Two very different Brier comebacks
Kennedy fired up for a lengthy Brier run as third with Jacobs’ Northern Ontario squad
He had a chance to spend time at home, really think about his curling future and, most importantly, rest his body and mind.
It was about recovering, after years of grinding away at what can be a gruelling game, playing through injuries, allowing the high-level world of men’s curling to take a toll.
“It’s just years and years of grinding,” said Marc Kennedy, a 38-year-old from St. Albert, Alta., whose resume includes two Olympic appearances, one gold medal, two world championships and three Brier titles.
“It’s lots of travel, lots of time away, missing lots of stuff at home and never quite feeling 100 per cent healthy. That takes its toll on you.”
After playing third for Kevin Koe at the 2018 Olympics in South Korea and finishing fourth, Kennedy needed a break. He wanted to spend a winter with his wife Nicole and his daughters Aubrey and Brechan and to do that he had to step away from a game he’s devoted his life to for more than two decades.
It seems to have had the desired effect, as Kennedy is back in the Tim Hortons Brier this year, playing third for Brad Jacobs of Northern Ontario, the No. 1 team in the world.
“I just knew a year off was going to be really good,” Kennedy said Sunday at Leon’s Centre.
“I wasn’t sure if it was going to be permanent or not, but things worked out pretty well and now I’m out here, 100 per cent, feeling good and rejuvenated and excited.
“The year off was amazing. It was amazing for my body, it was amazing for my family, it was great for my own energy level and my own emotional love for the game. I got to do some things that I wanted to do and then this opportunity came knocking and I felt like I was ready to give my all again.”
Kennedy did play a little last season, filling in at third with Team Jacobs when third Ryan Fry had to take leave following an alcohol-related incident at a fun bonspiel.
Clearly the Jacobs team liked the fit. They won the Canada Cup with Kennedy in the fold.
“We didn’t talk about it at the time,” Kennedy said. “They were going through their own team stuff. But that definitely had an impact on my decision to say yes this year. I really enjoyed my week with them at the Canada Cup. We have a lot in common. I love the way they approach the game and we had really good chemistry.”
The Jacobs team, which includes second E.J. Harnden and lead Ryan Harnden, played the Brier last year in Brandon with Fry at third, but decided to go a different direction after losing the semifinal to Brendan Bottcher. Fry is now playing third for John Epping’s team out of Toronto, which happens to be No. 2 in the world and a top contender in the Brier this week.
With Kennedy on board, the Jacobs team won three Grand Slam events this year and enters the Brier as the top seed.
“He’s meant a lot,” Jacobs said. “He’s a great guy, awesome friend, great teammate, brings a ton of experience and has just phenomenal mechanics and delivery. I would say he’s just a great third who helps me out a ton on the back end.”
“He’s played a huge role. He has helped bring us together a little bit more, as a team. He has really helped develop an awesome dynamic on this team. He’s a great communicator and easy to get along with and we’re very lucky to have him.”
It was nothing against Fry, who has a tremendous curling resume himself, but sometimes even the best of teams need a shakeup.
“That’s the reason people make changes in sports,” Kennedy said. “You see it in hockey all the time. You’re just looking for something new, some new chemistry, some new dynamic to mix things up and get some excitement.
“Ryan’s a great player but this changed the dynamic and the chemistry and it got everyone excited to play again. Sometimes that excitement is enough to lead you to success. That’s one of the reasons we’ve had such a good year. We’re just excited to get out on the ice and play every time.”
The Jacobs foursome was off to a 1-1 start heading into Sunday night’s game against Manitoba’s Jason Gunnlaugson. Northern Ontario lost a tough opener to Alberta’s Bottcher, but bounced back to beat Prince Edward Island’s Brian Cochrane on Sunday morning.
Regardless of their start, it’s highly likely they’ll be in the mix come the weekend and will look to end a run of playoff stumbles that has haunted them since their Brier win in 2013.
Kennedy believes he’s seen growth that suggests this team has all it takes and more.
“I didn’t really know them, so I’ve learned everything about them,” he said. “The big thing is how much we have in common. We’re all family guys. Family is a big part of our life and we love to curl.
“The most important thing is we’re all willing to learn and get better. We’re not stuck in our ways. We’re asking questions and we’re curious about how to improve. I love that about these guys, so that’s why I jumped on board.”
It was amazing for my body, it was amazing for my family, it was great for my own energy level and my own emotional love for the game.