(CCA/Team Koe) There will be a new player joining the Canadian men’s curling team that won the Tim Hortons Brier, presented by SecurTek, and went on to finish fourth at the World Men’s Curling Championship, presented by Ford of Canada.
As a result, the three remaining players — third Pat Simmons, second Carter Rycroft and lead Nolan Thiessen — will soon be announcing a new skip who will take the team into the 2014-15 curling season. The team will hold on to its Team Canada title and play in the 2014 Canada Cup of Curling, Dec. 3-7 in Camrose, Alta., the 2015 World Financial Group Continental Cup, Jan. 8-11 in Calgary, and the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier, presented by SecurTek, Feb. 28-March 8 in Calgary.
Koe, meanwhile, will form a team with former Olympic gold-medallists Marc Kennedy at third and Ben Hebert at lead, along with two-time world champion Brent Laing at second.
“It wasn’t an easy decision, to be honest,” said Koe, who won the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier and world championship playing with Rycroft and Thiessen. “We had eight amazing seasons together, and as much as I respect these guys as curlers, I also value them as friends and genuinely wish them the best going forward. I’ve played with Marc and Ben in the past, and I obviously know what they’re capable of. And Brent has proven himself to be one of the best seconds in the world. I’m excited about what this team can do as we start to focus on the 2018 Winter Olympics.”
Simmons, Rycroft and Thiessen expect to have a new skip in place, soon, in order to start preparing for the 2014-15 season. The last event for Team Koe will be the Grand Slam Players’ Championship, April 15-20 in Summerside, P.E.I.
“Getting the chance to compete as Team Canada for the first time in the Tim Hortons Brier is a great opportunity,” said Thiessen. “We’re all looking forward to playing together in the Brier, Continental Cup and Canada Cup. Knowing Kevin as well as we do, and the players he will have with him, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him at the Saddledome next March. Of course, we’d love to beat him there!”