The 2011 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's national curling championship, was held March 5 until March 13, 2011, at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario. This event marked the 30th time that the province of Ontario has hosted the Brier since it began in 1927 in Toronto, Ontario and the first time a Bronze Medal Game was added to the playoffs.

In the final, Manitoba's Jeff Stoughton defeated Ontario's Glenn Howard 8–6. Team Manitoba were nearly perfect in the game, curling a record 96%. The team led 4–2 after 5, and stole two points in the sixth to take a 6–2 lead, after Howard was light on a draw. Stoughton's win was the first win for Manitoba in 12 years, when he last won the event, and was the 27th title for the province. A total of 8,261 spectators were on hand to watch the final. Team Stoughton went on to represent Canada at the 2011 World Men's Curling Championship, where they won the gold medal.

Teams For the second straight year, the defending champion was missing from the Brier. Kevin Koe's Brier champion and World champion rink lost in the Alberta provincial final to Kevin Martin's reigning Olympic champion rink, who played in his 11th Brier.

Representing Manitoba was the former world champion Jeff Stoughton rink, who has represented Manitoba in 5 of the last 6 years. He defeated the Mike McEwen rink, who at the time was ranked #1 in the CTRS, in the Manitoba provincial final.

Returning from Ontario was the former world champion Glenn Howard rink, who has won a record six straight provincial championships.

Returning from Newfoundland and Labrador was the former Olympic champion Brad Gushue, who has won eight of the last nine provincial championships. The Gushue rink was fresh off a break up with Albertan Randy Ferbey who skipped the team in a few World Curling Tour events this season.

The 2005 Brier runner-up Shawn Adams skipped for Team Nova Scotia.

Representing Saskatchewan was Steve Laycock, who made his Brier skipping debut with Pat Simmons as fourth, while looking to win the 4th national title of the year for Saskatchewan, following two Canadian Junior titles and one Scotties title.

The 2010 Brier bronze medalist Brad Jacobs represented Northern Ontario once again.

Jim Cotter skipped Team British Columbia for the first time, taking over the position for an injured Bob Ursel.

The 1997 & 2002 Brier bronze medallist James Grattan represented New Brunswick for a 9th time. His second, Steve Howard, is Glenn Howard's nephew.

Jamie Koe returned to play in his fifth Brier representing the Northwest Territories/Yukon team, hoping to improve on his last place finish in 2010.

Playing in his first Brier since 1994 was Prince Edward Island's Eddie MacKenzie who was also skipping for the first time.

And finally, François Gagné of Quebec played in his first Brier after upsetting former Brier champion Jean-Michel Ménard in the Quebec provincial final.

British ColumbiaManitobaSaville SC, Edmonton Skip: Kevin Martin Third: John Morris Second: Marc Kennedy Lead: Ben Hebert Alternate: Dustin EckstrandKelowna CC, Kelowna Skip: Jim Cotter Third: Ken Maskiewich Second: Kevin Folk Lead: Rick Sawatsky Alternate: Brad Wood Charleswood CC, Winnipeg Skip: Jeff Stoughton Third: Jon Mead Second: Reid Carruthers Lead: Steve Gould Alternate: Garth SmithNew BrunswickNewfoundland and LabradorNorthern OntarioGage G&CC, Oromocto Skip: James Grattan Third: Charles Sullivan Second: Steve Howard Lead: Peter Case Alternate: Paul NasonBally Haly G&CC, St. John's Skip: Brad Gushue Third: Mark Nichols Second: Ryan Fry Lead: Jamie Danbrook Alternate: Andrew SymondsSoo CA, Sault Ste. Marie Skip: Brad Jacobs Third: E. J. Harnden Second: Ryan Harnden Lead: Scott Seabrook Alternate: Matt DumontelleNova ScotiaOntarioPrince Edward IslandMayflower CC, Halifax Skip: Shawn Adams Third: Paul Flemming Second: Andrew Gibson Lead: Kelly Mittelstadt Alternate: Craig BurgessColdwater & District CC, Coldwater Skip: Glenn Howard Third: Richard Hart Second: Brent Laing Lead: Craig Savill Alternate: Scott HowardCharlottetown CC, Charlottetown Skip: Eddie MacKenzie Third: Mike Gaudet Second: Mike Dillon Lead: Alex MacFadyen Alternate: Jamie NewsonQuebec SaskatchewanYukon/Northwest TerritoriesCC Chicoutimi, Chicoutimi TMR CC, Mount Royal Skip: François Gagné Third: Robert Desjardins Second: Christian Bouchard Lead: Philippe Ménard Alternate: Jean-François Charest Tartan CC, Regina Fourth: Pat Simmons Skip: Steve Laycock Second: Brennen Jones Lead: Dallan Muyres Alternate: Kelly Knapp Yellowknife CC, Yellowknife Skip: Jamie Koe Third: Tom Naugler Second: Brad Chorostkowski Lead: Martin Gavin Alternate: Colin Miller

Map of teams

Round robin standings Final Round Robin Standings KeyTeams to Playoffs LocaleSkip Brad Gushue 9 2 78 51 47 37 15 13 84% Jeff Stoughton 9 2 83 41 40 36 18 7 87% Kevin Martin 9 2 75 52 47 33 11 15 86% Glenn Howard 8 3 82 39 43 29 21 13 88% Brad Jacobs 7 4 68 59 47 38 18 9 82% Shawn Adams 5 6 71 72 44 42 9 9 80% Jim Cotter 4 7 58 68 41 47 11 7 80% Steve Laycock 4 7 59 76 46 48 11 9 82% James Grattan 4 7 59 70 43 46 19 6 79% François Gagné 3 8 74 78 43 49 10 6 79% Jamie Koe 3 8 55 88 38 53 6 5 75% Eddie MacKenzie 1 10 38 100 32 48 6 7 74%

Results All draw times are listed in Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5).

Draw 1 Saturday, March 5, 2:30 pm

Draw 2 Saturday, March 5, 7:30 pm

Draw 3 Sunday, March 6, 9:30 am

Draw 4 Sunday, March 6, 2:30 pm

Draw 5 Sunday, March 6, 7:30 pm

Draw 6 Monday, March 7, 9:30 am

Draw 7 Monday, March 7, 2:30 pm

Draw 8 Monday, March 7, 7:30 pm

Draw 9 Tuesday, March 8, 9:30 am

Draw 10 Tuesday, March 8, 2:30 pm

Draw 11 Tuesday, March 8, 7:30 pm

Draw 12 Wednesday, March 9, 9:30 am

Draw 13 Wednesday, March 9, 2:30 pm

Team P.E.I. was fined $2000 for quitting the game before the 7th end.

Draw 14 Wednesday, March 9, 7:30 pm

Draw 15 Thursday, March 10, 9:30 am

Draw 16 Thursday, March 10, 2:30 pm

Draw 17 Thursday, March 10, 7:30 pm

Playoffs

1 vs. 2 Friday, March 11, 7:30 pm

3 vs. 4 Saturday, March 12, 2:30 pm

In the 9th end, Alberta and Ontario's rocks were so close to the tee (the pin hole), that a measurement could not be made, and the umpire ( Keith Reilly 1967 Brier Champion from Ontario ) had to make a call. While Alberta scored the point, Ontario scored two in the 10th to win when Martin missed his last shot, a raise attempt against two, giving Ontario the victory with Howard not having to throw his last.

Semifinal Saturday, March 12, 7:30 pm

Bronze medal game Sunday, March 13, 2:30 pm

Final Sunday, March 13, 7:30 pm

Statistics Top 5 player percentages Round Robin only Leads % Ben Hebert 92 Craig Savill 90 Steve Gould 89 Dallan Muyres 88 Jamie Danbrook 85 Seconds % Marc Kennedy 90 Reid Carruthers 87 Ryan Fry 86 Brent Laing 86 Brennen Jones 85 Thirds % Jon Mead 87 Richard Hart 87 John Morris 82 E. J. Harnden 81 Mark Nichols 81 Skips % Glenn Howard 87 Brad Gushue 84 Jeff Stoughton 84 Brad Jacobs 83 Kevin Martin 80

Awards and honours All-Star Teams First Team Skip: Glenn Howard (Ontario) Third: Jon Mead (Manitoba) Second: Marc Kennedy (Alberta) Lead: Ben Hebert (Alberta)

Second Team Skip: Jeff Stoughton (Manitoba) Third: Richard Hart (Ontario) Second: Brent Laing (Ontario) Lead: Craig Savill (Ontario)

Ross Harstone Award Jim Cotter (British Columbia)

Scotty Harper Award – Media Award Jim Henderson, SWEEP Magazine (third win) – $500 award

Paul McLean Award Michael Burns Jr., CCA photographer

Notes

References