The 2005 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's curling championship, was held at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta from March 5 to 13. The tournament consisted of 12 teams, one from each province, plus a team representing the Yukon and Northwest Territories, plus a team representing Northern Ontario. The defending champion, Mark Dacey, did not participate, as he was knocked out in the Nova Scotia final by Shawn Adams' team. The tournament featured 3-time Brier champion (2001, 2002, 2003) Randy Ferbey of Alberta, 1998 Champion Wayne Middaugh of Ontario, 2003 and 2004 Newfoundland and Labrador champion Brad Gushue, 2000 and 2002 Nova Scotia champion Shawn Adams, 1992 and 2001 Yukon/Northwest Territories champion skip Steve Moss, 1986 New Brunswick champion Wade Blanchard, 2002 and 2003 British Columbia champion (third and second respectively for Pat Ryan), Deane Horning, 1981 and 1996 Prince Edward Island champion lead for Peter MacDonald, Rod MacDonald; 2003 Quebec champion second for Guy Hemmings, Jean-Michel Ménard as well as three new teams: Randy Dutiaume of Manitoba, Mike Jakubo of Northern Ontario and Pat Simmons of Saskatchewan.
The event was a success, with the total attendance of 281,985 setting a Brier record. In the end, the home town team of Randy Ferbey and company won. This was the fourth win in 5 years for the team in their fifth final appearance in a row. They would set a record for the most Brier wins as a complete team. The final, against Shawn Adams' Nova Scotia rink, marked the third year in a row Nova Scotia and Alberta met in the final.
Teams British ColumbiaManitobaNew BrunswickGranite CC, Edmonton Fourth: David Nedohin Skip: Randy Ferbey Second: Scott Pfeifer Lead: Marcel Rocque Alternate: Dan HolowaychukTrail CC, Trail Skip: Deane Horning Third: Fred Thomson Second: Don Freschi Lead: Rob Nobert Alternate: Grant FinesValour Road CC, Winnipeg Skip: Randy Dutiaume Third: Dave Elias Second: Greg Melnichuk Lead: Shane Kilgallen Alternate: Chris SuchyThistle St. Andrews CC, Saint John Skip: Wade Blanchard Third: Mark Dobson Second: Paul Dobson Lead: Geoff Porter Alternate: Brian DobsonNewfoundland and LabradorNorthern OntarioNova ScotiaOntarioSt. John's CC, St. John's Skip: Brad Gushue Third: Mark Nichols Second: Keith Ryan Lead: Jamie Korab Alternate: Mike AdamCopper Cliff CC, Copper Cliff Skip: Mike Jakubo Third: Jon Solberg Second: Luc Ouimet Lead: Lee Toner Alternate: Rob OuimetBridgewater CC, Bridgewater Skip: Shawn Adams Third: Paul Flemming Second: Craig Burgess Lead: Kelly Mittelstadt Alternate: Stuart MacLeanSt. George's G&CC, Etobicoke Skip: Wayne Middaugh Third: Graeme McCarrel Second: Joe Frans Lead: Scott Bailey Alternate: David CarruthersPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewanNorthwest Territories/YukonCharlottetown CC, Charlottetown Skip: Rod MacDonald Third: Kevin Champion Second: Phil Gorveatt Lead: Mike Dillon Alternate: Peter MacDonaldCC Victoria, Sainte-Foy Skip: Jean-Michel Ménard Third: François Roberge Second: Éric Sylvain Lead: Maxime Elmaleh Alternate: Jean GagnonDavidson CC, Davidson Skip: Pat Simmons Third: Jeff Sharp Second: Chris Haichert Lead: Ben Hebert Alternate: Jason AckermanYellowknife CC, Yellowknife Skip: Steve Moss Third: Darcy Moshenko Second: Rod Pielak Lead: Jim Sosiak Alternate: Mark Whitehead
Map of teams
Round-robin standings Final round-robin standings KeyTeams to Playoffs LocaleSkip Randy Ferbey 9 2 90 58 48 43 7 9 86% Randy Dutiaume 8 3 77 69 47 44 10 13 79% Shawn Adams 8 3 80 60 47 41 16 13 83% Jean-Michel Ménard 7 4 77 69 54 40 8 15 80% Deane Horning 6 5 72 65 47 45 18 12 80% Wayne Middaugh 6 5 75 62 42 46 10 7 82% Brad Gushue 6 5 76 69 48 45 13 10 79% Pat Simmons 6 5 66 61 43 45 12 9 80% Rod MacDonald 4 7 67 85 41 51 12 5 79% Mike Jakubo 3 8 64 86 41 48 9 6 79% Wade Blanchard 3 8 56 83 41 45 17 8 78% Steve Moss 0 11 52 85 41 46 14 5 74%
Round-robin results All draw times are listed in Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5).
Draw 1 Saturday, March 5, 16:00
Draw 2 Saturday, March 5, 20:30
Draw 3 Sunday, March 6, 11:30
Draw 4 Sunday, March 6, 16:00
Draw 5 Sunday, March 6, 20:30
Draw 6 Monday, March 7, 11:30
Draw 7 Monday, March 7, 16:00
Draw 8 Monday, March 7, 20:30
Draw 9 Tuesday, March 8, 11:30
Draw 10 Tuesday, March 8, 16:00
Draw 11 Tuesday, March 8, 20:30
Draw 12 Wednesday, March 9, 11:30
Draw 13 Wednesday, March 9, 16:00
Draw 14 Wednesday, March 9, 20:30
Draw 15 Thursday, March 10, 11:30
Draw 16 Thursday, March 10, 16:00
Draw 17 Thursday, March 10, 20:30
Playoffs The Tim Hortons Brier uses the page playoff system where the top four teams with the best records at the end of round-robin play meet in the playoff rounds. The first and second place teams play each other, with the winner advancing directly to the final. The winner of the other page playoff game between the third and fourth place teams plays the loser of the first/second playoff game in the semi-final. The winner of the semi-final moves on to the final.
1 vs. 2 game Friday, March 11, 20:30
Alberta advanced to the 2005 Brier Final with a 7-4 win over Manitoba. The 7th end proved to be pivotal, as Alberta stole it to take a 5-3 lead. Manitoba played Nova Scotia in the semifinal.
3 vs. 4 game Friday, March 11, 13:00
Nova Scotia eliminated Quebec, giving them a berth in the semifinal. Nova Scotia skip Shawn Adams clinched the game with a draw to the 4-foot to beat two Quebec stones on his last shot of the 10th end.
Semifinal Saturday, March 12, 14:00
A mistake by Manitoba's Randy Dutiaume on his final shot in the third end allowed Shawn Adams' Nova Scotia rink to pick up 4 points, and they never looked back despite a late come-back by Manitoba. Nova Scotia would advance to the 2005 Brier Final.
Final Sunday, March 13, 19:00
Nova Scotia and Alberta would meet in the Brier Final for the third year in a row, except this time with a different Nova Scotia team. Ferbey and his Alberta foursome were making their fifth straight final appearance. In a close game, Alberta's questionable calls proved to be anything but costly. In the 9th end, Alberta's fourth David Nedohin on his first shot took out his own rock which would end up forcing a blank to keep hammer in the 10th. In the 10th end, Nedohin made another controversial shot, drawing to the 4-foot instead of peeling the corner guard. This forced Nova Scotia's Shawn Adams to make a difficult draw to keep hope alive. Adams' shot sat at the back of the 4-foot, and all Nedohin had to do to win was draw again for the win, which he did. It was their fourth Brier win in the last 5 years.
Awards and honours All-Star Teams First Team Skip: David Nedohin (Alberta) Third: Randy Ferbey (Alberta) Second: Scott Pfeifer (Alberta) Lead: Marcel Rocque (Alberta)
Second Team Skip: Shawn Adams (Nova Scotia) Third: Paul Flemming (Nova Scotia) Second: Greg Melnichuk (Manitoba) Lead: Kelly Mittelstadt (Nova Scotia)
Hec Gervais Most Valuable Player Award David Nedohin (Alberta)
Ross Harstone Award Randy Dutiaume (Manitoba)
Scotty Harper Award – Media Award Paul Wiecek, Winnipeg Free Press – $500 award
Statistics Top 5 player percentages Round Robin only, minimum 8 games Leads % Marcel Rocque 90 Kelly Mittelstadt 87 Scott Bailey 85 Ben Hebert 85 Geoff Porter 85 Seconds % Scott Pfeifer 88 Craig Burgess 83 Greg Melnichuk 82 Joe Frans 81 Chris Haichert 81 Thirds % Randy Ferbey 86 Paul Flemming 84 Kevin Champion 83 Graeme McCarrel 81 Jonathon Solberg 80 Skips % David Nedohin 83 Shawn Adams 81 Wayne Middaugh 81 Jean-Michel Ménard 79 Brad Gushue 78
Provincial playdowns Defending provincial champions indicated in bold.
Alberta @ the Innisfail Arena in Innisfail. Randy Ferbey defeated Jamie King 8-6 in the finals on February 13. Standings
Pool A Randy Ferbey, Granite CC, Edmonton (5-0) (won "A1-B1" game; won final) Mark Johnson, Saville Centre, Edmonton (4-1) (lost "A2-B3" game) Terry Meek, Calgary CC (3-2) (lost "B2-A3" game) Kurt Balderston, Sexsmith CC (2-3) John Climenhaga, Saville Centre, Edmonton (1-4) James Knievel, Manning CC (0-5) Pool B Jamie King, Saville Centre, Edmonton (5-0) (lost "A1-B1" game; won-semi-final; lost final) Rob Armitage, Red Deer CC (3-2) (won "A2-B3" game; won quarter-final; lost semi-final) John Morris, Innisfail CC (4-1) (won "B2-A3" game; lost quarter-final) Dean Davidson, Vermilion CC (2-3) Frank Morissette, Calgary CC (1-4) Adrian Bakker, Calgary Winter Club (0-5)
British Columbia @ the Smithers Curling Club in Smithers. Deane Horning defeated Bob Ursel 7-5 in the finals on February 6. Standings Deane Horning, Trail CC (5-2) (won semi-final, won final) Bob Ursel, Kelowna CC (6-1) (lost final) Greg McAulay, Richmond CC (5-2) (lost semi-final) Brent Pierce, Royal City CC, New Westminster (4-3) Bert Gretzinger, Kelowna CC (3-4) Wes Craig, Kerry Park CC, Mill Bay (2-5) Dean Joanisse, Victoria CC (2-5) Tom Buchy, Kimberley (1-6)
Jay Peachey, the defending champion did not qualify
Manitoba @ the Selkirk Memorial Arena in Selkirk. Randy Dutiaume defeated Ryan Fry 8-5 in the finals on February 13. Standings (Double knock-out format until championship round) Randy Dutiaume, Valour Road CC, Winnipeg (7-1) Ryan Fry, St. Vital CC, Winnipeg (7-3) Kerry Burtnyk, Assiniboine Memorial CC, Winnipeg (6-2) Jeff Stoughton, Charleswood CC, Winnipeg (5-2) Brent Scales, Swan River CC (4-2) Peter Nicholls, Elmwood CC, Winnipeg (4-2) Kelly Robertson, Neepawa CC (4-3) Terry McNamee, Brandon CC (3-3) Chris Galbraith, Stonewall CC (3-2) Don Spriggs, Portage CC, Portage la Prairie (3-2) James Kirkness, Ft. Rouge CC, Winnipeg (2-2) Blaine Gogal, Flin Flon CC (2-2) Doug Riach, St. Vital CC, Winnipeg (2-2) Peter Pruden, Petersfield CC (2-2) Bob Sigurdson, Granite CC, Winnipeg (2-2) Peter Prokopowich, Dauphin CC (1-2) Doug Harrison, St. Vital CC, Winnipeg (1-2) Brad Wainikka, Morden CC (1-2) Dave Boehmer, Grain Ex CC, Winnipeg (1-2) Scott Ramsay, Virden CC (1-2) Brent Braemer, Assiniboine Memorial CC, Winnipeg (1-2) Richard Muntain, St. Vital CC, Winnipeg (1-2) Randy Neufeld, LaSalle CC, Sanford (1-2) Murray Warren, Deloraine CC (1-2) Dave Tibbatts, Binscarth CC (0-2) Troy Hamilton, Granite CC, Winnipeg (0-2) Kevin Larson, Springfield CC, Dugald (0-2) Gerry Janz, Baldur CC (0-2) Don Holmes, Flin Flon CC (0-2) Doug Gade, Benito CC (0-2) Dean Steski, Grain Ex CC, Winnipeg (0-2) Rae Hainstock, Thompson CC (0-2)
New Brunswick @ the Moncton Curling Association in Moncton. Wade Blanchard defeated Russ Howard 9-4 in the finals on February 6. Standings Wade Blanchard, Thistle St. Andrews, Saint John (5-2) (Won Semi-final; won final) Russ Howard, Curling Beausejour, Moncton (6-1) (lost final) Brian Dobson, Thistle St. Andrews, Saint John (5-2) (lost semi-final) Mike Kennedy, Thistle St. Andrews, Saint John (4-3) Jim Sullivan, Thistle St. Andrews, Saint John (3-4) Trevor Hanson, Capital Winter Club, Fredericton (2-5) Wayne Aubie, Bathurst CC (2-5) Tim Comeau, Capital Winter Club, Fredericton (1-6)
Newfoundland and Labrador @ the Corner Brook Recreation Complex in Corner Brook. Brad Gushue defeated Mark Noseworthy 5-4 in the finals on February 6. Standings Brad Gushue, St. John's CC (7-2) (won semi-final, won final) Mark Noseworthy, St. John's CC (7-2) (lost final) Ken Pedigrew, St. John's CC (6-3) (won tie-breaker; lost semi-final) Bas Buckle, Corner Brook CC (6-3) (lost tie-breaker) Rick Rowsell, St. John's CC (5-4) Gary Oke, Gander CC (5-4) Bob Skanes, Gander CC (4-5) Bob Dillon, Goose Bay CC, Happy Valley – Goose Bay (3-6) Mike Ryan, Carol CC, Labrador City (1-8) Tom Byrne, Caribou CC, Stephenville (1-8)
Northern Ontario @ the Cobalt-Haileybury Curling Club in Haileybury. Mike Jakubo defeated Tim Phillips 8-7 in the final on February 13. Staindings Mike Jakubo, Copper Cliff CC (6-2) (lost "1-2" game, won semi-final, won final)