Editor’s note: Martin Gavin is once again on the ground for NNSL Media at the Montana’s Brier and will be providing coverage all week as Jamie Koe and his rink out of the Yellowknife Curling Centre take on the best in the country. That includes squaring off against big brother Kevin Koe, which will happen on Saturday.
Jamie Koe and his Yellowknife Curling Centre rink are set to begin their 2024 Montana’s Brier this week in Regina.
This onset of the Canadian men’s curling championship holds special place for Jamie as he returns to the city where he first represented the North 18 years prior.
“It feels great to be heading back to the location of my first purple heart (the Brier’s sacred participant patch),” he said. “Our first Brier was here, so it’s got a special place in my heart”.
Special indeed as Koe’s Brier baptism saw he and his Yellowknife squad narrowly missed the playoffs with a 6-5 record, raising eyebrows across Canada towards curlers from the North.
Koe brings a well-seasoned squad filled with veterans this year as they take on Canada’s best on the national stage. The team includes Glen Kennedy, Cole Parsons, Shad McLeod and Stephen Robertson, all of who have been there before with Koe and will be looking to make some noise.
McLeod feels that returning for his fourth Brier places him in a much improved mind set to perform.
“This Brier, I am looking forward to bringing some level of experience and really being present,” he said. “Not everything will be new now, so it’s a great opportunity to settle in, fully embrace the experience and not get too caught up with the other teams, the media, or the crowd.”
Koe himself is making his 17th appearance, which puts him fourth all-time in terms of attendance and games, an accomplishment in itself. The Prairies have been good to Koe as they’ve produced two of his best Briers. It was in Saskatchewan in 2012 where he made his biggest splash, rising atop the field to the playoffs before losing out to none other than big brother Kevin Koe.
“Losing is hard and I would like to say it’s better losing out to Kevin, but it isn’t,” said Koe.
Paul Flemming, the reigning Canadian senior men’s champion, 11-time Brier participant and coach for Prince Edward Island at this year’s Brier, spoke fondly of his experiences with Jamie Koe on the national stage.
“Jamie and his squad from the North are a true testament to the nationality of the Brier,” he said. “They earn their way here most years and play really tough. I’ve personally had at least 10 national event battles with them between the Brier and the (Canadian) mixed and every game was close, but I am up on him, I think.”
One of the Brier’s favourite story lines is the battle of the Koe brothers. Last year, the Koe vs. Koe contest was replaced with Glen Kennedy vs. Mark Kennedy, his brother. This year’s chapter of the Koe brother battle is tomorrow, Saturday.
“I love playing him and I hate playing him” said Kevin Koe. “Playing against each other at the Brier is special as most brothers never get to experience it, but Jamie and his team can take anyone down. They have proven that and one of these days it could be us. That loss could knock us out and that’s scary.”
Jamie, on the other hand, has a different thought when asked by NNSL Media how he feels about taking on one of the pre-tournament favourites.
“We are going to take them down,” he said.
Everything starts tonight as the opening round consists of two pools of nine teams. The top three in each pool proceed to the playoffs. The NWT will be on the ice Friday night against Quebec in their opening contest.