Brent George Laing [3] (born December 10, 1978) is a Canadian curler from Horseshoe Valley, Ontario. [4] He grew up in Meaford, Ontario. [5]
Brent George Laing [3] (born December 10, 1978) is a Canadian curler from Horseshoe Valley, Ontario. [4] He grew up in Meaford, Ontario. [5]
Curling out of the Ottawa Curling Club (in Ottawa) and later the Stayner Curling Club (in Stayner, Ontario), Laing played lead for John Morris until Morris left for Alberta in 2003. With Morris, Laing won the 1998 and 1999 Canadian Junior Curling Championships as well as the 1998 and 1999 World Junior Curling Championships. The team played in the 2001 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, but missed the playoffs after finishing with a 5-4 record. In 2002, they made it all the way to the Brier final, losing to Alberta's Randy Ferbey.
In 2004, Laing joined the Glenn Howard rink, playing second for the team. The team played in the 2005 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, but missed the playoffs, finishing with a 5-4 record. Later that season, they lost in the final of the 2006 Tim Hortons Brier to Jean-Michel Ménard from Quebec. The following year, they won the 2007 Tim Hortons Brier (defeating Newfoundland and Labrador's Brad Gushue rink in the final) and then the 2007 Ford World Men's Curling Championship, where they defeated Germany's Andy Kapp rink in the final. The team lost in the 2008 Tim Hortons Brier final to Kevin Martin of Alberta, and at the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier, they lost in the semifinal Jeff Stoughton's Manitoba rink. The next season, the team would make it all the way to the finals of the 2009 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, where they lost to Kevin Martin. At the 2010 Tim Hortons Brier, the team lost in the final once again, this time to Kevin Koe of Alberta. The team lost their second straight Brier final in 2011, losing to Stoughton again. The team won the 2012 Tim Hortons Brier, defeating Koe in the final. The team won the 2012 World Men's Curling Championship as Team Canada, claiming the gold medal, after defeating Scotland's Tom Brewster in the final. The team won the bronze medal at the 2013 Tim Hortons Brier, defeating Brad Gushue of Newfoundland and Labrador in the bronze medal game. The team played in the 2013 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, but missed the playoffs, finishing with a 2-5 record. The team did make it to the 2014 Brier, losing in the Ontario final to Greg Balsdon. At the end of the season, Laing left the rink to join Koe's Alberta team as his second.
The new Koe team represented Alberta at the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier, but missed the playoffs, going 6-5 in the round robin. The team had more success at the 2016 Tim Hortons Brier, which they won, by defeating Newfoundland and Labrador (Gushue) in the final. The team represented Canada at the 2016 World Men's Curling Championship, where they won the gold medal, defeating Denmark's Rasmus Stjerne in the final. The team represented Team Canada at the 2017 Tim Hortons Brier, but lost to Gushue in the final in a re-match of the previous Brier. The following season, the team won the 2017 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, and represented Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics, but fell short of the podium after losing in the bronze medal game to Switzerland's Peter de Cruz rink. Later that season, it was announced that Laing would return to playing out of his home province of Ontario, and would join the John Epping rink as his second. [6] In his first season as a member of the Epping rink, the team lost in the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier Wild Card game.
Ryan Fry joined the Epping team at third for the 2019–20 season, with Camm and Laing moving to second and lead and Savill leaving the team. They had a strong start to the year, winning both the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard and the 2019 AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic. [7] They had a semifinal finish at the Masters, the first Grand Slam of the season. They missed the playoffs at the next two slams, the Tour Challenge and the National after going 1–3 at both. Team Epping posted a 6–2 record en route to winning the 2019 Canada Cup in Leduc, Alberta. [8] This win qualified them to represent Team Canada along with five other Canadian teams at the 2020 Continental Cup where they lost 22.5–37.5 to the Europeans. [9] They had a strong showing at the Canadian Open where they made it all the way to the final where they lost to the Brad Jacobs rink. [10] At the 2020 Ontario Tankard, they completed their undefeated run throughout the week with an 8–3 win over Glenn Howard. [11] Representing Ontario at the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier, they finished the championship pool with a 7–4 record and in a four way tie for fourth place. [12] They defeated Team Wild Card (Mike McEwen) in the first tiebreaker before losing to Northern Ontario (Brad Jacobs) in the second and being eliminated from contention. [13] It would be the team's last event of the season as both the Players' Championship and the Champions Cup Grand Slam events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [14]
Team Epping began the 2020–21 season with a win at the 2020 Stu Sells Toronto Tankard. [15] The 2021 Ontario provincial playdowns were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario. As the 2020 provincial champions, Team Epping was chosen to represent Ontario at the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier in Calgary. [16] At the Brier, they finished with a 7–5 record. [17]
The following season, Team Epping played in the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, where they missed the playoffs with a 3–5 record. The team re-bounded a month later by winning the ATB Banff Classic. The team played in the 2022 Ontario Tankard, but lost in the final to Team Howard, skipped by Scott Howard. Following the season, the Epping rink broke up [18] with Laing and Fry joining a new team led by Mike McEwen. [19]
Laing played one season with the McEwen rink. The team managed to win the 2023 Ontario Tankard, and represented Ontario at the 2023 Tim Hortons Brier, where they lost in the 3 vs. 4 page playoff game. [20] The team would only play one season together, with McEwen forming a new team out of Saskatchewan. [21] In mixed doubles curling, Laing and wife Jennifer Jones won the 2023 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship. The pair went on to represent Canada at the 2023 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, where they placed fourth, after losing the bronze medal game to Norway. [22]
On the World Curling Tour, Laing has won a career 16 Grand Slams, 13 with the Howard rink. He won the 2015 GSOC Tour Challenge and the 2018 Players' Championship with Koe, and the 2018 Masters with Epping.
Laing is married to another champion curler, Jennifer Jones from Manitoba. [23] They have two children together, Isabella and Skyla. Laing also has a child from a previous relationship. [24] [25] Laing currently works as an entrepreneur. He currently coaches the Mike Mcewen rink. [26]
| Season | Skip | Third | Second | Lead | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 [27] | Andy Ormsby | Brent Laing | Wade Walsh | Jeff Gorda | |
| 1997–98 | John Morris | Craig Savill | Andy Ormsby | Brent Laing | 1998 CJC, WJC |
| 1998–99 | John Morris | Craig Savill | Jason Young | Brent Laing | 1999 CJC, WJC |
| 1999–00 | John Morris | Craig Savill | Andy Ormsby | Brent Laing | |
| 2000–01 | John Morris | Joe Frans | Craig Savill | Brent Laing | 2001 Ont. |
| 2001–02 | John Morris | Joe Frans | Craig Savill | Brent Laing | 2001 COCT, 2002 Ont., Brier |
| 2002–03 | John Morris | Joe Frans | Craig Savill | Brent Laing | 2003 Ont., CC |
| 2003–04 | Heath McCormick | Brent Laing | Jason Young | Shaun Harris | |
| 2004–05 | Glenn Howard | Richard Hart | Brent Laing | Craig Savill | 2005 Ont. |
| 2005–06 | Glenn Howard | Richard Hart | Brent Laing | Craig Savill | 2005 COCT, 2006 CC, Ont., Brier |
| 2006–07 | Glenn Howard | Richard Hart | Brent Laing | Craig Savill | 2007 Ont., Brier, WCC |
| 2007–08 | Glenn Howard | Richard Hart | Brent Laing | Craig Savill | 2008 Ont., CC, Brier |
| 2008–09 | Glenn Howard | Richard Hart | Brent Laing | Craig Savill | 2009 Ont., Brier |
| 2009–10 | Glenn Howard | Richard Hart | Brent Laing | Craig Savill | 2009 COCT, 2010 Ont., Brier |
| 2010–11 | Glenn Howard | Richard Hart | Brent Laing | Craig Savill | 2010 CC, 2011 2011, Brier |
| 2011–12 | Glenn Howard | Wayne Middaugh | Brent Laing | Craig Savill | 2011 CC, 2012 Ont., Brier, WCC |
| 2012–13 | Glenn Howard | Wayne Middaugh | Brent Laing | Craig Savill | 2012 CC, 2013 Ont., Brier |
| 2013–14 | Glenn Howard | Wayne Middaugh | Brent Laing | Craig Savill | 2013 COCT, 2014 Ont. |
| 2014–15 | Kevin Koe | Marc Kennedy | Brent Laing | Ben Hebert | 2014 CC, 2015 Alta., Brier |
| 2015–16 | Kevin Koe | Marc Kennedy | Brent Laing | Ben Hebert | 2015 CC, 2016 Alta., Brier, WCC |
| 2016–17 | Kevin Koe | Marc Kennedy | Brent Laing | Ben Hebert | 2016 CC, 2017 Brier |
| 2017–18 | Kevin Koe | Marc Kennedy | Brent Laing | Ben Hebert | 2017 COCT, 2018 2018 OG |
| 2018–19 | John Epping | Mat Camm | Brent Laing | Craig Savill | 2018 CC, 2019 Ont., Brier WC |
| 2019–20 | John Epping | Ryan Fry | Mat Camm | Brent Laing | 2019 CC, 2020 Ont., Brier |
| 2020–21 | John Epping | Ryan Fry | Mat Camm | Brent Laing | 2021 Brier |
| 2021–22 | John Epping | Ryan Fry | Mat Camm | Brent Laing | 2021 COCT, 2022 Ont. |
| 2022–23 | Mike McEwen | Ryan Fry | Jonathan Beuk Joey Hart | Brent Laing | 2022 PBI, 2023 Ont., Brier |
Bradley Raymond Gushue, ONL is a Canadian curler from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Gushue, along with teammates Russ Howard, Mark Nichols, Jamie Korab and Mike Adam, represented Canada in curling at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where they won the gold medal by defeating Finland 10–4. He also represented Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where he won a bronze medal. In addition to the Olympics, Gushue won the 2017 World Men's Curling Championship with teammates Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, and Geoff Walker. He is a record five-time Brier champion skip, having won in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2023 all with Nichols, Gallant and Walker, except for 2023 with E. J. Harnden replacing Gallant. Their win in 2017 was Newfoundland and Labrador's first Brier title in 41 years. At the 2018 Tim Hortons Brier, Gushue set a new record for Brier game wins as a skip, breaking a three-way tie with previous record-holders Russ Howard and Kevin Martin.
John C. Morris is a Canadian curler, and two-time Olympic gold medallist from Canmore, Alberta. Morris played third for the Kevin Martin team until April 24, 2013. Morris, author of the book Fit to Curl, is the son of Maureen and Earle Morris, inventor of the "Stabilizer" curling broom. Morris grew up in Gloucester, Ontario and at the age of five began curling at the Navy Curling Club.
Glenn William Howard is a Canadian curler who is one of the most decorated curlers of all time. He has won four world championships, four Briers and 17 Ontario provincial championships, including a record eight straight, from 2006 to 2013. Through 2017, he has played in 218 games at the Brier, more than any other curler in history. He has also won the 2001 TSN Skins Game.
Marc Kennedy is a Canadian curler, and Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic gold medallist from St. Albert, Alberta.
Ryan Bennett Fry is a retired Canadian curler currently living in Pickering, Ontario. He most recently played third on the Mike McEwen team and coached the Rachel Homan team. He currently coaches the Joël Retornaz rink. He previously played third for Team Brad Jacobs, and the team represented Canada and won the gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics. The team also won the 2013 Tim Hortons Brier. Fry won a silver medal at the 2013 World Men's Curling Championship.
Kevin Koe is a Canadian curler. Koe is a two-time World champion and four-time Canadian champion. He was the skip of the Canadian men's team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
John Allan Epping is a Canadian curler from Toronto, Ontario. He currently skips his own team out of the Leaside Curling Club in East York, Toronto.
Brett Philip Gallant is a Canadian curler from Chestermere, Alberta. He currently plays second for the Brendan Bottcher rink.
Brendan Michael Bottcher is a Canadian curler from Spruce Grove, Alberta. Bottcher is a three-time provincial men's champion, and was the skip of the 2021 Canadian men's championship team, having led Alberta to victory at the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier.
Brendan "B. J." Neufeld is a Canadian curler from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Neufeld plays third for the Matt Dunstone rink. He started curling around the age of ten and, like older brother Denni Neufeld, cites the achievements of his father as leading his interest into the game of curling. His father is Chris Neufeld who was a three-time Manitoba curling champion and one time Labatt Brier champion in 1992 as part of the Vic Peters team.
Mathew Robert "Mat" Camm is a Canadian curler from Cornwall, Ontario. He currently plays third on Team John Epping. Camm is originally from Rockland, Ontario.
Geoff Walker is a Canadian curler, currently living in Edmonton, Alberta. He currently plays lead for the Brad Gushue rink. He was the Men's World Champion in 2017 and won silver the following year in 2018. A five-time national champion, he won the Brier in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023. Walker was a two-time World Junior Champion when he won gold in 2006 and 2007.
Eric "E. J." Harnden, Jr. is a Canadian curler. He currently throws second stones for the Canadian champion Brad Gushue rink.
Colton Flasch is a Canadian curler from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He currently plays third on Team Mike McEwen.
The 2016 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship, was held from March 5–13, 2016 at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ontario.
Darren Moulding is a Canadian curler from Lacombe, Alberta and curls out of the Saville Sports Centre and the Lacombe Curling Club. He is a former Canadian Junior Silver Medallist, a Canadian Mixed Champion, and represented Alberta in the 2017, 2018, 2020 and Team Wild Card in the 2019 Brier Canadian men's championship.
Bradley Thiessen is a Canadian curler. He was a long-time member of the Brendan Bottcher rink, throwing second stones for the team until 2022. With Bottcher, he won the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier and represented Canada at the 2021 World Men's Curling Championship.
Karrick Martin is a Canadian curler. He currently plays lead on Team Kevin Koe. He is the son of 2010 Olympic champion skip Kevin Martin.
The 2022 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship, was held from March 4 to 13 at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta. In the final, the defending Olympic bronze medallist Brad Gushue Wild Card #1 team, which also include Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant and Geoff Walker from Newfoundland and Labrador defeated Alberta, skipped by Kevin Koe. It was Gushue's fourth career Brier title, and the team did it shorthanded, as Nichols missed the playoffs due to testing positive for COVID-19. According to Curling Canada, it was the first time a three-player team won a Brier final. Gushue's four Brier wins ties the record with Ernie Richardson, Randy Ferbey, Kevin Martin and Koe for most Brier championships as a skip, and his rink tied the "Ferbey Four" for most Brier championships as a foursome with four titles. Gushue played as a Wild Card team as they missed the Newfoundland and Labrador provincials due to their participation in the Olympics, and were the first team to ever play at the Brier and the Olympics in the same year. They were also the first Wild Card team to win the Brier. The Gushue rink represented Canada at the 2022 World Men's Curling Championship at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, United States, where they won the silver medal.
The 2023 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship, was held from March 3 to 12 at the Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario. The defending champion Team Canada rink, skipped by Brad Gushue won the event, and will go on to represent Canada at the 2023 World Men's Curling Championship on home soil at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ontario. It was a record fifth Brier title as a skip for Gushue.
