SASKATOON — Koe versus Koe was over early at the Canadian men’s curling championship.
Alberta’s Kevin Koe thumped younger brother Jamie Koe of Yukon and Northwest Territories 11-3 on Wednesday morning at the Tim Hortons Brier. Jamie’s Yellowknife team shook hands after seven ends.
Alberta moved closer to securing a playoff berth at 7-1 while the Territories lost their second in a row to fall to 5-3.
Since both teams are within striking distance of the playoffs, the battle of the brothers had potential for drama. None materialized, however, and neither Kevin nor struggling Jamie enjoyed the game.
Alberta stole two points in the fourth end and another three in the fifth to run away with the win.
“I wouldn’t say it was overly fun,” Kevin said. “I don’t get any enjoyment out of beating them like that. I’m glad it’s over.”
“I’m out there pulling for him to play well all the time. He struggled a bit that game and you don’t like seeing it for sure. Other skips, I couldn’t care less really.”
Kevin is 37 and lives in Calgary. Jamie, 34, is from Yellowknife. They curled together constantly as juniors, but rarely meet as combatants.
The first time was two years ago at the Brier in Halifax, with Alberta winning 8-3 en route to winning the Canadian championship.
Jamie hoped for a more competitive game against his older brother this time.
“It was pretty disappointing,” Jamie said. “That was a huge game for us. We had a good first two ends and then the wheels came off and we really struggled from then on.”
“It’s more that it’s against Alberta and they’re one of the favourites right? You really want to prove yourself against the top teams. We’re a little off and we’ll have to re-tool for the next one.”
Ontario’s Glenn Howard was also 7-1, winning 8-4 over B.C.’s Jim Cotter.
The top four teams at the conclusion of the round robin Thursday advance to the Page playoff. Ties for fourth will be solved by tiebreaker games.
Seven wins is usually enough for at least a tiebreaker and eight is virtually assured a playoff berth.
Northern Ontario’s Brad Jacobs was still in the playoff hunt at 4-4 following a 9-3 win over Quebec’s Robert Desjardins.
Brad Gushue of Newfoundland and Labrador downed Saskatchewan’s Scott Manners 10-6 to get to 3-5. Both Saskatchewan and Quebec dropped to 2-6.
Alberta third Pat Simmons left the game against the Territories at the fifth-end break due to illness. He was replaced by alternate Blake MacDonald.
“He’s actually a little worse today,” Kevin Koe observed. “He doesn’t seem to be kicking it. We got him out of there and shipped him off to the hotel to hopefully get some rest.
“It’s obvious he’s struggling out there on the ice a bit. If we’re going to win this thing this week, we need him to get healthy.”
Ontario’s Glenn Howard and New Brunswick’s Russ Howard faced each other at the 2009 Brier in Calgary. That game was also lopsided as Glenn’s team beat Russ’s 7-2 and lasted just eight ends.
Prior to the Howards, brothers who skipped teams against each other at the Brier were Ontario’s Gordon Campbell and B.C.’s Don Campbell in 1942. Canadian Curling Association records don’t reflect that score, but both rinks finished with identical 7-2 records.
Jamie Koe is skipping the Territories in his sixth Brier. His best record was 6-5 at the 2006 event in Regina.
If this rink is going to be the only Territories team since Don Twa’s in 1975 to make the playoffs, the skip knows they have to re-capture the magic from earlier in this tournament.
“If we want to make playoffs we need to win at least two of the three,” Jamie said. “They’re all pretty crucial right now. We still have a chance so we have to rebound pretty quick.”