Brier Bound

BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW

It was an avenging win.

The Mike Jakubo Rink from the Copper Cliff Curling Club (CCCC) defeated the Tim Phillips Rink from the Sudbury Curling Club in the final of the 2005 Labatt Northern Ontario Men's Curling Championship in Haileybury to earn a coveted spot in the 2005 Tim Horton's Brier.

In thrilling fashion, the Jakubo Rink won 8-7 in 11 ends to claim supremacy. It was especially sweet for the Jakubo Rink, as they had lost to the Phillips Rink twice earlier in the tournament.

"It's certainly sweet," said skip Jakubo. "We are looking forward to everything from the competition to the festivities. It will be an exciting time. This is my first Brier. It makes all your curling, practices and competitions all worthwhile. It's a thrill to represent my province."

Jakubo knew the team faced a battle when it met up with the Phillips Rink in the final.

"We remained patient and took the opportunities when they came," said Jakubo. "The difference in the final was that we remained solid the whole game right until the final rock in the last end."

Third Jon Solberg, who went to a Brier event back in 2002 with the Yukon, knows he will be counted on to provide experience when the going gets tough.

"It's great the second time around," said Solberg. "The first time was a bit overwhelming at times. It will be much more special this year. I know to take everything in. It's a big deal to a competitive curler. We have already chatted about my experience. The guys are really open with my thoughts on my previous experience and the little bits they can take away from me to help themselves."

The Jakubo Rink went 6-2 in the round robin, before making their championship run in the finals.

The harrowing climatic final game tested the nerves of the Jakubo Rink team.

"Just staying focused on what's at stake through the whole game was the toughest part of the final game," said second Luc Ouimet. "It was a long game, and we had to be consistent for 11 ends. Our focus was there the whole game and it allowed us to celebrate at the end. It just means the world to me to go to the Brier. Probably every kid that plays hockey in Northern Ontario dreams of lifting the Stanley Cup. Obviously that wasn't the case for me, but I get the chance to lift the next best thing (the Brier Championship)."

The 2005 Brier will mark the first time in 42 years since a team from the CCCC has been represented at the national event.

Lead Lee Toner knows the experience will benefit his team.

"For me, it's been a life-long goal and a dream come true to go to the Brier," said Toner. "It's what you strive to be and do. Many people have tried to get to this point and it makes you feel really lucky when you get to go. The field is always tough at the Brier. We have to be prepared and get a good read on the rocks and the ice, and our chances are as good as anyone else. You get to see what other teams are doing that are at the top of their games and talk to these guys and learn new techniques. Most of the time people come back even hungrier to go again."

On Friday, the Canadian Curling Association (CCA) and Tim Horton's will present the Tim Horton's Brier Tankard Tour at the CCCC. From 5 to 6 pm, curling fans will get a chance to meet with legendary curling great Randy Ferbey. There will be an autograph and photograph session, as well as an

adult intermediate curling clinic with Bill Tschirhart, CCA National High Performance coach.