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. John含羞草研究社檚, N.L.
Sawatsky, like Vernon含羞草研究社檚 Jim Cotter, will be making his seventh appearance at the Canadian men含羞草研究社檚 curling championship. Second Tyrel Griffith, from Kelowna, will be playing at the Brier for the fifth time.
含羞草研究社淭he feeling never gets old,含羞草研究社� said Sawatsky, who has been a teammate of Cotter含羞草研究社檚 for all seven B.C. titles. 含羞草研究社淭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.
含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 exciting to be part of it again, and this time we含羞草研究社檙e going to go and try make the most of it.含羞草研究社�
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.
含羞草研究社淕etting back after a hiatus with John, it took a little time for us to come together,含羞草研究社� Sawatsky said. 含羞草研究社淏ut once we got comfortable again, everything fell into place pretty well. I think we got stronger with each event we played and hopefully that含羞草研究社檚 something we can carry with us into (St. John含羞草研究社檚).含羞草研究社�
This year含羞草研究社檚 Brier, as is often the case, is a who含羞草研究社檚 who of Canadian men含羞草研究社檚 curling. Defending national champion Kevin Koe, ex-Brier champs Brad Jacobs and Glenn Howard, former Olympic gold medalist and hometown favourite Brad Gushue, and Manitoba含羞草研究社檚 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.
含羞草研究社淚 think it含羞草研究社檚 going to be pretty fun,含羞草研究社� Sawatsky said. 含羞草研究社淲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.含羞草研究社�
Still, all hype and pomp of a Brier aside, Sawatsky said his team is in Newfoundland this week with one goal in mind.
含羞草研究社淲e can just really need to focus on what we can control,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭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 we含羞草研究社檝e got the game and steam do it含羞草研究社t含羞草研究社檚 matter of us playing like we we含羞草研究社檙e capable of.含羞草研究社�
The B.C. champs will open the 2017 Brier on Saturday against Northern Ontario含羞草研究社檚 Brad Jacobs.
