'I'm super pumped': Curlers excited about Brier in St. John's
With curling association announcement coming Monday, curlers react to St. John's hosting Brier
When Newfoundland and Labrador's Brad Gushue faced off against Alberta's Kevin Koe Sunday night in the Grand Slam of Curling final, both rinks were squarely engrossed in the immediate task at hand.
Both skips were focused on winning that game and the championship, Gushue especially, as a thank-you to the outstanding support for his team at the Paradise Double Ice Complex all week.
But somewhere in the back of Gushue's mind — certainly on the minds and lips of the curling fans in the stands — was the thought that this would be a dream final not just for this event, but also for the 2017 Tim Hortons Brier.
The Canadian men's curling championship will be awarded to St. John's during a Monday morning news conference at Mile One Centre.
The St. John's Brier bid has been a couple years in the making and will culminate with the Canadian Curling Association's announcement.
Gushue, of course, has been the face of the bid and helped St. John's win against the only other city bidding: Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
It's going to be one of the most fun Briers ever, because the Newfoundlanders are great people.- Glenn Howard
Not since 1972 has St. John's played host to this event, so for Gushue — and all Canadian curlers — this news is long overdue.
"All the teams that have come here this week [to Paradise] and have seen all the support, the fact it's sold out. They love it," Gushue said.
"They love everything St. John's has to offer — the scenery, George Street and obviously the support for curling events. Everything's positive from a curling perspective."
'Absolutely awesome news'
Gushue is far from alone in his thinking. Many of the top men's and women's teams in the country were here last week and all echoed the same sentiment. Every visit to St. John's and Newfoundland and Labrador is special, but a Brier would be extra special.
Glenn Howard is one of the most decorated skips ever at the Brier, having played more games than anybody else, with 196 matches under his broom. The Ontario native has curled in St. John's before and loves every visit.
He said it was "absolutely awesome news" that the Brier will take place at Mile One in 2017.
"I really think it's going to be fantastic here. They're so knowledgeable and fun. It's going to be one of the most fun Briers ever, because the Newfoundlanders are great people," he said.
"They're going to pack the house. Mile One is a beautiful stadium."
Howard said while he's on the downside of his career, competing in St. John's for his home province in 2017 would be the icing on the cake.
"I'd love to be a part of it, so hopefully we'll get our act together and come back here in a couple of years," he said.
"It would be a real pleasure and an honour to represent Ontario down here at the Brier in St. John's, because I think it's really going to be a fun one."
Downtown set-up
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Mike McEwen of Manitoba. One of the top skips in the country, his team has already won five Grand Slam titles, but he has yet to reach the pinnacle.
His team has never qualified out of Manitoba to play in a Brier. To date, getting to the Canadian men's championship is his main goal.
The downtown setup with hotels, restaurants, arena and everything situated around it, it just makes it a great experience.- Mike McEwen
"I would love to play a Brier in St. John's, absolutely," McEwen said. "It's big. If you want to win a Canadian and world championship, you got to get to the Brier first, so for sure it's priority one this year and next. It's kind of been there for a while."
McEwen said past matches played in St. John's have been memorable experiences, and he expects the Brier will be no different.
"The downtown setup with hotels, restaurants, arena and everything situated around it, it just makes it a great experience," he said.
"I know you've had a Scotties and that was a great success. I think St. John's could pull off a Brier. It will be done very well."
'It's going to be unbelievable'
McEwen remembers the 2005 Scotties Tournament of Hearts very well. His wife, Dawn Askin, played for Ontario that year and was on the losing end of Jennifer Jones' shot heard across Canada.
In the 2005 Sunday final, Jones made her historic play, capturing the title and the hearts of Newfoundland fans.
"It's going to be unbelievable," Jones said, when asked what the men should be prepared for in 2017.
"There are no words to describe what St. John's was like in 2005. It was the best Scotties we've ever been at, and I would say that if we didn't win," she said.
"The hospitality was amazing. The crowd and the fans were unbelievable. The food was second to none in Canada. George Street — I don't need to say anything more. It's a really special place."
Jones said her parents were in the province for last week's Grand Slam and they stayed with their driver from 2005, a woman named Karen who befriended the entire family.
It's that attitude and hospitality, Jones said, the men will enjoy during their week here. When asked what advice should provide to her male counterparts, she said: "Expect the best time of your life and something you're going to remember as long as you live."
Try again for Sault Ste. Marie
While the Paradise rink buzzed all week with the Brier talk, not everybody was as excited. The current top men's team in the world is the Brad Jacobs foursome. From Sault Ste. Marie — the city that competed against St. John's for the Brier.
Jacobs, who was in the province last week for the first time, heard the rumours about the winning bid, but was still holding out hope as late as Friday that the news was wrong.
When asked for a reaction to the news, he played it cautiously. He was gracious, but not as happy as many others.
"If that information is true, being from Sault Ste. Marie, we'd have to say congratulations to St. John's. I know it's been a long time since the Brier has come to St. John's," he said.
"I'm sure that everyone here will be thrilled to have it here. I know that everyone who tried to bring the Brier to Sault Ste. Marie will be disappointed. That's the way it goes."
To play in one in your hometown in front of your fans where all the support is behind you, that'd be pretty cool.'- Brad Gushue
He said Sault Ste. Marie put in a strong bid to get the Brier, and will try harder next time to get it.
Jacobs played the same role with his hometown's bid that Gushue played here in St. John's. Both men were the faces of the submissions to the Canadian Curling Association.
'I'm super pumped'
For Gushue, who has been to 12 Briers but is still looking for his first title, chasing that goal at home would be the culmination of a great career.
"If someone wins their provincials, they're going to be pretty pumped that they get an opportunity they're going to get an opportunity to play a Brier in St. John's," Gushue said.
"I want to win a Brier. That's my biggest goal, but right up there would be playing in a Brier in St. John's. I've been fortunate to play in 12, but to play in one in your hometown in front of your fans where all the support is behind you, that'd be pretty cool. I'm super pumped."
