The 2021 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship, was held from March 5 to 14 at the Markin MacPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta.
In the final, Team Alberta, skipped by Brendan Bottcher defeated Team Wild Card 2, skipped by Kevin Koe in an all-Alberta final, and a re-match of the 2019 Brier final. It was Bottcher's first Brier championship after losing the previous three finals. The first six ends of the final were evenly matched with Koe leading 1–0 heading into the seventh end. In the seventh, Koe's first rock picked, and he missed a double on his second shot, allowing Bottcher a draw for three, to go up 3–1. The two teams exchanged singles in the 8th and 9th ends, and in the 10th end, with just 30 seconds left on their time clock, Koe conceded with one rock left, as his team had no possibilities to score two points to tie the game. As champions, Bottcher and his team went on to represent Canada at the 2021 World Men's Curling Championship, where they finished in sixth place.
The event was originally scheduled to be held in Kelowna, British Columbia. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, it was announced that most Curling Canada championships still being held in the 2020–21 curling season (including the World Men's Curling Championship, which will be held at the same site) would be moved to a centralized "bubble" (similar to that of the NHL as in Edmonton) at Canada Olympic Park. All events will be held behind closed doors with no spectators admitted. In addition, due to COVID-19 restrictions and logistics, many provincial playdowns have been cancelled, with teams being selected by their respective member association instead.
When Ontario played Newfoundland and Labrador in Draw 11, it marked the first time that two openly LGBTQ skips (John Epping and Greg Smith respectively) played against each other at the Brier.
Teams Source: British ColumbiaSt. John's CC, St. John's Skip: Brad Gushue Third: Mark Nichols Second: Brett Gallant Lead: Geoff Walker Alternate: Ryan McNeil LamswoodSaville SC, Edmonton Skip: Brendan Bottcher Third: Darren Moulding Second: Brad Thiessen Lead: Karrick Martin Alternate: Pat JanssenVernon CC, Vernon Skip: Jim Cotter Third: Steve Laycock Second: Andrew Nerpin Lead: Rick Sawatsky Alternate: Tyler Tardi Manitoba New Brunswick Morris CC, Morris Skip: Jason Gunnlaugson Third: Adam Casey Second: Matt Wozniak Lead: Connor Njegovan Alternate: Jacques GauthierGage Golf & CC, Oromocto Skip: James Grattan Third: Jonathan Beuk Second: Andy McCann Lead: Jamie Brannen Alternate: Kevin KeefeSt. John's CC, St. John's Skip: Greg Smith Third: Greg Blyde Second: Alex McDonah Lead: Evan McDonah Alternate: Adam Boland Northern Ontario Community First CC, Sault Ste. Marie Skip: Brad Jacobs Third: Marc Kennedy Second: E.J. Harnden Lead: Ryan Harnden Alternate: Lee TonerHalifax CC, Halifax Skip: Scott McDonald Third: Paul Flemming Second: Scott Saccary Lead: Phil Crowell Alternate: Kevin OuelletteLeaside CC, Toronto Skip: John Epping Third: Ryan Fry Second: Mat Camm Lead: Brent Laing Quebec SaskatchewanCrapaud Community CC, Crapaud & Montague CC, Montague Skip: Eddie MacKenzie Third: Tyler Smith Second: Sean Ledgerwood Lead: Ryan Lowery Alternate: Aaron BartlingGlenmore CC, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, CC Etchemin, Saint-Romuald & CC Valleyfield, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Skip: Mike Fournier Third: Martin Crête Second: Félix Asselin Lead: Jean-François Trépanier Alternate: William DionWadena Re/Max CC, Wadena Skip: Matt Dunstone Third: Braeden Moskowy Second: Kirk Muyres Lead: Dustin Kidby Northwest Territories Nunavut Yellowknife CC, Yellowknife Skip: Greg Skauge Third: Tom Naugler Second: Brad Patzer Lead: Robert Borden Alternate: David AhoIqaluit CC, Iqaluit Skip: Peter Mackey Third: Jeff Nadeau Second: Greg Howard Lead: Jeff Chown Alternate: Brady St. LouisWhitehorse CC, Whitehorse Skip: Dustin Mikkelsen Third: Alexx Peech Second: Brandon Hagen Lead: Robert Mckinnon Alternate: Ray Mikkelsen Wild Card #2 Wild Card #3West St. Paul CC, West St. Paul Skip: Mike McEwen Third: Reid Carruthers Second: Derek Samagalski Lead: Colin HodgsonThe Glencoe Club, Calgary Skip: Kevin Koe Third: B.J. Neufeld Second: John Morris Lead: Ben Hebert Alternate: Mike CaionePenetanguishene CC, Penetanguishene Skip: Glenn Howard Third: Scott Howard Second: David Mathers Lead: Tim March Alternate: Wayne Middaugh
CTRS ranking
As of the 2019–20 season, where at least three out of four players remained on the same team for the 2020–21 season.
Member Association (Skip) Rank Points (Jacobs) 1 483.766 (Epping) 2 445.311 (Gushue) 3 395.747 (Bottcher) 4 347.977 Wild Card #1 (McEwen) 5 317.716 Wild Card #2 (Koe) 6 277.610 (Dunstone) 7 254.711 (Gunnlaugson) 8 236.888 Wild Card #3 (Howard) 9 184.546 (Murphy) 18 121.284 (Fournier) 19 118.324 (Cotter) 22 101.956 (Grattan) 39 68.637 (Smith) 162 7.470 (Skauge) NR 0.000 (Mackey) NR 0.000 (MacKenzie) NR 0.000 (Mikkelsen) NR 0.000
Map of teams
Wild card selection In previous years, a wild card game was played between the top two teams on the Canadian Team Ranking System standings who did not win their provincial championship; the winner of this game was usually granted the final spot in the tournament. However, with many provinces cancelling their provincial championships due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, thus not allowing many teams to compete for a chance to play at the Brier, Curling Canada opted to include three wild card teams instead of the usual one. These teams directly qualified and did not participate in a play-in game.
For selection, teams must have 3 of 4 returning players from the previous season.
+ CTRS standings for wild card selection Rank Team Member Association Eligibility 1 Brad Jacobs Named provincial representative 2 John Epping Named provincial representative 3 Brad Gushue Brier returning champion 4 Brendan Bottcher Named provincial representative 5 Mike McEwen Was not named provincial representative 6 Kevin Koe Was not named provincial representative 7 Matt Dunstone Named provincial representative 8 Jason Gunnlaugson Named provincial representative 9 Glenn Howard Was not named provincial representative
Round-robin standings Final round-robin standings KeyTeams to Championship pool Pool ASkip Wild Card #3 Wayne Middaugh 7 1 54 36 32 26 12 5 84% Brendan Bottcher 6 2 60 35 32 29 6 6 88% Brad Jacobs 5 3 53 43 34 31 8 8 84% Jason Gunnlaugson 5 3 45 37 26 28 12 6 85% James Grattan 4 4 49 48 35 36 2 9 80% Wild Card #1 Mike McEwen 4 4 60 46 37 28 1 14 84% Jim Cotter 3 5 53 47 34 32 4 6 81% Greg Skauge 2 6 46 69 31 37 2 7 77% Dustin Mikkelsen 0 8 24 83 22 36 4 3 67% Pool BSkip Wild Card #2 Kevin Koe 7 1 68 41 36 29 1 13 87% Brad Gushue 6 2 65 39 38 26 7 10 88% John Epping 6 2 69 38 36 25 3 13 84% Matt Dunstone 6 2 53 41 30 30 5 6 85% Scott McDonald 4 4 67 49 36 30 3 14 82% Mike Fournier 4 4 66 57 39 31 2 18 83% Greg Smith 2 6 46 60 30 36 2 6 72% Eddie MacKenzie 1 7 40 72 26 40 0 3 75% Peter Mackey 0 8 16 89 15 39 11 1 62%
Round-robin results
All draw times are listed in Mountain Standard Time (UTC−07:00).
Draw 1 Friday, March 5, 6:30 pm
Draw 2 Saturday, March 6, 8:30 am
Draw 3 Saturday, March 6, 1:30 pm
Draw 4 Saturday, March 6, 6:30 pm
Draw 5 Sunday, March 7, 8:30 am
Draw 6 Sunday, March 7, 1:30 pm
Draw 7 Sunday, March 7, 6:30 pm
Draw 8 Monday, March 8, 1:30 pm
Draw 9 Monday, March 8, 6:30 pm
Draw 10 Tuesday, March 9, 8:30 am
Draw 11 Tuesday, March 9, 1:30 pm
Draw 12 Tuesday, March 9, 6:30 pm
Draw 13 Wednesday, March 10, 8:30 am
Draw 14 Wednesday, March 10, 1:30 pm
Draw 15 Wednesday, March 10, 6:30 pm
Draw 16 Thursday, March 11, 8:30 am
Draw 17 Thursday, March 11, 1:30 pm
Draw 18 Thursday, March 11, 6:30 pm
Championship pool standings The top four teams from each pool advance to the championship pool. All wins and losses earned in the round robin were carried forward into the championship pool.
Final Championship Pool Standings KeyTeams to Playoffs TeamSkipWLPFPA Wild Card #2 Kevin Koe 10 2 102 64 54 44 6 18 89% Matt Dunstone 9 3 80 67 48 46 7 10 86% Brendan Bottcher 9 3 91 55 50 42 11 12 88% Brad Gushue 8 4 87 59 52 39 9 15 86% Wild Card #3 Wayne Middaugh 8 4 80 64 49 44 14 6 85% Brad Jacobs 7 5 78 61 48 42 12 11 86% John Epping 7 5 91 70 47 43 4 13 84% Jason Gunnlaugson 6 6 64 76 39 47 13 6 84%
Championship pool results
Draw 19 Friday, March 12, 12:30 pm
Draw 20 Friday, March 12, 6:30 pm
Draw 21 Saturday, March 13, 12:30 pm
Draw 22 Saturday, March 13, 6:30 pm
Playoffs
To offset for the extra pool stage games played due to the additional Wild Card teams admitted to the tournament, the playoffs reverted to the former system consisting of only a semi-final and final, with only top three teams qualifying. The "page playoff" 1-2 game and the "quarter-final" 3-4 game were not played.
Semifinal Sunday, March 14, 12:30 pm
Final Sunday, March 14, 6:30 pm
Statistics Top 5 player percentages After Championship Pool; minimum 6 games KeyFirst All-Star TeamSecond All-Star Team Leads % 94 WC2 Ben Hebert 93 Ryan Harnden 92 Brent Laing 92 Connor Njegovan 91 WC1 Colin Hodgson 91 Seconds % Brad Thiessen 89 WC2 John Morris 87 WC3 David Mathers 86 E.J. Harnden 85 Brett Gallant 84 Félix Asselin 84 Kirk Muyres 84 Thirds % Braeden Moskowy 89 WC2 B.J. Neufeld 88 Darren Moulding 87 Marc Kennedy 86 WC3 Scott Howard 86 Mark Nichols 86 Skips % Brad Gushue 88 WC2 Kevin Koe 87 Brendan Bottcher 85 Matt Dunstone 85 WC3 Wayne Middaugh 83
Perfect games Round robin and championship pool only; minimum 10 shots thrown Player Team Position Shots Opponent Brad Gushue Skip 18 John Epping Skip 16 Karrick Martin Lead 16 Brad Gushue Skip 16 Braeden Moskowy Third 16
Awards The awards and all-star teams were as follows: All-Star Teams
First Team Skip: Brad Gushue, Team Canada Third: Braeden Moskowy, Saskatchewan Second: Brad Thiessen, Alberta Lead: Ben Hebert, Team Wild Card 2
Second Team Skip: Kevin Koe, Team Wild Card 2 Third: B.J. Neufeld, Team Wild Card 2 Second: Brett Gallant, Team Canada Lead: Ryan Harnden, Northern Ontario
Ross Harstone Sportsmanship Award Brendan Bottcher, Alberta Skip
Hec Gervais Most Valuable Player Award Brendan Bottcher, Alberta Skip
Final standings Team Rank Wild Card #2 4 Wild Card #3 5 6 7 8 T–9 T–9 T–9 Wild Card #1 T–9 13 T–14 T–14 16 T–17 T–17
Provincial and territorial playdowns Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many provincial playdowns were cancelled, with member associations electing to send their 2020 champions to the Brier.
Boston Pizza Cup (Alberta): Cancelled BC Men's Curling Championship: Cancelled Viterra Championship (Manitoba): Cancelled New Brunswick Tankard: Cancelled The 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador Tankard was held January 27–31 in St. John's. In the final, Team Greg Smith defeated Team Colin Thomas 9–8 in a double extra end. The event was held in a round robin between eight teams. Northern Ontario Men's Provincial Curling Championship: Cancelled The 2021 Northwest Territories Men's Curling Championship was held January 30–31 in Yellowknife. Team Greg Skauge defeated Team Glen Hudy two games to one in the best of three series. They were the only teams to enter. Deloitte Tankard (Nova Scotia): Cancelled The Nunavut Brier Playdowns were played at the Iqaluit Curling Club in Iqaluit, January 8–10.https://www.facebook.com/nunavutcurling/posts/3610730465630886 Team MacKey (Peter Mackey, Jeff Nadeau, Greg Howard, Jeff Chown) defeated Team Kingdon (Wade Kingdon, Hunter Tootoo, Peter Van Strien, Cory Bell) 3 games to 2 in a best of five series. Team MacKey won three straight games after losing their first two. Ontario Tankard: Cancelled The 2021 PEI Tankard was held January 29–30 in O'Leary. Team Eddie MacKenzie defeated Team Blair Jay 3 games to 0 in the best of five series. They were the only two teams to enter the event. Quebec Tankard: Cancelled SaskTel Tankard (Saskatchewan): Cancelled