Rick Sawatsky hopes his seventh time is a charm.
The Kelowna curler will be throwing lead rocks for the Okanagan-based John Morris foursome at the 2017 Brier beginning Saturday in St. John91裸聊视频檚, N.L.
Sawatsky, like Vernon91裸聊视频檚 Jim Cotter, will be making his seventh appearance at the Canadian men91裸聊视频檚 curling championship. Second Tyrel Griffith, from Kelowna, will be playing at the Brier for the fifth time.
91裸聊视频淭he feeling never gets old,91裸聊视频 said Sawatsky, who has been a teammate of Cotter91裸聊视频檚 for all seven B.C. titles. 91裸聊视频淭o be able to represent the province is a privilege and an honour. I know after we won B.C., Jim (Cotter) and I smiled and just appreciated the fact that we get to go back.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 exciting to be part of it again, and this time we91裸聊视频檙e going to go and try make the most of it.91裸聊视频
The last time the Kelowna-Vernon curlers teamed up with Morris, the B.C. champs came agonizingly close to a Brier title, losing the 2014 Canadian final in Kamloops to Kevin Koe.
Three years later, with Morris skipping and Cotter again throwing last rocks, the Kelowna-Vernon crew has had a solid season on the World Curling Tour, winning one event, finishing second in another and qualifying in several more.
After a few weeks to get reacquainted early in the season, Sawatsky said the Morris-Cotter rink has hit its stride.
91裸聊视频淕etting back after a hiatus with John, it took a little time for us to come together,91裸聊视频 Sawatsky said. 91裸聊视频淏ut once we got comfortable again, everything fell into place pretty well. I think we got stronger with each event we played and hopefully that91裸聊视频檚 something we can carry with us into (St. John91裸聊视频檚).91裸聊视频
This year91裸聊视频檚 Brier, as is often the case, is a who91裸聊视频檚 who of Canadian men91裸聊视频檚 curling. Defending national champion Kevin Koe, ex-Brier champs Brad Jacobs and Glenn Howard, former Olympic gold medalist and hometown favourite Brad Gushue, and Manitoba91裸聊视频檚 Mike McEwen are all included in the field. The Morris-Cotter rink has beaten each one of those teams at least once during the season.
As for playing for a Brier championship on The Rock, Sawatsky said the B.C. champs are looking forward to the experience.
91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 going to be pretty fun,91裸聊视频 Sawatsky said. 91裸聊视频淲e were (in Newfoundland) last year for a Slam event, the fans were amazing and the atmosphere was top notch. I expect the same kind of excitement this time around.91裸聊视频
Still, all hype and pomp of a Brier aside, Sawatsky said his team is in Newfoundland this week with one goal in mind.
91裸聊视频淲e can just really need to focus on what we can control,91裸聊视频 he said. 91裸聊视频淭he four of us need to go out and have a good week, get to the final and see of we can win it this time. We think we91裸聊视频檝e got the game and steam do it91裸聊视频t91裸聊视频檚 matter of us playing like we we91裸聊视频檙e capable of.91裸聊视频
The B.C. champs will open the 2017 Brier on Saturday against Northern Ontario91裸聊视频檚 Brad Jacobs.