EditorSA国际影视传媒檚 note: ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been a couple of years since Martin Gavin has been on the ground at the Tim Hortons Brier but SA国际影视传媒SA国际影视传媒檚 scribe at the Canadian menSA国际影视传媒檚 curling championship is back. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 because accredited media allowed back into venues. HereSA国际影视传媒檚 the first of his articles from Lethbridge, Alta. SA国际影视传媒� the site of this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 Brier.

The NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 pinnacle curler is returning to the national stage after a one-year hiatus.

YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Jamie Koe secured his spot in this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 Canadian menSA国际影视传媒檚 curling championship, the Tim Hortons Brier, in Lethbridge, Alta., by upending the reigning champion, Greg Skauge, last month at the Yellowknife Curling Centre.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was really happy for those guys (last year),SA国际影视传媒� said Koe regarding SkaugeSA国际影视传媒檚 2021 win of the NWT MenSA国际影视传媒檚 Curling Championship, which gave them the spot at the Brier last year in Calgary. SA国际影视传媒淭heir excitement about going was really motivating to me reminding me how much I love representing the NWT.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淛amieSA国际影视传媒檚 team was definitely the better team this year,SA国际影视传媒� said Skauge, SA国际影视传媒淭hey didnSA国际影视传媒檛 miss much all weekend (at territorials) and if they play the way they did in the playdowns, they will definitely sneak out a few (key) wins.SA国际影视传媒�

Last year, Koe and his squad elected to step away from the territorial championship competition and withdrew, a difficult decision made for a number of understandable reasons including concerns related to the health and welfare of himself and his teammates at the bubble brier in Calgary.

SA国际影视传媒淚t hurts to bow out because I love representing the NWT,SA国际影视传媒� Koe said one year ago.

Koe was back on the territorial stage with a slightly adjusted version of the team which won in 2020. Alongside the established front end of Cole Parsons and Shadrach Mcleod sits import player Glen Kennedy in the third stone spot, a position which often requires adjustments for KoeSA国际影视传媒檚 squads. This is KennedySA国际影视传媒檚 first appearance at the big show.

SA国际影视传媒淲e are the happiest for Glen,SA国际影视传媒� Koe said. SA国际影视传媒淗e not only gets to be at his first Brier after so many years trying in Alberta, but he also goes to go toe-to-toe with his brother during pool play. Such an amazing moment for the Kennedy family.SA国际影视传媒�

Unless a matchup presents itself in the playoffs, there is no Koe versus Koe game scheduled in the opening segment of the Brier as Jamie and brother Kevin Koe are in different pools of play. This yearSA国际影视传媒檚 brother battle will take place between the Kennedy brothers. GlenSA国际影视传媒檚 brother is Marc Kennedy, who is a three-time Olympian two-time world champion and who plays third for Brad Jacobs and Northern Ontario.

Glen said he is looking forward to keeping his younger brother keeping in step.

SA国际影视传媒淚 have not played Marc for quite a few years and this old guy will do his best to keep up with one of the best players in history,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

The Kennedy brothers join the Koe, Ryan and Howard brothers facing off against each other at Canadian menSA国际影视传媒檚 curlingSA国际影视传媒檚 showpiece event.

Glen KennedySA国际影视传媒檚 connection with the NWT started when both Jamie and Glen were in South Korea cheering on their brothers as Team Canada in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

SA国际影视传媒淲e definitely bonded at the 2018 Olympics cheering on our brothers (and) we officially named ourselves SA国际影视传媒楾eam BroSA国际影视传媒� at the Olympics,SA国际影视传媒� said Glen. SA国际影视传媒淚 semi-retired from curling this last summer to dedicate more time to my business and family, but Jamie reached out shortly after with a part-time opportunity that I could not say no to.SA国际影视传媒�

Team NWT faces off against another Brier regular in its first game in Nova ScotiaSA国际影视传媒檚 Paul Flemming. Historically, NWT squads have not been kind to Nova Scotia teams, a situation of which Flemming is well aware.

SA国际影视传媒淟ikely the scariest game of the week and a key win for both teams to make the playoffs,SA国际影视传媒� Flemming said. SA国际影视传媒淚 have played Jamie for over 20 years, going back to the mixed nationals in 1999 and while enjoyable (to play), he is a true competitor trying to scrape together as many wins as possible to make the playoffs like we are.SA国际影视传媒�

The Brier begins on Friday with KoeSA国际影视传媒檚 first contest on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The format is a round-robin pool play against B.C., Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Quebec and two wild card teams with the top three from each pool making the playoffs.

Jamie Koe feels the playoff spot is achievable.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think thereSA国际影视传媒檚 five teams we match up well against, so need to do our best to win those and knock off a giant to have a shot at playoffs,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檒l be focusing game by game.SA国际影视传媒�