A return to familiar territory
Jamie Koe and his team ready for seventh Brier
Martin Gavin
Special to Northern News Services
Published Friday, February 28, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Jamie Koe and his Yellowknife team are ready to take on Canada's best curlers at the Tim Hortons Brier this weekend in Kamloops, B.C.
Brad Chorostkowski, left, Jamie Koe and Robert Borden are returning to the Tim Hortons Brier for the sixth consecutive year after winning the Yukon-NWT Men's Curling Championship last month in Whitehorse. - Tom Patrick/Yukon News photo |
Koe, who is making his seventh appearance on the national stage, feels his team and long-time coach Terry Shea are in prime position to be at the top of the leaderboard come the playoff weekend.
"We need to stick to our game style and execute and at the end of the week we will be in there," said Koe.
Jamie's best showing was in 2012 when his Northern squad posted a 7-4 record in the round-robin before falling to his brother, Kevin Koe, in the playoff round. He ultimately finished fourth in the 2012 event, losing the bronze medal game to Rob Fowler on a draw to the button in an extra end.
That fourth place represented the first time that a team from the North made the playoffs, something Koe wants to repeat this year.
Kevin Koe, the 2010 Brier and world champion, is favoured to win the 2014 event. Kevin had to go through 2010 Olympic gold medalist Kevin Martin just to advance to the Brier in Kamloops. Jamie and Kevin have played three times in previous Briers with Kevin coming out on top on all three occasions. Jamie looks to change that in 2014.
"I have played him three times in the Brier and I have yet to beat him," said Jamie. "I think we are due though."
Koe will begin his Brier in draw two on Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m. MST.
Editor's note: Martin Gavin is once again providing coverage for Northern News Services at the Tim Hortons Brier. He's formerly the lead for Jamie Koe and played in three consecutive Briers with Koe from 2009 to 2011.
