The 2021 Tim Hortons Brier will start Friday evening in Calgary. Just like the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, there will be no spectators due to coronavirus.
The quality of the field of the Brier is very strong. Among the skips who will be participating include 2006 Olympic gold medalist Brad Gushue of St. John’s, Newfoundland (representing Team Canada as the defending Brier champion), the 2014 Olympic gold medalist Brad Jacobs of Sault. Ste. Marie, Ontario (representing Northern Ontario), four-time world champion Glenn Howard of Midland, Ontario (representing the third wildcard team), two-time world champion Kevin Koe of Calgary, Alberta (representing the second wildcard team), three-time Brier finalist Brendan Bottcher of Edmonton, Alberta (representing Alberta), 2003 World Junior champion Steve Laycock (representing British Columbia), four-time grand slam champion John Epping of Peterborough, Ontario (representing Team Canada), 2019 Curling World Cup third leg champion Matt Dunstone (representing Team Saskatchewan), seven-time grand slam champion Mike McEwen (representing the first wild card team), and 2012 Masters finalist Jason Gunnlaugson (representing Manitoba).
The winner of the Tim Hortons Brier will represent Canada at the 2021 World Men’s Curling Championship in Calgary from April 3-11. At the Brier, there are two pools of nine teams each. The top four teams from each pool advance to the Championship Round. From there, the second and third place teams advance to the semifinal, and the top team advances to the final.
