10 Olympians competing at 2015 Brier
Not that anyone needs further evidence, but to cement the notion that Canada is the world’s most dominant curling nation, one needs to only look at the 2015 Brier taking place in Calgary.
There are a total of 10 Olympians competing in the men’s national curling championship. An incredible nine of them are Olympic gold medallists. The amount of talent at Curling Canada’s disposal is an embarrassment of riches, one that has benefitted Team Canada greatly at the Winter Games’ medal table since the sport was re-added to the Olympic calendar in 1998.
The 10 Olympians competing for the national title:
Brad Gushue & Mark Nichols – Newfoundland
Mark Nichols (left) and Brad Gushue at the 2015 Brier.
In Turin 2006 Gushue skipped Canada to gold with a 10-4 win over Finland in the final with Nichols as the team’s third.
John Morris & Carter Rycroft – Team Canada
Team Canada rink at the Brier, Morris and Rycroft won medals separately at the Olympics, connected by skip Kevin Martin. At Vancouver 2010, Morris won gold with Martin while his third. Rycroft helped the Martin rink to a silver medal at Salt Lake City 2002, as a second.
Marc Kennedy & Ben Hebert – Alberta
Marc Kennedy (left) and Ben Hebert at the Brier in 2013.
Although Morris’ rivals at the 2015 Brier, at the home Olympic Games in Vancouver, Kennedy (second) and Hebert (lead) were his teammates on the Martin Rink that won gold with a perfect 11-0 record.
Team Brad Jacobs – Northern Ontario
Team Brad Jacobs at the 2014 Brier after returning from Sochi with gold.
Four more gold medallists at the Brier this year are the reigning Olympic men’s curling title holders at Sochi 2014 representing Northern Ontario. The skip, Brad Jacobs, is joined by Ryan Fry, E.J. Harnden and Ryan Harnden.
