(by Larry Wood). How familiar is this face in the Tim Hortons Brier final? Almost as familiar as the Tim Hortons logo in the curling arena, that’s how. The coffee and doughnut outfit became the Brier sponsor eight years ago.
Ontario’s Glenn Howard will be in his sixth Brier final over that span of years on Sunday night at the Credit Union Centre.
Good fortune has not smiled on the Midland suds store manager in previous championship skipping appearances. He’s logged one win and four losses in Brier finals since 2006 and has lost his last three.
The 49-year-old Howard and his Ontario troops won their 11th match in 12 starts in this Brier as they pummelled Manitoba’s less-experienced Rob Fowler of Brandon 9-3 on Friday night to advance within one game of the Canadian men’s curling title and Canada’s berth at the world championship next month in Basel, Switzerland.
Ironically, it was Howard’s fifth straight convincing Brier win after an opening string of tight-fits that included five extra-end scrambles.
“Maybe that set us up,” said Howard. “I’ve never had that many tough games at the start of a Brier. I think it toughened us up, no doubt about it.”
The three-time Canadian champ, who tied his retired brother Russ for the most Brier appearances this week, directs third Wayne Middaugh, a two-time national champion, second Brent Laing and lead Craig Savill who joined in Howard’s 2007 triumph.
Including his years at third for Russ, Howard will be playing in his 11th Brier final, having won three.
“This one we’re going to win,” said Howard. “We want to win it bad, much like all the others, and I like the way we’re playing.
”I’m proud to have played in 11. I’d like to have won a lot more than that but we’ve had some great finals and some not-so-great finals. Hopefully, No. 11 will be good to us.
“The good news is we’re not playing in that bronze-medal game and we’re playing in the final again. You can’t win until you get to the final.”
The loss dropped Manitoba into tonight’s 7 o’clock semi-final against the winner of the Page Three-Four scuffle at 1:30 p.m. between the Koes, Alberta’s Kevin and Jamie of the Territories.