1961 Macdonald Brier

Last updated
1961 Macdonald Brier
Host city Calgary, Alberta
Arena Stampede Corral
DatesMarch 6–10
Attendance51,575
Winner Alberta
Curling club Alberta Avenue CC, Edmonton
Skip Hec Gervais
Third Ron Anton
Second Ray Werner
Lead Wally Ursuliak
«  1960
1962  »

The 1961 Macdonald Brier , the Canadian men's national curling championship, was held from March 6 to 10, 1961 at the Stampede Corral in Calgary, Alberta. A total of 51,575 fans attended the event, which was only 150 fans short of the record set in 1955 Brier in Regina. [1] Due to issues during the 1960 Brier with brooms shredding causing numerous delays to clean the ice during games, curlers no longer could choose their own broom and instead could only use brooms provided by the Brier committee. Previously, the Brier committee had always supplied brooms, but curlers were permitted to use their own if desired. [2]

Contents

Team Alberta, who was skipped by Hec Gervais captured the Brier Tankard with a record of 9–1 in round robin play. This was the eighth time in which Alberta had captured the Brier championship and the first of two Briers in which Gervais won as a skip. At the age of 27 years and 4 months, Gervais would at the time become the youngest skip to win a Brier surpassing Matt Baldwin's record by six months when he won the 1954 Brier. [3]

Gervais' rink (with Vic Raymer in place of Ron Anton) would go on to complete in the 1961 Scotch Cup in Scotland and eventually capture Canada's third straight World Championship.

Event Summary

Heading into the Thursday evening draw (Draw 9), there were seven teams that were mathematically alive to win the 1961 Brier. Alberta was unbeaten with a 7–0 record and two games ahead of second place teams Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, who all tied with 5-2 records. Prince Edward Island was sitting at 5-3 while Northern Ontario and Nova Scotia were both 4–3. That evening, Northern Ontario beat Ontario 12–9, Manitoba would hold off Quebec 14–12, Saskatchewan eliminated Nova Scotia handily 11–3, and PEI handed Alberta their first loss of the tournament with an 11–7 victory. With Alberta's loss, the standings would tighten up heading into the final day of the Brier.

The Friday morning draw (Draw 10) saw Saskatchewan beat Ontario 9-5 and Manitoba beat Northern Ontario 6–5, thus eliminating both Ontario and Northern Ontario from championship contention. With Alberta's 12–4 victory over Nova Scotia, thus eliminating PEI who had drawn a bye. The final draw of the tournament on Friday afternoon would come down to Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan with the latter two playing each other. An Alberta loss to Ontario would force a tiebreaker against the winner of the Manitoba/Saskatchewan matchup.

In the game on Sheet B between Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan led 3-1 after the third end but Ontario would counter and score one in each of the next two ends to tie the game at 3. However, Saskatchewan would score three in the sixth to take a 6–3 lead halfway through the game. Manitoba would cut the lead to 6-5 after a score of two in the seventh, but Saskatchewan would put the game out of reach with three in the eighth and a steal of two in the ninth and eventually beat Manitoba 12–7. Meanwhile, on Sheet C, the Alberta and Ontario game was going in similar fashion as the game was tied 3-3 after four ends. To the delight of the Saskatchewan fans, Ontario would put up three in the fifth and a steal of two in the sixth to go up 8-3 after halfway and would lead 9-4 through eight ends. That delight would be short lived however as Alberta would rally back and tie the game at 9 with four in the eighth and a steal of one in the ninth. After a blank end in the eleventh, it would come down to the final end. With Alberta having the shot rock, it would come down to Ontario skip Thomas Caldwell's final rock. Caldwell threw an out-turn on his final stone, but the stone was too far outside and smashed against the Alberta guard giving Alberta a 10–9 victory for Gervais' first Brier and a spot in the 1961 Scotch Cup. [3]

Teams

The teams are listed as follows: [4]

AlbertaBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew Brunswick
Alberta Avenue CC, Edmonton

Skip: Hec Gervais
Third: Ron Anton
Second: Ray Werner
Lead: Wally Ursuliak

Peace Arch CC, White Rock

Skip: Tony Folk
Third: James Kilburn
Second: George Klotz
Lead: Neil Eyben

West Kildonan CC, Winnipeg

Skip: John-David Lyon
Third: Leroy Herman
Second: William Zaporzan
Lead: Leo Kelsch

Campbellton CC, Campbellton

Skip: John MacDonald
Third: Jack Cummins
Second: Reginald Murphy
Lead: Guy Marcoux

NewfoundlandNorthern OntarioNova ScotiaOntario
Blomidon CC, Corner Brook

Skip: Alexander Fisher
Third: Harry Stanley
Second: Reginald Goldburg
Lead: James Tulley

Kirkland Lake CC, Kirkland Lake

Skip: Jack Polyblank
Third: Frank Macdonald
Second: Earl MacInnes
Lead: Murvin Smith

Dartmouth CC, Dartmouth

Skip: James Florian
Third: Peter Hope
Second: Kenneth Bell
Lead: Donald Stanhope

Champlain CC, Orillia

Skip: Thomas Caldwell
Third: Ross Coward
Second: J.A. Behan
Lead: Frank Milligan

Prince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewan
Charlottetown CC, Charlottetown

Skip: Douglas Cameron
Third: George Dillon
Second: Allison Saunders
Lead: Arnold Llewellyn

Whitlock G & CVC, Hudson

Skip: Tom Welch
Third: John Crombie
Second: Eugene Hodgson
Lead: Graham Perry

Avonlea CC, Avonlea

Skip: John Keys
Third: Garnet Campbell
Second: Robert Pickering
Lead: Glen Campbell

Round robin standings

Key
Brier Champion
ProvinceSkipWLPFPA
Alberta Hec Gervais 9111674
Saskatchewan John Keys 8210665
Flag of Manitoba (1905).svg  Manitoba John-David Lyon 7310493
Northern Ontario Jack Polyblank 6410087
Prince Edward Island Douglas Cameron 649879
Ontario Thomas Caldwell 558687
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia James Florian 5581100
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia Tony Folk 559183
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec Tom Welch 2885119
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Newfoundland Alexander Fisher 1974121
New Brunswick John MacDonald 1977110

Round robin results

All draw times are listed in Mountain Time (UTC-07:00) [5]

Draw 1

Monday, March 6 3:00 PM

Sheet A123456789101112Final
Prince Edward Island (Cameron)20200203210012
Ontario (Caldwell)0101003000207
Sheet B123456789101112Final
Saskatchewan (Keys)04102101011011
New Brunswick (MacDonald)0001001020059
Sheet C123456789101112Final
Northern Ontario (Polyblank)0101040201009
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia (Folk)10102010202110
Sheet D123456789101112Final
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Newfoundland (Fisher)0100102020006
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec (Welch)10200102012312
Sheet E123456789101112Final
Flag of Manitoba (1905).svg  Manitoba (Lyon)1010020100106
Alberta (Gervais)03011040110112

Draw 2

Monday, March 6 8:00 PM

Sheet A123456789101112Final
Northern Ontario (Polyblank)00302120103012
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Newfoundland (Fisher)2102000201019
Sheet B123456789101112Final
Alberta (Gervais)23040320201017
New Brunswick (MacDonald)0010400102019
Sheet C12345678910111213Final
Prince Edward Island (Cameron)03020201100009
Flag of Manitoba (1905).svg  Manitoba (Lyon)202010200101110
Sheet D12345678910111213Final
Ontario (Caldwell)200101310101111
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia (Florian)013010002030010
Sheet E123456789101112Final
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia (Folk)1024000101009
Saskatchewan (Keys)01003100102210

Draw 3

Tuesday, March 7 9:30 AM

Sheet A123456789101112Final
Flag of Manitoba (1905).svg  Manitoba (Lyon)20111033202015
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia (Florian)0100030002017
Sheet B123456789101112Final
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia (Folk)00022104010010
Alberta (Gervais)22200010300111
Sheet C123456789101112Final
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Newfoundland (Fisher)0101000102016
Saskatchewan (Keys)10102300303013
Sheet D123456789101112Final
Northern Ontario (Polyblank)30030204104017
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec (Welch)04202010010111
Sheet E123456789101112Final
Prince Edward Island (Cameron)21202021201013
New Brunswick (MacDonald)0001010003016

Draw 4

Tuesday, March 7 3:00 PM

Sheet A123456789101112Final
Saskatchewan (Keys)40340420100220
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec (Welch)0100200201006
Sheet B123456789101112Final
Prince Edward Island (Cameron)0120202010109
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia (Folk)10010202020210
Sheet C123456789101112Final
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia (Florian)31012001003011
New Brunswick (MacDonald)0010022030019
Sheet D123456789101112Final
Flag of Manitoba (1905).svg  Manitoba (Lyon)0020023001019
Ontario (Caldwell)0100200110106
Sheet E123456789101112Final
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Newfoundland (Fisher)2010002001017
Alberta (Gervais)02033102101013

Draw 5

Wednesday, March 8 3:00 PM

Sheet A123456789101112Final
New Brunswick (MacDonald)0101000010115
Ontario (Caldwell)2030011101009
Sheet B123456789101112Final
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Newfoundland (Fisher)1000102010027
Prince Edward Island (Cameron)01030202003011
Sheet C123456789101112Final
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec (Welch)2200010101007
Alberta (Gervais)00311040202114
Sheet D123456789101112Final
Saskatchewan (Keys)2000200201018
Northern Ontario (Polyblank)0020010010105
Sheet E123456789101112Final
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia (Florian)0011002002118
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia (Folk)1200020010006

Draw 6

Wednesday, March 8 8:00 PM

Sheet A123456789101112Final
Alberta (Gervais)10101012104213
Northern Ontario (Polyblank)0101020001005
Sheet B123456789101112Final
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia (Florian)02020200040111
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Newfoundland (Fisher)2010200110108
Sheet C12345678910111213Final
Ontario (Caldwell)01000100201016
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia (Folk)00012010000105
Sheet D123456789101112Final
New Brunswick (MacDonald)1001013010108
Flag of Manitoba (1905).svg  Manitoba (Lyon)02101004020313
Sheet E123456789101112Final
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec (Welch)0020001000104
Prince Edward Island (Cameron)11002001110411

Draw 7

Thursday, March 9 9:30 AM

Sheet A123456789101112Final
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia (Folk)01032201021012
Flag of Manitoba (1905).svg  Manitoba (Lyon)3010000010027
Sheet B12345678910111213Final
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec (Welch)00010102120108
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia (Florian)21101020001019
Sheet C123456789101112Final
Northern Ontario (Polyblank)00202010020512
Prince Edward Island (Cameron)2101010100107
Sheet D123456789101112Final
Alberta (Gervais)1001001003017
Saskatchewan (Keys)0100010010306
Sheet E123456789101112Final
Ontario (Caldwell)40200101014013
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Newfoundland (Fisher)0102100010016

Draw 8

Thursday, March 9 3:00 PM

Sheet A12345678910111213Final
Prince Edward Island (Cameron)10001020020028
Saskatchewan (Keys)00020201000106
Sheet B12345678910111213Final
Ontario (Caldwell)120210100200211
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec (Welch)00200103002109
Sheet C123456789101112Final
Flag of Manitoba (1905).svg  Manitoba (Lyon)10301130430117
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Newfoundland (Fisher)02030001004010
Sheet D123456789101112Final
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia (Folk)0201020200018
New Brunswick (MacDonald)10102010212010
Sheet E123456789101112Final
Northern Ontario (Polyblank)11020201002413
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia (Florian)0030101021008

Draw 9

Thursday, March 9 8:00 PM

Sheet A123456789101112Final
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Newfoundland (Fisher)1101101020029
New Brunswick (MacDonald)0020020101107
Sheet B123456789101112Final
Northern Ontario (Polyblank)30010211000412
Ontario (Caldwell)0200200021209
Sheet C123456789101112Final
Saskatchewan (Keys)3212012000XX11
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia (Florian)0000200001XX3
Sheet D123456789101112Final
Prince Edward Island (Cameron)20120101301011
Alberta (Gervais)0100201002017
Sheet E123456789101112Final
Flag of Manitoba (1905).svg  Manitoba (Lyon)30000503102014
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec (Welch)02211020030112

Draw 10

Friday, March 10 9:30 AM

Sheet A123456789101112Final
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia (Florian)0200001001004
Alberta (Gervais)20211001202112
Sheet B123456789101112Final
Flag of Manitoba (1905).svg  Manitoba (Lyon)0010100021016
Northern Ontario (Polyblank)0101011000105
Sheet C123456789101112Final
New Brunswick (MacDonald)2030011001008
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec (Welch)0102100110219
Sheet D123456789101112Final
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Newfoundland (Fisher)1020001001016
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia (Folk)03012200202012
Sheet E123456789101112Final
Saskatchewan (Keys)0210200300019
Ontario (Caldwell)1001010011005

Draw 11

Friday, March 10 3:00 PM

Sheet A123456789101112Final
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec (Welch)2200100100107
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia (Folk)0021011021019
Sheet B123456789101112Final
Saskatchewan (Keys)10200303200112
Flag of Manitoba (1905).svg  Manitoba (Lyon)0101102002007
Sheet C123456789101112Final
Alberta (Gervais)02010010410110
Ontario (Caldwell)1020320100009
Sheet D123456789101112Final
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia (Florian)02021011010210
Prince Edward Island (Cameron)1030010010107
Sheet E123456789101112Final
New Brunswick (MacDonald)1020100100106
Northern Ontario (Polyblank)01010320020110

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References

  1. "EE22_BrierSouvenirProgramFinal.pdf" (PDF). Curling Canada. p. 59. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  2. "Choice of Broom No Longer Curler's". Calgary Herald. newspapers.com. March 7, 1961. p. 7. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 Bilych, George; Scott, Dunc (March 11, 1961). "Thrilling Finish with Ontario". Calgary Herald. newspapers.com. p. 7. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  4. "1961 MacDonald Brier - Curling Canada Stats Archive". Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  5. "The Draw For The Week". Calgary Herald. newspapers.com. March 6, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved 17 May 2022.