Issue 6 – Thursday, March 8, 2012 • An Offi cial Publication of the Canadian Curling Association. Manitoba in motion Rob Fowler moved into the hunt with two big wins Wednesday over the Koe brothers: Territories and Alberta. Sponsors of the Day January 10-13, 2013 • South Okanagan Events Centre • Penticton, BC See Sponsor Profi les on page 9 Page 2 2012 Tim Hortons Brier – Tankard Times Day Five at The Brier Howard alone at the top By Larry Wood ewan (2-7). “We proved in our Tankard Times Editor British Columbia (4-5) provincial playdowns any — 1:30 p.m. New Bruns- playoff position would be ntario’s Glenn wick (4-5); 6:30 p.m. an opportunity for us to Howard, resplen- Territories (5-4). finish the deal, so we’ll Odent with a night Northern Ontario (5-4) do what it takes and take off at the Tim Hortons Brier — 1:30 p.m. Manitoba Thursday’s games one at on Wednesday, was left (6-3); 6:30 p.m. Saskatch- a time,” Fowler said. atop the leaderboard when ewan (2-7). Koe was tight-lipped with Manitoba’s Rob Fowler Nova Scotia (4-5) — his reaction to the eve- upended Alberta’s Kevin 8:30 a.m. Ontario (8-1); ning’s proceedings. Koe 8-5, thereby temporar- 1:30 p.m. Alberta (7-2). “It was a struggle, they ily solidifying the top three Brandon’s Fowler, who played well,” he said. “We placings heading into the qualified for this Brier by were a little off and that’s last day of round-robin knocking off defending what happens when you play. champion Jeff Stoughton play good teams. We won’t Odds-on favourites to and tour money leader worry about it too much.” claim three of the four Mike McEwen, appeared Koe earlier defeated his post-preliminary playoff to have something saved brother’s Territories team berths, 2007 champion for the Alberta Koe team 11-3 in the morning. Ontario ended the day at on Wednesday night. Fowler doubled the Ter- 8-and-1, 2010 champion “When you’re playing ritories 10-5 in the after- Alberta was 7-2 and up- against one of the top five noon. start Manitoba, the defend- teams in the world you’d Ontario’s Howard, ing champion province, better bring you’re A-plus meanwhile, doubled up was 6-and-3. and that gets you excited on B.C.’s Jim Cotter 8-4 in But the Brier demands before the game and defi- the morning, then defeated a minimum of four playoff nitely pushes you to work Mike Gaudet’s Prince Ed- teams and that’s where the hard to get into the zone,” ward Islanders 10-5 in the issue became interesting explained the Manitoban. afternoon. heading into Thursday’s The Buffalo boys hit for “So far, so good,” said draws. an opening deuce and Howard, who finishes his At 5-4 with two to go refused to leave the zone, round-robin run against Al- were Jamie Koe’s Polars, stealing three singles en berta at 6:30 p.m. tonight. on a three--game losing route. “The grind is a little skein, and Brad Jacobs of “We got control of the bit tiring,” admitted the Sault Ste. Marie. scoreboard and they were 49-year-old veteran. “I Still with an outside coming at us hard,” said can’t tell a lie. The bot- crack at a tiebreaker at Fowler, “but we were able tom line is I think that in 4-5 were Terry Odishaw of to match them every step the long run, other than Moncton, Jamie Murphy of of the way, we were able to fatigue, I think it’s good CFB Halifax and B.C.’s Jim get a couple of big steals for us. It keeps you in the Cotter. and maintain that lead games. You have to make With all sorts of permu- throughout the last half of shots. And in terms of the tations and combinations the game. All four of us pressure situations we’re possible today, here’s how were playing top to bottom, making them. the contenders finish off probably our best game of “Would I like a few quick- their qualifying matches: the week. er ones? Maybe. It’s tiring, Ontario (8-1) — 8:30 “As the game played mentally, more draining a.m. Nova Scotia (4-5); out, I have to compliment this year because you’re 6:30 p.m. Alberta (7-2). my team. Their patience fighting tooth and nail for Alberta (7-2) — 1:30 and ability to stay positive every point you can get. p.m. Nova Scotia (4-5); no matter what transpired “I don’t remember any 6:30 p.m. Ontario (8-1). really showed in that previous Brier that was Manitoba (6-3) — 8:30 game.” quite as taxing as this one a.m. Saskatchewan (2-7); Fowler, with Allan so far.” 1:30 p.m. Northern On- Lyburn, Richard Daneault Northern Ontario’s tario (5-4). and Derek Samagalski, Jacobs sailed through a Territories (5-4) — 8:30 was reminded the victory pair — 9-2 over Quebec’s a.m. New Brunswick left his team in contention Robert Desjardins in the (4-5); 6:30 p.m. British for a possible berth in the morning and 11-3 over Columbia (4-5). Page One-Two playoff on Nova Scotia’s Jamie Mur- Northern Ontario (5-4) Friday night with a berth in phy in the afternoon. Newfoundland/Labrador’s Brad Gushue suffered that fatal sixth loss — 1:30 p.m. Manitoba the championship final at (6-3); 6:30 p.m. Saskatch- stake. Continued on 3 against New Brunswick Wednesday night. Thursday, March 8, 2012 Page 3 Continued from 2 in the afternoon, who dropped to 2-7 and last in the “I’m glad it’s over,” said the Alberta skip. fi eld. “I’m really glad he (Jamie) is here and doing well. But “We’ve gotten a lot better as the week has pro- Odishaw still was hoping to win out and wedge into a I don’t get much enjoyment out of beating them. I hope gressed,” assessed Jacobs. tiebreaker of some sort. they win the rest of their games. “Everyone’s a little more comfortable with the ice and “I think we’re in full survival mode right now and “It’s unfortunate one of us had to lose but we really the speed and what the rocks are doing out there, the we’re entertaining as usual, leaving some rocks in needed that win after losing our last game. tendencies with draws and hits. We’ve really caught on play,” Odishaw said with a laugh. “It’s a long week and it’s tough to stay focused all to the ice the last couple of games. “But the approach is the same, it doesn’t change. week. But I’m sure they (Territories) will bounce back.” Jacobs said his win over Alberta on Tuesday after- Keep our fi ngers crossed and hope to make the shots.” Howard’s win over Cotter wasn’t decided until the noon set the table for his charges. Nova Scotia’s playoff hopes took a turn for the worst B.C. worthy missed a last draw with Ontario counting “We were really up for Kevin Koe,” he said. “We when skip Murphy fl ashed a last-rock double which ac- three. seem to get up for the teams that everyone knows counted for a 7-6 loss to Quebec’s Desjardins. “Obviously,” said Howard, “I thought Jim would make about but not so much for teams nobody knows about. “We made it a little more exciting than it needed to that shot and we’d be going yet another extra end.” But getting that win over Koe was great for our confi - be, eh?” Desjardins asked. It would have been the fi fth overtime assignment in dence. Quebec put up a three-spot in the fi rst end, but gave eight jousts for Ontario. “It’s much more diffi cult playing some of these teams. most of it back in the second and the game see-sawed Cotter refused to allow Ontario to get away on the The last two Briers there were a lot of familiar faces, from there. scoreboard, tying things up three times before blanking teams you play on a regular basis. We know what to Up one with hammer in the last panel, Desjardins the ninth and trailing by one. expect out of them. Teams you’ve never seen before watched as Murphy sailed one through the rings which Howard’s last come-around draw slipped behind you don’t know what to expect. That can be tough. left the Quebec skip the luxury of disregarding his last the teeline leaving Cotter a path to follow. But his rock “But it makes it a fabulous event. I think it’s great to brick. over-curled and rubbed at the top of the rings. see some of the new blood here.” “The ice is pretty tricky there, I’m not sure if the shot Elsewhere, Jacobs and his gang were exulted with Moncton’s Odishaw hung tough on the late shift by was there, but what he was looking at, I would have their day’s harvest. crushing the hopes of Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue tried the same shot,” said Desjardins. “Hey, we’re still in it!” exclaimed Jacobs, who won his 6-4.