Canada’s best men’s teams compete for curling glory in London, ON at the 2011 TIM HORTONS BRIER, March 5-13, live on TSN and TSN2. TSN’s exclusive live coverage of the nation’s top men’s curling tournament begins Saturday, March 5 at 2:30 p.m. ET with more than 70 hours of action (see complete broadcast schedule below).
The 2011 TIM HORTONS BRIER PREVIEW SPECIAL, showcasing all the teams and taking fans behind the scenes, begins Saturday, March 5 at 7 p.m. ET on TSN. The 30-minute special also recaps last year’s dramatic extra-end BRIER final between Kevin Koe and Glenn Howard, which attracted a record 1.6 million viewers to TSN.
The 2011 TIM HORTONS BRIER features a world-class lineup of 12 teams broom battling for the title and the chance to represent Canada at the FORD WORLD MEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP, live on TSN this April.
Olympic gold medallist Kevin Martin (Team Alberta), who recently dethroned national and world champion Koe during the provincial finals, will attempt an unprecedented fifth BRIER title as a skip. Six-time provincial champion Glenn Howard (Team Ontario) has home ice advantage during his record sixth consecutive BRIER appearance as a skip, while Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue (Team Newfoundland and Labrador) sweeps into the national championship looking for his first BRIER title. Two-time national champion and former world champion Jeff Stoughton (Team Manitoba) makes his ninth BRIER trip.
The complete 2011 TIM HORTONS BRIER field includes skips:
• Shawn Adams (Team Nova Scotia)
• Jim Cotter (Team British Columbia)
• François Gagné (Team Quebec)
• James Grattan (Team New Brunswick)
• Brad Gushue (Team Newfoundland and Labrador)
• Glenn Howard (Team Ontario)
• Brad Jacobs (Team Northern Ontario)
• Jamie Koe (Team Northwest Territories/Yukon)
• Steve Laycock (Team Saskatchewan)
• Eddie MacKenzie (Team PEI)
• Kevin Martin (Team Alberta)
• Jeff Stoughton (Team Manitoba)
TSN’s acclaimed curling broadcast team is on hand for afternoon and evening draws with Vic Rauter calling the action alongside Olympic gold medallist Linda Moore and two-time Brier Champion and Olympic gold medallist Russ Howard. Three-time Tournament of Hearts winner Cathy Gauthier and Bryan Mudryk will provide analysis of the morning draws. Bob Weeks will add curling commentary in THE WEEKS REPORT, airing during the 5th end break of each evening draw.
The 2011 TIM HORTONS BRIER is part of TSN’s comprehensive curling calendar, featuring national and international coverage, which includes the upcoming WORLD WOMEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP in Esbjerg, Denmark from March 19-27, and the FORD WORLD MEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP in Regina, SK from April 2-10.
TSN’s long-standing partnership with the Canadian Curling Association dates back to the network’s inception in 1984.
TSN’s broadcast schedule for the 2011 TIM HORTONS BRIER is as follows:
Saturday, March 5
• Draw 1 at 2:30 p.m. ET
• Draw 2 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, March 6
• Draw 3 at 9:30 a.m. ET
• Draw 4 at 2:30 p.m. ET
• Draw 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Monday, March 7
• Draw 6 at 9:30 a.m. ET
• Draw 7 at 2:30 p.m. ET
• Draw 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, March 8
• Draw 9 at 9:30 a.m. ET
• Draw 10 at 2:30 p.m. ET
• Draw 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, March 9
• Draw 12 at 9:30 a.m. ET
• Draw 13 at 2:30 p.m. ET
• Draw 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET (TSN2)
Thursday, March 10
• Draw 15 at 9:30 a.m. ET
• Draw 16 at 2:30 p.m. ET
• Draw 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Friday, March 11
• Tie-Breaker(s) (if required) at 2:30 p.m. ET
• Page Playoff (1 vs. 2) at 7:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, March 12
• Page Playoff (3 vs. 4) at 2:30 p.m. ET
• Semifinal at 7:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, March 13
• Bronze Medal at 2:30 p.m. ET (TSN2)
• Final at 7:30 p.m. ET
