The 2006 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's national curling championship, was held from March 11 to 19 at the Brandt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan.
In the final, Quebec's Jean-Michel Ménard rink became only the second Quebec team to win the Brier, the first since Jim Ursel won in 1977, defeating Ontario's Glenn Howard 8–7. Quebec started the game with a commanding lead, stealing one in the first, and three more in the second to take a 4–0 lead. Ahead 5–4, Ménard had a chance to score four and take a five point lead in the sixth, but missed a tap back, taking two instead. The teams traded singles until the 10th end. With Quebec up by two, Ontario needed a steal of two to tie the game in the last end. On his final shot, Ménard took out two Ontario stones in the eight-foot to win the championship. The Ménard rink became the first francophone team to win the Brier. Quebec was considered a longshot to win the Brier against teams like Howard, Kevin Martin (Alberta), Jeff Stoughton (Manitoba) and Mark Dacey (Nova Scotia). The team had won $28,000 on tour by that point, but only played in events they could reach by car, due to a lack of sponsors.
Teams British ColumbiaManitobaSaville SC, Edmonton Skip: Kevin Martin Third: Don Walchuk Second: Carter Rycroft Lead: Don Bartlett Alternate: Mark Johnson Kamloops CC, Kamloops Skip: Brian Windsor Third: Dennis Graber Second: Randy Nelson Lead: Bill Johnson Alternate: Aron HerickCharleswood CC, Winnipeg Skip: Jeff Stoughton Third: Jon Mead Second: Garry Van Den Berghe Lead: Steve Gould Alternate: Don Harvey New BrunswickNewfoundland and LabradorNorthern OntarioGage G&CC, Oromocto Skip: James Grattan Third: Wayne Tallon Second: Jason Vaughan Lead: Jeff Lacey Alternate: Mark DobsonSt. John's CC, St. John's Skip: Ken Peddigrew Third: Ryan LeDrew Second: Jeff Rose Lead: Keith Jewer Alternate: David NoftallCobalt-Haileybury CC, Haileybury Skip: Rob Gordon Third: David MacInnes Second: Steve Burnett Lead: Jeremy Landry Alternate: Larry CarrNova ScotiaOntarioPrince Edward IslandMayflower CC, Halifax Skip: Mark Dacey Third: Bruce Lohnes Second: Rob Harris Lead: Andrew Gibson Alternate: Mathew HarrisColdwater & District CC, Coldwater Skip: Glenn Howard Third: Richard Hart Second: Brent Laing Lead: Craig Savill Alternate: Scott TaylorCharlottetown CC, Charlottetown Skip: Rod MacDonald Third: Kevin Champion Second: Phil Gorveatt Lead: Mike Dillon Alternate: Mark O'RourkeQuebec SaskatchewanYukon/Northwest TerritoriesCC Victoria, Sainte-Foy CC Etchemin, Saint-Romuald Skip: Jean-Michel Ménard Third: François Roberge Second: Éric Sylvain Lead: Maxime Elmaleh Alternate: Jean Gagnon Davidson CC, Davidson Skip: Pat Simmons Third: Jeff Sharp Second: Chris Haichert Lead: Ben Hebert Alternate: Brian McCusker Yellowknife CC, Yellowknife Skip: Jamie Koe Third: Kevin Whitehead Second: Mark Whitehead Lead: Brad Chorostkowski Alternate: Richard Robertson
Map of teams
Round-robin standings Final round-robin standings KeyTeams to Playoffs LocaleSkip Glenn Howard 10 1 91 54 51 36 10 15 86% Jean-Michel Ménard 8 3 90 63 49 41 6 14 79% Kevin Martin 8 3 76 51 47 39 11 13 85% Mark Dacey 7 4 76 59 41 41 14 7 83% Jamie Koe 6 5 66 69 46 44 13 9 79% Jeff Stoughton 6 5 62 72 47 43 12 11 82% Brian Windsor 6 5 61 71 43 47 13 9 78% Pat Simmons 5 6 68 70 43 39 15 10 83% James Grattan 5 6 69 68 40 40 8 10 77% Rod MacDonald 3 8 61 79 43 51 12 8 76% Ken Peddigrew 2 9 52 79 39 53 10 10 76% Rob Gordon 0 11 58 95 40 55 8 5 73%
Round-robin results All draw times are listed in Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5).
Draw 1 Saturday, March 11, 15:00
Draw 2 Saturday, March 11, 20:00
Draw 3 Sunday, March 12, 10:00
Draw 4 Sunday, March 12, 15:00
Draw 5 Sunday, March 12, 20:00
Draw 6 Monday, March 13, 10:00
Draw 7 Monday, March 13, 15:00
Draw 8 Monday, March 13, 20:00
Draw 9 Tuesday, March 14, 10:00
Draw 10 Tuesday, March 14, 15:00
Draw 11 Tuesday, March 14, 20:00
Draw 12 Wednesday, March 15, 10:00
Draw 13 Wednesday, March 15, 15:00
Draw 14 Wednesday, March 15, 20:00
Draw 15 Thursday, March 16, 9:30
Draw 16 Thursday, March 16, 14:00
Draw 17 Thursday, March 16, 20:00
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 17, 20:00
3 vs. 4 game Friday, March 17, 13:00
Semifinal Saturday, March 18, 13:00
Final Sunday, March 19, 19:00
Statistics Top 5 player percentages Round Robin only Leads % Steve Gould 89 Don Bartlett 87 Craig Savill 87 Ben Hebert 86 Andrew Gibson 86 Seconds % Chris Haichert 87 Carter Rycroft 86 Brent Laing 86 Rob Harris 84 Greg Melnichuk 79 Thirds % Richard Hart 85 Don Walchuk 84 Jeff Sharp 82 Bruce Lohnes 82 François Roberge 81 Skips % Glenn Howard 88 Kevin Martin 81 Jeff Stoughton 80 Mark Dacey 79 Pat Simmons 76
Awards and honours All-Star Teams First Team Skip: Glenn Howard (Ontario) Third: Richard Hart (Ontario) Second: Brent Laing (Ontario) Lead: Steve Gould (Manitoba)
Second Team Skip: Kevin Martin (Alberta) Third: François Roberge (Quebec) Second: Chris Haichert (Saskatchewan) Lead: Craig Savill (Ontario)
Hec Gervais Most Valuable Player Award Jean-Michel Ménard (Quebec)
Ross Harstone Award Jean-Michel Ménard (Quebec)
Scotty Harper Award – Media Award Allen Cameron, Calgary Herald – $500 award
Provincial playdowns Bold indicates winner. Italics indicated defending provincial champion
February 8–12 at the Saville Centre in Edmonton, Alberta
Pool A Skip Club W LMark Johnson Saville Sports Centre 4 1Randy Ferbey Granite Curling Club 3 2Steve Petryk Calgary Curling Club 3 2Ryan Keane Saville Sports Centre 2 3Rob Maksymetz Sexsmith Curling Club 2 3 Jamie King Saville Sports Centre 1 4 Pool B Skip Club W LKevin Martin Saville Sports Centre 4 1John Morris Calgary Winter Club 3 2Brent MacDonald Lac La Biche Curling Club 2 3Kurt Balderston Sexsmith Curling Club 2 3Chris Schille Crestwood Curling Club 2 3Dean Ross Calgary Curling Club 2 3
Playoffs Morris 8–3 Petryk (2B vs 3B) Ferbey 8–2 MacDonald (2A vs 3A) Morris 6–5 Ferbey (Quarter-final) Johnson 5–3 Martin (A1 vs. B1) Martin 8–4 Morris (Semi-final) Martin 7–5 Johnson (Final)
February 15–19 at the Chilliwack Curling Club, Chilliwack, British Columbia
Skip Club W LBrian Windsor Kamloops Curling Club 5 2 Bob Ursel Kelowna Curling Club 5 2 Bert Gretzinger Kelowna Curling Club 4 3Mark Longworth Vernon Curling Club 3 4Greg McAulay Richmond Curling Club 3 4Jay Peachey Golden Ears Winter Club 3 4Brent Pierce Royal City Curling Club 3 4Brian Gessner Richmond Curling Club 2 5
Playoffs Ursel 7–1 Gretzinger (Semi-final) Windsor 7–6 Ursel (Final)
The defending champion, Deane Horning did not qualify.
February 8–12, T.G. Smith Centre, Steinbach, Manitoba
Skip Club W LJeff Stoughton Charleswood Curling Club 7 0Reid Carruthers Valour Road Curling Club 7 2Chris Galbraith Rosser Curling Club 5 3Randy Neufeld La Salle Curling Club 5 3Allan Lyburn Wheat City Curling Club 4 3Dave Smith Valour Road Curling Club 4 3Ian Beavis Morden Curling Club 3 2 Kelly Robertson Neepawa Curling Club 3 2Mike McEwen Valour Road Curling Club 3 2 Brent Scales Swan River Curling Club 3 2 Graham Freemen Virden Curling Club 3 2 Peter Nicholls Elmwood Curling Club 3 2 Dave Boehmer Valour Road Curling Club 2 2Terry McNamee Wheat City Curling Club 2 2Randy Dutiaume Valour Road Curling Club 2 2Doug Riach St. Vital Curling Club 2 2Wayne Ewasko Selkirk Curling Club 1 2 Brent Strachan Hamiota Curling Club 1 2 Bryan Preston Warren Curling Club 1 2 David Bohn Valour Road Curling Club 1 2 Grant Brown Burntwood Curling Club 1 2 Rae Kujanpaa Rorketown Curling Club 1 2 Pete Pruden Petersfield Curling Club 1 2 Mark Lukowich Valour Road Curling Club 1 2 Howard Restall Granite Curling Club 0 2Mike Johnson Baldur Curling Club 0 2Rob Fleming The Pas Curling Club 0 2 Ryan Fry Valour Road Curling Club 0 2Ryan Hyde Portage Curling Club 0 2Renaud Gagne Valour Road Curling Club 0 2 Barry Fry Lac du Bonnet Curling Club 0 2Rob Van Kommer Carberry Curling Club 0 2
February 8–12 at the Capital Winter Club, Fredericton, New Brunswick
Skip Club W LJames Grattan Gage Golf & Curling Club 6 1Mike Kennedy Gladstone Curling Club 6 1Dan Sherrard Riverside Curling Club 6 1Charlie Sullivan Thistle St. Andrews Curling Club 3 4Dave Nowlan Capital Winter Club 3 4Roger Oakes Campbellton Curling Club 2 6Paul Dobson Thistle St. Andrews Curling Club 2 6Dan Philip Capital Winter Club 0 8
Playoffs Sherrard 5–3 Kennedy (Semi-final) Grattan 9–6 Sherrard (Final)
Defending champion Wade Blanchard played third for Charlie Sullivan
February 7–12, St. John's Curling Club, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Skip Club W LKen Peddigrew St. John's Curling Club 7 2Mark Noseworthy St. John's Curling Club 6 3Gary Oke Gander Curling Club 5 4Jeff Thomas St. John's Curling Club 5 4Trent Skanes St. John's Curling Club 5 4Andrew Symonds St. John's Curling Club 5 4Scott Davidge Gander Curling Club 5 4Mike Mullins Corner Brook Curling Association 3 6Keith Ryan Carol Curling Club 2 7Bob Nugent Bally Hally Golf & Country Club 2 7
Tie-breakers Skanes 12–11 Davidge Oke 7–5 Symonds Thomas 11–7 Skanes Oke 9–8 Thomas
Playoffs Noseworthy 7–4 Oke Peddigrew 6–5 Noseworthy
Defending champion Brad Gushue did not participate, as at the time he was representing Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
Northern Ontario February 6–12, Nipigon Curling Club, Nipigon, Ontario
Skip Club W LRob Gordon Cobalt-Hailebury Curling Club 6 2Joe Scharf Port Arthur Curling Club 5 3Al Harnden Soo Curlers Association 5 3Al Belec Soo Curlers Association 5 3Bryan Burgess Port Arthur Curling Club 5 3John Salo Port Arthur Curling Club 5 3Dan Lemieux Soo Curlers Association 4 4Brian Fawcett Englehart Curling Club 1 7Kirk Van Os Cobalt-Haileybury Curling Club 0 8
Tie-breakers Harnden 8–6 Salo Belec 8–6 Burgess Scharf 9–6 Harnden Harnden 8–2 Burgess Scharf 4–3 Belec
Playoffs Scharf 5–3 Gordon (1 vs. 2) Harnden 9–1 Belec (3 vs. 4) Gordon 6–4 Harnden (Semi-final) Gordon 7–6 Scharf (Final)
Defending champion Mike Jakubo did not qualify.
February 10–15, Liverpool Curling Club, Liverpool, Nova Scotia
Skip Club W LMark Dacey Mayflower Curling Club 7 1Don MacIntosh Truro Curling Club 6 2 Shawn Adams Mayflower Curling Club 5 3Chad Stevens Chester Curling Club 4 3Brian Rafuse Bridgewater Curling Club 4 3Mike Robinson Lakeshore Curling Club 3 3 Ian Fitzner-LeBlanc Mayflower Curling Club 3 3Doug MacKenzie Mayflower Curling Club 3 3 Brian Gibson Dartmouth Curling Club 3 3Mark Kehoe Windsor Curling Club 2 3 Kevin White Highlander Curling Club 2 3Mike Flemming Mayflower Curling Club 1 3 Peter Eddy Mayflower Curling Club 1 3Jeff Hopkins Bridgewater Curling Club 1 3Brent MacDougall Mayflower Curling Club 0 3 Graham Breckon Chester Curling Club 0 3
The 2006 Ontario Kia Cup was held February 6–12, Guelph Sports Centre, Guelph, Ontario
Skip Club W LWayne Middaugh St. George's Golf & Country Club 7 2Glenn Howard Coldwater & District Curling Club 7 2Mike Harris Oakville Curling Club 7 2Dale Matchett Churchill Curling Club 4 5John Epping Omemee Curling Club 4 5 Willie Jeffries Huntley Curling Club 4 5Rob Todd Brant Curling Club 3 6Bryan Cochrane Ottawa Curling Club 3 6Todd Brandwood Glendale Golf & Country Club 3 6Pat Ferris Grey Granite Club 3 6
Tie-breakers Matchett 11–9 Jeffries Matchett 7–5 Epping
Playoffs Howard 8–7 Middaugh (1 vs. 2) Harris 8–3 Matchett (3 vs. 4) Middaugh 9–5 Harris (Semi-final) Howard 9–6 Middaugh (Final)
February 8–12, Charlottetown Curling Club, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island