Pat Simmons (curler)

Patrick "Simms" Simmons[2] (born November 21, 1974, in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian curler. Simmons played on the 2014 and 2015 Canadian champion rink, the latter year as skip. As a skip, he has also represented Saskatchewan in four straight Briers from 2005 to 2008 and again in 2011. He has also represented Alberta twice at the Brier.

Pat Simmons
Simmons at the 2015 Masters
Born (1974-11-21) November 21, 1974 (age 49)
Team
Curling clubMoose Jaw Ford CC[1]
Moose Jaw, SK
SkipColton Flasch
ThirdCatlin Schneider
SecondKevin Marsh
LeadDan Marsh
AlternatePat Simmons
Curling career
Member Association Saskatchewan (2003–2011)
 Alberta (2012–2017)
 Manitoba (2017–18; 2021–present)
Brier appearances11 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022, 2024)
World Championship
appearances
2 (2014, 2015)
Top CTRS ranking2nd (2013–14)
Grand Slam victories2 (2012 Masters, 2013 Canadian Open)
Medal record
Men's Curling
Representing  Canada
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Halifax
The Brier
Gold medal – first place 2015 Calgary
Representing  Alberta
The Brier
Gold medal – first place 2014 Kamloops
Silver medal – second place 2012 Saskatoon
Representing  Saskatchewan
The Brier
Silver medal – second place 2024 Regina
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Winnipeg

He currently coaches the Robyn Silvernagle rink.[3]

Career

Simmons made it to his first Brier in 2005 after winning his first provincial championship, defeating Daryl Williamson in that year's Saskatchewan final with teammates Jeff Sharp, Chris Haichert and Ben Hebert.[4] At the Brier, he skipped Saskatchewan to a 6–5 finish, in a four-way tie for fifth place, out of the playoffs.

Simmons was the Saskatchewan provincial championship for the second time in a row in 2006, defeating Bruce Korte in the final.[5] At the 2006 Tim Hortons Brier, Simmons skipped Saskatchewan to a 5–6 finish at the Brier, tied for eighth place and out of the playoffs.

Simmons won his third straight provincial title in 2007, defeating Eugene Hritzuk in the provincial final with new teammates Gerry Adam and Steve Laycock playing front end.[6] Simmons had a much better record at the 2007 Tim Hortons Brier, finishing 7–4, but narrowly missed the playoffs once again, finishing in fifth place.

Simmons won his fourth straight provincial title in 2008, defeating Darrell McKee in the Saskatchewan final.[7] At the 2008 Tim Hortons Brier, Simmons finally skipped Saskatchewan to a playoff spot at the Brier, finishing the round robin in second place with a 9–2 record. However, he lost in the semifinal in an extra end to Ontario, skipped by Glenn Howard.

Simmons' rink qualified for the 2009 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, but finished the round robin with a 2–5 record, in seventh place.

Simmons would return to the Brier in 2011, throwing fourth stones for Steve Laycock. The team finished with a 4–7 record.

Simmons at the 2016 Tim Hortons Brier.

The next season, Simmons joined the Kevin Koe rink out of Calgary, Alberta replacing Blake MacDonald.[1] The team represented Alberta in the 2012 Brier, where they finished second. They played in the 2013 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, going 2–5. The team made won another provincial championship in 2014. At the 2014 Brier the Koe rink defeated John Morris' B.C. rink 10–5 in the final, giving Simmons his first Brier title.[8] The team finished fourth at the 2014 World Men's Curling Championship. It was the first time Simmons represented Canada internationally.

Koe left the team in 2014; the rest of the rink decided to stick together to compete as Team Canada at the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier, drafting John Morris to replace Koe as skip.

During the 2015 Brier after Morris's Team Canada started off 2–3 Morris approached Simmons with an idea that Simmons skip and Morris move to vice. The move paid off as the rink went on to win the competition.[9][10] They finished in third place (bronze medal) at the 2015 world championships in Halifax.

Personal life

Simmons is a chiropractor by trade, but currently works as the Director of High Performance for Curlsask.[11] He is formerly married to Cindy Simmons, and has two children.[12] He resides in Moose Jaw.[13]

Teams

SeasonSkipThirdSecondLead
1991–92Scott BitzJeff TaitPat SimmonsGreg Burrows
1993–94Neil CursonsPat SimmonsRob NixonJamie Burrows
1994–95Neil CursonsPat SimmonsRob NixonJamie Burrows
1999–00Pat SimmonsScott BitzBrian McCuskerRon Pugsley
2000–01Rod MontgomeryPat SimmonsJoel JordisonScott McGrath
2001–02Rod MontgomeryPat SimmonsJoel JordisonBrock Montgomery
2002–03Pat SimmonsJoel JordisonRyan MillerNeil Cursons
2003–04Pat SimmonsJeff SharpChris HaichertBen Hebert
2004–05Pat SimmonsJeff SharpChris HaichertBen Hebert
2005–06Pat SimmonsJeff SharpChris HaichertBen Hebert
2006–07Pat SimmonsJeff SharpGerry AdamSteve Laycock
2007–08Pat SimmonsJeff SharpGerry AdamSteve Laycock
2008–09Pat SimmonsJeff SharpGerry AdamSteve Laycock
2009–10Pat SimmonsGerry AdamJeff SharpSteve Laycock
2010–11Pat SimmonsSteve LaycockBrennen JonesDallan Muyres
2011–12Kevin KoePat SimmonsCarter RycroftNolan Thiessen
2012–13Kevin KoePat SimmonsCarter RycroftNolan Thiessen
2013–14Kevin KoePat SimmonsCarter RycroftNolan Thiessen
2014–15John Morris
Pat Simmons
Pat Simmons
John Morris
Carter Rycroft
Scott Bailey
Nolan Thiessen
2015–16Pat SimmonsJohn MorrisCarter RycroftNolan Thiessen
2016–17Brendan BottcherPat SimmonsBradley ThiessenKarrick Martin
2017–18Pat SimmonsColton LottKyle DoeringRob Gordon
2021–22Pat SimmonsColton LottKyle DoeringTanner Lott

Grand Slam record

Key
CChampion
FLost in Final
SFLost in Semifinal
QFLost in Quarterfinals
R16Lost in the round of 16
QDid not advance to playoffs
T2Played in Tier 2 event
DNPDid not participate in event
N/ANot a Grand Slam event that season
Event2003–042004–052005–062006–072007–082008–092009–102010–112011–122012–132013–142014–152015–162016–172017–18
Tour ChallengeN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/ADNPQQF
MastersDNPFQQFQFQDNPQQFCQFQQQQ
The NationalDNPDNPFQQFQQQQFSFQFQFQFQQ
Canadian OpenDNPDNPDNPQFQQQQFQSFCQQDNPDNP
Players'QFQSFSFSFQQFQQQQFDNPDNPDNPDNP
Champions CupN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AQFDNPDNP

References