THUNDER BAY – In a 13-team field, playing in a triple-knockout format, there’s not a lot of room for error.
Two quick losses and teams face elimination the rest of the way.
That’s why it’s important to get off to a fast start when the Northern Ontario men’s curling championship opens on Tuesday night at the Port Arthur Curling Centre.
“It’s very important to come out of the gates good, because you don’t want to start 0-1 or 0-2, because all of a sudden you’re in the C and you’ve got to win out,” said Brian Adams Jr., who was doubled up 10-5 by Zach Warkentin in the C-side final last year in Little Current and missed out on a semifinal berth.
“We definitely want to come out of the gates and start really well.”
Having the hometown fans cheering him on will be an added boost in 2025, Adams Jr. said.
“To have the hometown crowd, in our home club, it’s incredible. It would be a dream come true to win one at home,” said Adams Jr., whose team also includes lead Joel Adams, second Mark Koivula and third Colin Koivula.
“We’ve got to execute and play very well. There are some great teams here and you’re not going to be given any games. You’ve got to go out and earn every win and play every end really well.”
Warkentin, who finished atop the Tbaytel Major League of Curling standings this season, said the team is into its second year, and the trust between players is noticeable.
It’s important to have each other’s backs, he said, no matter what the situation he and his teammates, lead Jamie Childs, second Travis Potter and third Tyler Stewart, might be facing on the ice.
He wants to build off last year’s success and take the next step this time around, Warkentin said.
“Hopefully we’re going to have another good year. We’re obviously hoping to have a little bit more success this year than last year. But obviously we had a great run and I feel like we’re really starting to kind of peak right now,” Warkentin said.
“I feel like everything is starting to come together. We’re really winning games, and if we’re not winning games, we’re losing close matches. I feel like the guys are confident, to be honest.”
For Frank Morissette, it’s been a long wait to get back to the Brier.
In fact, most of the competition in the field wasn’t even born in 1976, when he played third for Wayne Sokolsky’s Alberta rink.
Why not, the 73-year-old said, when asked why he’s still driven to compete at the provincial level.
“I enjoy the game,” said Morissette, who has been sparing for Al Hackner’s team this season in the Tbaytel Major League of Curling.
“He’d still like to be playing too, I’m sure. Might as well. It’s in Thunder Bay and it’s not too far away. A lot of the teams are equally matched and you never know what can happen on the ice.”
Eight years ago, Dylan Johnston had a chance to win his way to the Brier, but ran into the Brad Jacobs juggernaut and came up short in the 2017 Northern Ontario final, dropping a 6-3 decision to the 11-time provincial champion.
The team’s feeling pretty good heading into this year’s provincials, Johnston said.
“We’ve played well the last two months. I think we’re peaking at the right time and that’s just what we wanted,” Johnston said.
“You want to be in top form all year and I think we’re there right now.”
Three other Thunder Bay teams, skipped by Gary Weiss, Chris Silver and Trevor Bonot, the defending champions, will also be in the field. Out-of-towners include North Bay’s Brad Minogue, Sudbury’s Sandy MacEwan, Sault Ste. Marie’s Matthew Hunt, Sudbury’s John Epping and North Bay’s Jeff Brown.
The A-side competition begins on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
