Competing in a national menSA国际影视传媒檚 curling championship is always a stressful and complex time for curlers. Teams work all year on communication, technical ability and a team based understanding of what makes the team perform its best.

Preparation for competition in the Covid-19 era presents yet another pre-competition challenge which teams must manage: the loss of teammates due to positive Covid-19 results. A requirement for competing in the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier in Lethbridge, Alta., is that prior to departure for the event, teams were required to provide a negative Covid-19 test to Curling Canada. Unfortunately, four players in the field tested positive for Covid-19 during pre-event testing, one of those being Shadrach McLeod, who plays lead for Jamie Koe and Team NWT.

SA国际影视传媒淟osing Shad last minute wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 ideal,SA国际影视传媒� said Koe. SA国际影视传媒淧utting a new lineup in place for the big event isnSA国际影视传媒檛 what we hoped for.SA国际影视传媒�

Team NWT was required to quickly re-jig the line up prior to their first practice this past Friday. Fortunately for the team, Rob Borden, the teamSA国际影视传媒檚 alternate, was ready to slide into McLeodSA国际影视传媒檚 place.

SA国际影视传媒淔irst and foremost, ISA国际影视传媒檓 still gutted for Shad having to miss the Brier this year,SA国际影视传媒� said Borden. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 trying to make it (the substitution for Shad) as seamless for the team as possible. Luckily, having the familiarity playing with Jamie in the past helps.SA国际影视传媒�

Borden was referring to his previous 76 Brier games at lead for the NWT, including the 2012 playoff appearance with Koe.

Koe also reached out to another former teammate to join Borden as part of Team NWT in the form of Tom Naugler, whop played with Greg Skauge in last yearSA国际影视传媒檚 Brier and who played several years at third for Koe.

SA国际影视传媒淛amie called me at work and said he wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 sure what he was asking me but was wondering if I could do something last minute for them if need be,SA国际影视传媒� said Naugler. SA国际影视传媒淣ext thing I know, my flight was booked for 5:30 a.m. Friday morning.SA国际影视传媒�

Naugler was pressed into his own version of The Amazing Race: doing laundry, making arrangements, early morning flight and even calling into action Chris Koe, JamieSA国际影视传媒檚 wife, who picked up Naugler in Calgary and sped Naugler to Lethbridge in time for practice.

SA国际影视传媒淚 made it just in time, quite a trip,SA国际影视传媒� said Naugler with a laugh.

Naugler will sit in BordenSA国际影视传媒檚 place as the alternate for Team NWT throughout the event with Borden moving to full-time lead stone.

As a potential result of these distractions, the NWT is off to a rough start at this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 Brier. They kicked off with an 11-5 loss to Nova Scotia on Saturday.

SA国际影视传媒淲e got a few better bounces than they did,SA国际影视传媒� said Nova Scotia skip Paul Flemming in the media scrum following the game.

The second game was much improved and it appeared the Koe-skipped team had brought their game around. Quebec skip Mike Fournier and his team were in trouble throughout the game but it was a challenge QuebecSA国际影视传媒檚 fourth-stone thrower Felix Asselin rose to.

SA国际影视传媒淚n the second game, we were much more comfortable but ran into a hot Quebec skip,SA国际影视传媒� said Koe.

The other Koe in the event, four-time Brier champion Kevin Koe is on a different and successful path and currently sits undefeated as of press time.

SA国际影视传媒淲e arenSA国际影视传媒檛 fully sharp but finding a way to win,SA国际影视传媒� said Kevin on Monday. SA国际影视传媒淎s the week rolls on, we will get stronger (and) looking to peak during the playoffs.SA国际影视传媒�

Preliminary pool play continues through Thursday evening. The top three in each pool will move onto a modified double-elimination playoff.