Brier Pool B features defending champs
The 2024 Montana's Brier gets underway on Friday in Regina with the top 18 men's curling teams from around the country.
The field is represented by 14 provincial and territorial champions, defending champ Team Canada, and three rinks that qualified through the Canadian Team Ranking System. The 18 teams are in two pools of nine, where they will play an eight-game round robin. The top three teams advance to the playoffs. The playoff round will begin March 8 with the championship set for March 10 at 6 p.m.
The winner will represent Canada at the 2024 World Men's Curling Championship in Switzerland from March 30 to April 7.
Meet the teams — Pool B
1. TEAM CANADA (GUSHUE)
Skip Brad Gushue, third Mark Nichols, second E.J. Harnden, lead Geoff Walker, coach Caleb Flaxey
The 43-year-old Gushue is the two-time defending champion having won in London in 2023 and Lethbridge in 2022. In his 21st Brier appearances, Gushue has five first-place finishes.
2. TEAM ALBERTA (KOE)
Skip Kevin Koe, third Tyler Tardi, second Jacques Gauthier, lead Karrick Martin, coach Mike Libbus
Another team that qualified through the CTRS, the 49-year-old Koe will appear in his 12th Brier, having won four times (2010, 2014, 2016, 2019) while also finishing second four times (2012, 2017, 2021, 2022). The Calgary club has a new look as they added Gauthier, who skipped B.C. last year.
3. TEAM SASKATCHEWAN (MCEWEN)
Skip Mike Mcewen, third Colton Flasch, second Kevin Marsh, lead Daniel Marsh, alternate Pat Simmons, coach Brent Laing
Curling out of Saskatchewan for the first time, the 43-year-old Mcewen will appear in his ninth consecutive Brier, having previously represented Manitoba, Wild Card and Ontario. Mcewen made the playoffs last year with Ontario but lost to Bottcher in the playoffs. He represented Team Wild Card at the 2018 Brier in Regina.
4. TEAM ALBERTA (SLUCHINSKI)
Skip Aaron Sluchinski, third Jeremy Harty, second Kerr Drummond, lead Dylan Webster, coach Mickey Pendergast
Sluchinski will appear in his first Brier as a skip after upsetting Koe in the Alberta provincial final. The 36-year-old Sluchinski was previously an alternate with Bottcher's Team Canada squad in 2022.
5. TEAM QUEBEC (TREMBLAY)
Skip Julien Tremblay, third Jean-michel Arsenault, second Jesse Mullen, lead Philippe Brassard, alternate Vincent Roberge, coach Eric Sylvain
This year's Team Quebec defeated defending champion Felix Asselin in the Quebec provincial final to earn their first Brier ticket.
6. TEAM NOVA SCOTIA (MANUEL)
Skip Matthew Manuel, third Luke Saunders, second Jeff Meagher, lead Nick Zachernuk, coach Kim Kelly
It will be the second straight appearance for Manuel and his Halifax team at the Brier after finishing 3-5 last year. Manuel earned the berth after defeating Owen Purcell
with a steal of one in the final end of this year's Nova Scotia final.
7. TEAM PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND (SMITH)
Skip Tyler Smith, third Adam Cocks, second Chris Gallant, lead Ed White, coach Paul Flemming
It's the fourth straight year representing P.E.I. at the Brier for Smith, who finished with a 2-6 record last year. Gallant has replaced Alex Macfadyen at second.
8. TEAM NORTHWEST TERRITORIES (KOE)
Skip Jamie Koe, third Glen Kennedy, second Cole Parsons, lead Shadrach Mcleod, alternate Stephen Robertson
This is the 17th Brier and third consecutive appearance for Koe. The Yellowknife team finished with a 1-7 record last year.
9. TEAM NUNAVUT (LA TIMER)
Skip Shane Latimer, third Sheldon Wettig, second Brady St. Louis, lead Christian Smitheram, coach Peter Van Strien, coach Katie Brooks
The Iqaluit club beat Wade Kingdon and company in the provincial final to earn a Brier appearance.