaside CC, Toronto Skip: John Epping Third: Ryan Fry Second: Mat Camm Lead: Brent Laing Alternate:
Prince Edward Island	Quebec[12]	Saskatchewan[13]
Crapaud Community CC, Crapaud & Montague CC, Montague Skip: Eddie MacKenzie Third: Tyler Smith Second: Sean Ledgerwood Lead: Ryan Lowery Alternate: Aaron Bartling	Glenmore CC, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, CC Etchemin, Saint-Romuald & CC Valleyfield, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Skip: Michael Fournier Third: Martin Crête Second: Félix Asselin Lead: Jean-François Trépanier Alternate: William Dion	Highland CC, Regina Skip: Matt Dunstone Third: Braeden Moskowy Second: Kirk Muyres Lead: Dustin Kidby Alternate:
Northwest Territories	Nunavut[14]	Yukon
Yellowknife CC, Yellowknife Skip: Greg Skauge Third: Tom Naugler Second: Brad Patzer Lead: Robert Borden Alternate: David Aho	Iqaluit CC, Iqaluit Skip: Peter Mackey Third: Jeff Nadeau Second: Greg Howard Lead: Jeff Chown Alternate: Brady St. Louis	Whitehorse CC, Whitehorse Skip: Dustin Mikkelsen Third: Alexx Peech Second: Brandon Hagen Lead: Robert Mckinnon Alternate: Ray Mikkelsen
Wild Card #1[15]	Wild Card #2[15]	Wild Card #3[16]
West St. Paul CC, West St. Paul Skip: Mike McEwen Third: Reid Carruthers Second: Derek Samagalski Lead: Colin Hodgson Alternate:	The Glencoe Club, Calgary Skip: Kevin Koe Third: B.J. Neufeld Second: John Morris Lead: Ben Hebert Alternate: Mike Caione	Penetanguishene CC, Penetanguishene Skip: Glenn Howard Third: Scott Howard Second: David Mathers Lead: Tim March Alternate: Wayne Middaugh

Provincial and territorial playdowns

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many provincial playdowns were cancelled, with member associations electing to send their 2020 champions to the Brier.

• Boston Pizza Cup (Alberta): Cancelled
• BC Men's Curling Championship: Cancelled
• Viterra Championship (Manitoba): Cancelled
• New Brunswick Tankard: Cancelled
• The 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador Tankard was held January 27-31 in St. John's. In the final, Team Greg Smith defeated Team Colin Thomas 9–8 in a double extra end. The event was held in a round robin between eight teams.
• Northern Ontario Men's Provincial Curling Championship: Cancelled
• The 2021 Northwest Territories Men's Curling Championship was held January 30-31 in Yellowknife. Team Greg Skauge defeated Team Glen Hudy two games to one in the best of three series. They were the only teams to enter.
• Deloitte Tankard (Nova Scotia): Cancelled
• The Nunavut Brier Playdowns were played at the Iqaluit Curling Club in Iqaluit January 8[17] to 10. Team MacKey (Peter Mackey, Jeff Nadeau, Greg Howard, Jeff Chown) defeated Team Kingdon (Wade Kingdon, Hunter Tootoo, Peter Van Strien, Cory Bell)[18] 3 games to 2 in a best of five series. Team MacKey won three straight games after losing their first two.[19]
• Ontario Tankard: Cancelled
• The 2021 PEI Tankard was held January 29–30 in O'Leary. Team Eddie MacKenzie defeated Team Blair Jay 3 games to 0 in the best of five series.[20] They were the only two teams to enter the event.
• Quebec Tankard: Cancelled
• SaskTel Tankard (Saskatchewan): Cancelled
• The Yukon Men's Curling Championship was not held, as only one team (Dustin Mikkelsen) entered.[21] The defending Thomas Scoffin rink had been deemed ineligible, as it could not field a full team for the championship due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.[22]

Notes

References

1. Devin Heroux (December 8, 2020). "Curlers will face harsh penalties for leaving Calgary bubble". CBC Sports. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
2. Jesse Campigotto (December 2, 2020). "What we know and don't know about the curling bubble". CBC Sports. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
3. "Lethbridge to host the Brier in 2022". January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
4. Jesse Campigotto (December 2, 2020). "What we know and don't know about the curling bubble". CBC Sports. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
5. "Teams". Curling Canada. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
6. "Alberta selects Laura Walker, Brendan Bottcher for Scotties, Brier". CBC Sports. January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
7. "BC sending Brown, Laycock to Calgary bubble after cancelling playdowns". TSN. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
8. Devin Heroux (December 21, 2020). "Ontario, Manitoba cancel playdowns for Scotties, Brier". CBC Sports. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
9. @Devin_Heroux (30 Jan 2021). "JUST IN... New Brunswick has cancelled its men's provincial curling championship. @JamesGrattan has accepted invite. Still waiting to firm up his lineup. This will be Grattan's 14th Brier appearance. #cbccurl" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
10. The Canadian Press (December 21, 2020). "Ontario, Manitoba cancel provincial playdowns". TSN. Retrieved December 31, 2020.
11. George Myrer (January 15, 2021). "Nova Scotia's Jill Brothers rink needed an extra end to accept Scotties invite". The Chronicle Herald. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
12. Alanna Routledge (January 14, 2020). "Dévoilement des équipes Québécoises masculine et féminine". Curling Quebec (in French). Retrieved January 14, 2020.
13. Devin Heroux (January 14, 2020). "Saskatchewan cancels curling provincials after health officials reject curling bubble". CBC Sports. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
14. @NickMurray91 (10 Jan 2021). "From left to right: Jeff Chown Greg Howard Jeff Nadeau Peter MacKey (Skip) Your 2021 Nunavut men's curling champions" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
15. @Devin_Heroux (18 Jan 2021). "So with Bottcher and Walker selected... McEwen and Koe will be the two men's teams added based on CTRS. Third team will be chosen based on Curling Canada criteria. The women's side is a little more complicated. Team Fleury a lock... after that... hmmmm. #cbccurl" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
16. @Devin_Heroux (22 Jan 2021). "This is substantial... Curling Canada now saying CTRS will determine third Wild Card team as opposed to "criteria"... That would mean Glenn Howard gets third Brier spot... And Beth Peterson would get third Scotties spot should Birt win PEI. Five Manitoba teams in Scotties. #cbccurl" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
17. https://www.facebook.com/nunavutcurling/posts/3610730465630886
18. @NickMurray91 (10 Jan 2021). "Came down to the Iqaluit Curling Club for the 5th and deciding game in Nunavut's territorial play downs. Team Kingdon (Wade Kingdon, Hunter Tootoo, Peter Van Strien, Cory Bell) vs Team Mackey (Peter Mackey, Jeff Nadeau, Greg Howard, Jeff Chown) for a trip to the Brier!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
19. @NickMurray91 (10 Jan 2021). "Handshakes. Skip Peter MacKey's team out of the Iqaluit Curling Club will represent Nunavut at this year's Tim Hortons Brier! They came back down 2-0 in the best-of-5 series to earn their spot with a win this afternoon" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
20. "Eddie MacKenzie rink wins PEI Tankard with 3-0 record". PEI Curling. January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
21. https://www.tsn.ca/curling-bubble-plans-provide-hope-for-some-teams-while-others-left-disappointed-1.1576411
22. @TeamScoffin (14 Jan 2021). "We are extremely disappointed that our season has come to an unexpected end. Looking forward to what next season has in store" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links

• Official website