2018 Tim Hortons Brier

The 2018 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship, was held from March 3 to 11, 2018 at the Brandt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan. The winning team represented Canada at the 2018 World Men's Curling Championship from March 31 to April 8 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, United States.

2018 Tim Hortons Brier
2018 Tim Hortons Brier
Host cityRegina, Saskatchewan
ArenaBrandt Centre
DatesMarch 3 – 11
Attendance110,555
Winner Canada
Curling clubBally Haly G&CC & St. John's CC,
St. John's
SkipBrad Gushue
ThirdMark Nichols
SecondBrett Gallant
LeadGeoff Walker
AlternateTom Sallows
CoachJules Owchar
Finalist Alberta (Brendan Bottcher)
« 2017
2019 »

This marked the fifth time the Brier was held in Regina, the first time since 2006.

The 2018 tournament was the first to use a new 16-team format, featuring representation by all fourteen member associations of Curling Canada, alongside the defending champions (as Team Canada), and a new wildcard team. As part of this new format, the Bronze medal game was removed from the schedule.

Teams

Curling Canada introduced a new 16-team format for both the Brier and Tournament of Hearts for 2018, under which all 14 member associations of Curling Canada are now represented in the main field, rather than being limited by a pre-qualifying tournament. The teams were divided into two pools for round robin play, after which the top four teams from each advanced to a Championship Pool. Alongside the inclusion of the previous year's champions as Team Canada, the final spot in the tournament was filled by a wildcard play-in game held on the Friday before the tournament.[1]

The rinks of John Epping (Ontario), Mike Fournier (Quebec), and Greg Smith (Newfoundland and Labrador) made their Brier debuts.

Team Canada's Brad Gushue set a new record for the most Canadian national men's championship game wins as a skip when he skipped the 114th victory of his Brier career over the Northwest Territories on March 5.[2]

Canada Alberta British Columbia Manitoba
Bally Haly G&CC &
St. John's CC, St. John's

Skip: Brad Gushue
Third: Mark Nichols
Second: Brett Gallant
Lead: Geoff Walker
Alternate: Tom Sallows

Saville SC, Edmonton

Skip: Brendan Bottcher
Third: Darren Moulding
Second: Brad Thiessen
Lead: Karrick Martin

[a]Kelowna CC, Kelowna

Skip: Sean Geall
Third: Jeff Richard
Second: Andrew Nerpin
Lead: David Harper
Alternate: Brad Wood

West St. Paul CC, West St. Paul

Skip: Reid Carruthers
Third: Braeden Moskowy
Second: Derek Samagalski
Lead: Colin Hodgson

New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Northern Ontario Nova Scotia
Gage G&CC, Oromocto

Skip: James Grattan
Third: Chris Jeffrey
Second: Andy McCann
Lead: Peter Case
Alternate: Brian King

Bally Haly G&CC &
St. John's CC, St. John's

Skip: Greg Smith
Third: Matthew Hunt
Second: Andrew Taylor
Lead: Ian Withycombe
Alternate: Connor Stapleton

Community First CC, Sault Ste. Marie

Skip: Brad Jacobs
Third: Ryan Fry
Second: E.J. Harnden
Lead: Ryan Harnden[b]
Alternate: Tanner Horgan[b]

Halifax CC, Halifax

Skip: Jamie Murphy
Third: Paul Flemming
Second: Scott Saccary
Lead: Phil Crowell

Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan
Leaside CC, East York, Toronto

Skip: John Epping
Third: Mat Camm
Second: Pat Janssen
Lead: Tim March

Charlottetown CC, Charlottetown

Skip: Eddie MacKenzie
Third: Josh Barry
Second: Christopher Gallant
Lead: Sean Ledgerwood
Alternate: Robbie Younker

Glenmore CC, Dollard-des-Ormeaux &
CC Valleyfield, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield

Skip: Mike Fournier
Third: Félix Asselin
Second: William Dion
Lead: Jean-François Trépanier[c]
Alternate: Émile Asselin[c]

Nutana CC, Saskatoon

Fourth: Matt Dunstone
Skip: Steve Laycock
Second: Kirk Muyres
Lead: Dallan Muyres
Alternate: Lyle Muyres

Northwest Territories Nunavut Yukon Wildcard
Yellowknife CC, Yellowknife

Skip: Jamie Koe
Third: Chris Schille
Second: Brad Chorostkowski
Lead: Robert Borden

Iqaluit CC, Iqaluit

Skip: Dave St. Louis
Third: Wade Kingdon
Second: Peter Mackey
Lead: Jeff Nadeau

Whitehorse CC, Whitehorse

Skip: Thomas Scoffin
Third: Tom Appelman
Second: Wade Scoffin[d]
Lead: Steve Fecteau[d]
Alternate: Clint Ireland[d]

Fort Rouge CC, Winnipeg

Skip: Mike McEwen
Third: B.J. Neufeld
Second: Matt Wozniak
Lead: Denni Neufeld

CTRS ranking

Member Association (Skip)RankPoints
Wildcard (McEwen)2365.181
 Canada (Gushue)3361.585
 Manitoba (Carruthers)4270.599
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs)5265.245
 Alberta (Bottcher)7233.333
 Ontario (Epping)8212.384
 Saskatchewan (Laycock)12140.208
 Nova Scotia (Murphy)2885.656
 British Columbia (Geall)3178.758
 Quebec (Fournier)4953.503
 New Brunswick (Grattan)7434.131
 Yukon (Scoffin)1555.038
 Northwest Territories (Koe)1564.725
 Newfoundland and Labrador (Smith)1564.725
 Prince Edward Island (MacKenzie)NR0.000
 Nunavut (St. Louis)NR0.000

Wildcard game

A play-in game was held on March 2, 2018 that determined the wildcard team that rounded out the tournament field. It was played between the top two teams on the Canadian Team Ranking System standings who lost[1] in their provincial championship: the Fort Rouge Curling Club's Mike McEwen rink and the Granite Curling Club's Jason Gunnlaugson rink, both from Winnipeg.

CTRS standings as of February 12
RankTeamMember AssociationEligibility
1Kevin Koe  AlbertaQualified for Olympics (ineligible)
2Mike McEwen  ManitobaEliminated from provincials[7]
3Brad Gushue  Newfoundland and LabradorQualified as Team Canada (ineligible)
4Reid Carruthers  ManitobaWon Manitoba provincials
5Brad Jacobs  Northern OntarioWon Northern Ontario provincials
6Jason Gunnlaugson  ManitobaEliminated from provincials
Wildcard Game

Friday, March 2, 19:00

Team1234567891011Final
Mike McEwen001000010114
Jason Gunnlaugson 000011001003
Player percentages
Team McEwen Team Gunnlaugson
Denni Neufeld92%Connor Njegovan68%
Matt Wozniak93%Ian McMillan93%
B.J. Neufeld74%Alex Forrest92%
Mike McEwen93%Jason Gunnlaugson74%
Total88%Total82%

Round-robin standings

Key
Teams to Championship Round
Teams to Placement Draw
Pool ASkipWLPFPAEWELBESES%
 AlbertaBrendan Bottcher615031301971185%
 CanadaBrad Gushue61553129237690%
WildcardMike McEwen524331252214786%
 Nova ScotiaJamie Murphy43444431298985%
 Northwest TerritoriesJamie Koe34364625288778%
 British ColumbiaSean Geall25405325326678%
 Newfoundland and LabradorGreg Smith16325820349375%
 YukonThomas Scoffin163144262511778%
Pool BSkipWLPFPAEWELBESES%
 Northern OntarioBrad Jacobs614529292112987%
 OntarioJohn Epping61623030267686%
 ManitobaReid Carruthers52554229268685%
 SaskatchewanSteve Laycock434537272512984%
 QuebecMike Fournier343841282412782%
 New BrunswickJames Grattan25425028327983%
 Prince Edward IslandEddie MacKenzie25495627287681%
 NunavutDave St. Louis07227318345167%

Round-robin results

All draw times are listed in Central Standard Time (UTC−06:00).

Draw 1

Saturday, March 3, 14:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 New Brunswick (Grattan)020210022X9
 Nunavut (St. Louis) 101001000X3
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Saskatchewan (Laycock)100100000X2
 Quebec (Fournier) 001001021X5
Sheet C12345678910Final
 Prince Edward Island (MacKenzie)00400102XX7
 Manitoba (Carruthers) 33012030XX12
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs) 01001001014
 Ontario (Epping)00100010103

Draw 2

Saturday, March 3, 19:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Canada (Gushue) 04000420XX10
 British Columbia (Geall)00001001XX2
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Northwest Territories (Koe)02020211019
 Newfoundland and Labrador (Smith) 10204000007
Sheet C1234567891011Final
 Nova Scotia (Murphy)002021010017
 Alberta (Bottcher) 000200201106
Sheet D12345678910Final
Wildcard (McEwen) 300002000X5
 Yukon (Scoffin)001100001X3

Draw 3

Sunday, March 4, 09:00

Sheet A1234567891011Final
 Saskatchewan (Laycock)000201001105
 Manitoba (Carruthers) 010020110027
Sheet B1234567891011Final
 New Brunswick (Grattan) 100110111107
 Ontario (Epping)032002000029
Sheet C12345678910Final
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs) 210021000X6
 Nunavut (St. Louis)000100011X3
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Prince Edward Island (MacKenzie)10001003027
 Quebec (Fournier) 00300020106

Draw 4

Sunday, March 4, 14:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Northwest Territories (Koe)00000200XX2
 Alberta (Bottcher) 02221011XX9
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Canada (Gushue)22021010XX8
 Yukon (Scoffin) 00100101XX3
Sheet C12345678910Final
Wildcard (McEwen)12003021XX9
 British Columbia (Geall) 00110100XX3
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Nova Scotia (Murphy)020100321X9
 Newfoundland and Labrador (Smith) 103011000X6

Draw 5

Sunday, March 4, 19:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs)01024200XX9
 Prince Edward Island (MacKenzie) 10200011XX5
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Nunavut (St. Louis)00200102XX5
 Manitoba (Carruthers) 21024030XX12
Sheet C12345678910Final
 Ontario (Epping) 30102010XX7
 Quebec (Fournier)01010001XX3
Sheet D12345678910Final
 New Brunswick (Grattan) 03000010XX4
 Saskatchewan (Laycock)20211102XX9

Draw 6

Monday, March 5, 09:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
Wildcard (McEwen) 10002000036
 Nova Scotia (Murphy)00100021105
Sheet B12345678910Final
 British Columbia (Geall)00410100208
 Alberta (Bottcher) 10002023019
Sheet C12345678910Final
 Yukon (Scoffin)01010020116
 Newfoundland and Labrador (Smith) 10102003007
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Canada (Gushue) 10020203XX8
 Northwest Territories (Koe)00201010XX4

Draw 7

Monday, March 5, 14:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Manitoba (Carruthers)020203002X9
 Quebec (Fournier) 101010210X6
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs) 110210301X9
 New Brunswick (Grattan)001002010X4
Sheet C1234567891011Final
 Saskatchewan (Laycock)001020102017
 Prince Edward Island (MacKenzie) 000301010106
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Ontario (Epping) 21330104XX14
 Nunavut (St. Louis)00002010XX3

Draw 8

Monday, March 5, 19:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Alberta (Bottcher) 10112040XX9
 Newfoundland and Labrador (Smith)00000200XX2
Sheet B12345678910Final
Wildcard (McEwen)020101001X5
 Canada (Gushue) 202010010X6
Sheet C12345678910Final
 Northwest Territories (Koe) 10011001127
 Nova Scotia (Murphy)01000110003
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Yukon (Scoffin)011100212X8
 British Columbia (Geall) 100010000X2

Draw 9

Tuesday, March 6, 09:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Prince Edward Island (MacKenzie)00020202006
 New Brunswick (Grattan) 01001020329
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Quebec (Fournier) 32020010XX8
 Nunavut (St. Louis)00100101XX3
Sheet C12345678910Final
 Manitoba (Carruthers)020101010X5
 Ontario (Epping) 101020105X10
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Saskatchewan (Laycock) 004003010X8
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs)000110101X4

Draw 10

Tuesday, March 6, 14:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Nova Scotia (Murphy)010102010X5
 Canada (Gushue) 102020202X9
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Newfoundland and Labrador (Smith)130001010X6
 British Columbia (Geall) 003240102X12
Sheet C12345678910Final
 Alberta (Bottcher)102000202X7
 Yukon (Scoffin) 020101010X5
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Northwest Territories (Koe)00001002XX3
Wildcard (McEwen) 13210300XX10

Draw 11

Tuesday, March 6, 19:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Quebec (Fournier) 100100100X3
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs)002030011X7
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Ontario (Epping)03030203XX11
 Prince Edward Island (MacKenzie) 10101010XX4
Sheet C12345678910Final
 Nunavut (St. Louis)02000001XX3
 Saskatchewan (Laycock) 20211400XX10
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Manitoba (Carruthers) 020100202X7
 New Brunswick (Grattan)000011010X3

Draw 12

Wednesday, March 7, 09:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Newfoundland and Labrador (Smith)000010100X2
Wildcard (McEwen) 010102020X6
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Yukon (Scoffin)001010002X4
 Nova Scotia (Murphy) 020200210X7
Sheet C12345678910Final
 British Columbia (Geall)002101021X7
 Northwest Territories (Koe) 100010100X3
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Alberta (Bottcher)101030203X10
 Canada (Gushue) 030101020X7

Draw 13

Wednesday, March 7, 14:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Ontario (Epping)100100204X8
 Saskatchewan (Laycock) 002000020X4
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Manitoba (Carruthers) 002000010X3
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs)000220002X6
Sheet C1234567891011Final
 Quebec (Fournier) 210001010117
 New Brunswick (Grattan)003010002006
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Nunavut (St. Louis) 0100001XXX2
 Prince Edward Island (MacKenzie)4043120XXX14

Draw 14

Wednesday, March 7, 19:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Yukon (Scoffin)00101000XX2
 Northwest Territories (Koe) 02030021XX8
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Alberta (Bottcher)00012501XX9
Wildcard (McEwen) 01000010XX2
Sheet C12345678910Final
 Newfoundland and Labrador (Smith) 00010010XX2
 Canada (Gushue)21000202XX7
Sheet D12345678910Final
 British Columbia (Geall)02010020106
 Nova Scotia (Murphy) 10201101028

Placement round

Each team that finished fifth through eight in their pool played the team that finished in the same position in the opposite pool for the purpose of determining final tournament ranking. For example, the winner of the game between fifth place teams was ranked ninth place overall, the loser of that game was ranked tenth place, and so on.

Seeding games

All game times are listed in Central Standard Time (UTC−06:00).

A5 vs. B5

Friday, March 9, 09:00

Sheet B12345678910Final
 Northwest Territories (Koe) 21001002006
 Quebec (Fournier)00200100014

A6 vs. B6

Friday, March 9, 09:00

Sheet C12345678910Final
 British Columbia (Geall)02010011XX5
 New Brunswick (Grattan) 30200700XX12

A7 vs. B7

Friday, March 9, 09:00

Sheet D12345678910Final
 Newfoundland and Labrador (Smith)01001001XX3
 Prince Edward Island (MacKenzie) 40310310XX12

A8 vs. B8

Friday, March 9, 09:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Yukon (Scoffin) 11010030017
 Nunavut (St. Louis)00101300106

Championship pool standings

All wins and losses earned in the round robin (including results against teams that failed to advance) were carried forward into the Championship Pool.

Key
Teams to Playoffs
Teams to Tiebreakers
TeamSkipWLPFPAEWELBESES%
 CanadaBrad Gushue1017744433521691%
 OntarioJohn Epping9291554944111087%
 AlbertaBrendan Bottcher8389455135141785%
 Northern OntarioBrad Jacobs8365484232221387%
WildcardMike McEwen746554383522986%
 SaskatchewanSteve Laycock6568594441201186%
 Nova ScotiaJamie Murphy5666704650111284%
 ManitobaReid Carruthers5667724041201183%

Championship pool results

All draw times are listed in Central Standard Time (UTC−06:00).

Draw 15

Thursday, March 8, 14:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Saskatchewan (Laycock) 20102003008
 Alberta (Bottcher)02010020016
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Canada (Gushue) 02030002XX7
 Manitoba (Carruthers)00100010XX2
Sheet C12345678910Final
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs) 101200110X6
 Nova Scotia (Murphy)020000002X4
Sheet D12345678910Final
Wildcard (McEwen) 20020201007
 Ontario (Epping)01002010228

Draw 16

Thursday, March 8, 19:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Nova Scotia (Murphy)12010101006
 Ontario (Epping) 00202010218
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs) 610010XXXX8
Wildcard (McEwen)000100XXXX1
Sheet C12345678910Final
 Alberta (Bottcher)00100421XX8
 Manitoba (Carruthers) 01010000XX2
Sheet D1234567891011Final
 Saskatchewan (Laycock) 010100100104
 Canada (Gushue)001020010015

Draw 17

Friday, March 9, 14:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Canada (Gushue) 02000020015
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs)00000201003
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Ontario (Epping) 10401010209
 Alberta (Bottcher)01020102017
Sheet C12345678910Final
Wildcard (McEwen) 20000102016
 Saskatchewan (Laycock)00010020104
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Manitoba (Carruthers) 10101010105
 Nova Scotia (Murphy)03020100017

Draw 18

Friday, March 9, 19:00

Sheet A12345678910Final
 Manitoba (Carruthers)00000102XX3
Wildcard (McEwen) 02201030XX8
Sheet B12345678910Final
 Nova Scotia (Murphy)01101020005
 Saskatchewan (Laycock) 10010101217
Sheet C1234567891011Final
 Ontario (Epping)001010100104
 Canada (Gushue) 200001001015
Sheet D12345678910Final
 Alberta (Bottcher)010101204X9
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs) 001010010X3

Playoffs

1 vs. 2

Saturday, March 10, 19:00

Team12345678910Final
 Canada (Gushue) 020102001X6
 Ontario (Epping)000010010X2
Player percentages
 Canada  Ontario
Geoff Walker79%Tim March83%
Brett Gallant88%Pat Janssen88%
Mark Nichols96%Matt Camm79%
Brad Gushue100%John Epping82%
Total91%Total83%

3 vs. 4

Saturday, March 10, 14:00

Team1234567891011Final
 Alberta (Bottcher) 010101000216
 Northern Ontario (Jacobs)002000210005
Player percentages
 Alberta  Northern Ontario
Karrick Martin83%Ryan Harnden83%
Brad Thiessen84%E.J. Harnden89%
Darren Moulding70%Ryan Fry86%
Brendan Bottcher82%Brad Jacobs85%
Total80%Total86%

Semifinal

Sunday, March 11, 09:00

Team12345678910Final
 Ontario (Epping) 20001001004
 Alberta (Bottcher)00020120016
Player percentages
 Ontario  Alberta
Tim March94%Karrick Martin94%
Pat Janssen85%Brad Thiessen84%
Matt Camm93%Darren Moulding80%
John Epping84%Brendan Bottcher83%
Total89%Total85%

Final

Sunday, March 11, 16:00

Team12345678910Final
 Canada (Gushue) 00202001016
 Alberta (Bottcher)00010010204
Player percentages
 Canada  Alberta
Geoff Walker84%Karrick Martin89%
Brett Gallant94%Brad Thiessen83%
Mark Nichols91%Darren Moulding86%
Brad Gushue96%Brendan Bottcher93%
Total91%Total88%

Statistics

Top 5 player percentages

Final Round Robin Percentages; minimum 6 games

Key
First All-Star Team
Second All-Star Team
Leads%
WC Denni Neufeld92
Geoff Walker91
Tim March89
Dallan Muyres89
Colin Hodgson89
Seconds%
Brett Gallant91
E.J. Harnden89
Pat Janssen86
WC Matt Wozniak86
Brad Thiessen85
Thirds%
Mark Nichols88
Steve Laycock (Skip)86
Ryan Fry85
Mat Camm85
WC B.J. Neufeld85
Skips%
Brad Gushue93
John Epping86
Brad Jacobs85
Brendan Bottcher84
Matt Dunstone (Fourth)83

Perfect games

Round Robin and Championship Pool only

PlayerTeamPositionShotsOpponent
Brad Gushue  CanadaSkip16  Yukon
B.J. Neufeld WildcardThird16  Northwest Territories
Denni Neufeld WildcardLead12  Northern Ontario
Denni Neufeld WildcardLead14  Manitoba

Awards

The awards and all-star teams are listed as follows:

All-Star Teams[8]

First Team

Second Team

Ross Harstone Sportsmanship Award[8]
Paul McLean Award[9]
Hec Gervais Most Valuable Player Award[10]

Provincial and territorial playdowns

Notes

References