The 1927 Macdonald Brier Tankard, the Canadian men's national curling championship, was held March 1–3 at the Granite Club in Toronto. This edition of the Brier would be the first, with it also being the first time it was hosted in Ontario, and the first time it was hosted in Toronto's Granite Club.
Murray MacNeill, skip of the Nova Scotia champion Halifax rink, would win the inaugural tournament, leading his rink of skips (his original team couldn't make the trip) to victory.
The event began with an opening banquet with Ontario Lieutenant Governor William Donald Ross and Ontario Premier Howard Ferguson welcoming players.Weeks, Bob; The Brier, pg 32
Event summary After successful trips by the winner of the Manitoba Bonspiel in 1925 and their participation in the Quebec Bonspiel being deemed popular enough to consider a national tournament in 1926, the Stewart brothers of Macdonald Tobacco would sponsor what would become the Brier in 1927. Played at the Granite Club in Toronto, the tournament would feature teams from four provinces, two cities, and a representative from Western Canada and Northern Ontario, the latter becoming a fixture at the Brier. It would be the only Brier that would have all games go 14 ends (with two games going to a 15th end to break ties).Tim Hortons Brier#History
Teams The teams are listed as follows: New BrunswickNorthern OntarioNova ScotiaGranite CA, Montreal Skip: Peter Lyall Third: Willie Brown Second: Howard Stewart Lead: Bruce StewartSaint John Composite Rink Skip: Johnny Malcolm Third: Fred Beatteay Second: Reg Shives Lead: Elbridge MacKayHaileybury CC, Haileybury Skip: Emmett Smith Third: Dunc Sutherland Second: Dan Millar Lead: Mel HuntHalifax CC, Halifax Skip: Murray MacNeill Third: Al MacInnes Second: Cliff Torey Lead: Jim DonahoeOntarioQuebecSaskatchewan (Western Canada)Sarnia CC, Sarnia Skip: Robert MacKenzie Third: Bill WatsonThe Brier, by Bob Weeks, pg 22 Second: Mel Hunt Lead: Harry WatsonQuebec CC, Quebec City Skip: Major Robert Whyte Third: Robert Morton Second: Malcolm Holliday Lead: Joe PowerYellow Grass CC, Yellow Grass, SK Skip: Oswald Barkwell Third: Alf Hill Second: Hector Hay Lead: Pete WilkenHigh Park CC, Toronto Skip: William Scott Third: Ed Peaker Second: Thomas Wright Lead: Fred Lucas
Map of teams
Round-robin standings
KeyBrier champion TeamSkipWLPFPAEWELBE Murray Macneill 6 1 93 6653411 New Brunswick Johnny Malcolm 5 2 93 7453440 Toronto William Scott 4 3 90 8151480 Saskatchewan Oswald Barkwell 3 4 84 8247482 Ontario Robert MacKenzie 3 4 87 8846510 Northern Ontario Emmett Smith 3 4 62 8544531 Quebec Major Robert Whyte 2 5 68 8446511 Montreal Peter Lyall 2 5 71 88 45493
Round-robin results
Draw 1 Tuesday, March 1 (Morning)
Draw 2 Tuesday, March 1 (afternoon)
Draw 3 Wednesday, March 2 (morning)
Draw 4 Wednesday, March 2 (afternoon)
Draw 5 Wednesday, March 2 (evening)
Draw 6 Thursday, March 3 (morning)
Draw 7 Thursday, March 3 (afternoon)
Team selection Teams were chosen by invitation. Many provinces had yet to have provincial championships.Weeks, Bob; The Brier, pp 22-25
Western Canada: Winners of the "Macdonald Brier event" playoff between Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Nova Scotia: "Four best players (in the province)." Macneill was chosen as winner of the Johnson Cup. Montreal: Amalgamation rink, selected by the Granite Association of Montreal Northern Ontario: Winners of the Grand Aggregate of the Northern Curling Association bonspiel Ontario: A selection of the winners of the Ontario Tankard Toronto: Winners of the Canada Life trophy. Quebec: Winners of the Quebec Bonspiel. New Brunswick: Selected by the New Brunswick Curling Association.
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