Jamie Koe and his Yellowknife Curling Centre squad are well positioned at the MontanaSA国际影视传媒檚 Brier in Regina this week.
At the start of this morningSA国际影视传媒檚 play, the NWT were sitting at the top of the leaderboard in their pool at the Canadian menSA国际影视传媒檚 curling championship with a record of four wins and one loss. The lone blemish came at the hands of big brother Kevin Koe on Saturday by a score of 8-4. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the 12th straight time Kevin has beaten Jamie at the Brier.
The format at this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 Brier is two pools of nine with the top three in each pool advancing to the next round towards the championship.
SA国际影视传媒淲e have a lot of experience with this team now,SA国际影视传媒� said Koe in a Sunday night media scrum. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e focused on the games SA国际影视传媒� last year we had a lot of stuff in out personal lives which was a distraction and affected our performance but this year, we are focusing on winning games.SA国际影视传媒�
This is KoeSA国际影视传媒檚 best start since the 2012 Brier, where he also started 3-1 and ultimately made the playoffs and the bronze medal game.
SA国际影视传媒淭hat year was similar in a way with a strong start,SA国际影视传媒� said Koe. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e looked at who we match up against and need to beat and which games we need to upset some of the favorites to be there at the end of the week.SA国际影视传媒�
Their first victory was against the Brier rookies from Quebec on March 1, 7-4. The second win came the following evening against Nova Scotia, a victory which almost didnSA国际影视传媒檛 happen.
In the 10th end, Koe had a simple hit to win, but jammed a Nova Scotia rock into his own counter, leaving Nova Scotia skip Matthew Manuel a draw for three to tie it and send it into an extra end. The NWT recovered in the extra end, though, with a single and the victory.
Monday morningSA国际影视传媒檚 matchup was a bookmakerSA国际影视传媒檚 nightmare when the considerable underdog NWT squad took on the defending and five-time champion Brad Gushue and Team Canada, who was picked as one of the pre-event favourites.
SA国际影视传媒淭here are no soft spots in the Brier now and definitely not that team,SA国际影视传媒� said Gushue before the game.
Gushue has direct experience of getting in trouble with the NWT in past Briers.
SA国际影视传媒淲e lost to them in my hometown (St. JohnSA国际影视传媒檚) in 2017 and almost missed the playoffs as a result,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Koe and company were not intimidated by the moment; they were the featured game in TSN Monday morning. Koe created his own highlight reel as he secured a 7-5 upset victory with an open hit in the 10th end to score one and seal the result.
SA国际影视传媒淭he fellas played well and we got some misses from them at the right time,SA国际影视传媒� said Koe in the post-match media scrum. SA国际影视传媒淲e need to keep it going now, make our shots and hopefully the wins will follow.SA国际影视传媒�
Meanwhile, Kevin KoeSA国际影视传媒檚 Alberta rink is in deep trouble already as they sat with a record of one win and four losses as of Tuesday afternoon.
SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of bizarro world for them having three (losses) this early,SA国际影视传媒� said Jamie Koe on his brotherSA国际影视传媒檚 record on Monday. SA国际影视传媒淚 hope they figure it out and come back or it could be a short week for them.SA国际影视传媒�
Kevin Koe himself has been struggling with a draw percentage of 75 per cent.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 not really feeling it right nowSA国际影视传媒� said Kevin during a scrum on Sunday.
But fans of Kevin shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 lose hope, however, as Kevin has won two Briers fighting back from bad starts.
SA国际影视传媒淭he team that makes the playoffs and is hot at the end of the week wins,SA国际影视传媒� said Kevin.
Pool play continues through Thursday with the playoff round starting Friday. The NWT squared off against Nunavut Monday evening, followed by an off-day on Tueaday. TheySA国际影视传媒檒l be playing two games against Saskatchewan and another Alberta team skipped by Kevin Sluchinski today and finish up pool play tomorrow versus Prince Edward Island.
