1966 Macdonald Brier
Host cityHalifax, Nova Scotia
ArenaHalifax Forum
DatesMarch 7–11
Attendance11,905
WinnerAlberta
Curling clubCalgary CC, Calgary
SkipRon Northcott
ThirdGeorge Fink
SecondBernie Sparkes
LeadFred Storey
Finalist Ontario (Gurowka)
« 1965
1967 »

The 1966 Macdonald Brier the Canadian men's national curling championship, was held March 7 to 11, 1966 at the Halifax Forum in Halifax, Nova Scotia.[1] After the Brier the year before broke attendance records, the 1966 edition only drew 11,905 fans. At the time, only the 1947 Brier drew fewer fans.[2]

Both Alberta and Ontario finished round robin play with identical 8–2 records, necessitating a tiebreaker playoff between the two teams for the Brier championship. Team Alberta, who was skipped by Ron Northcott won the Brier Tankard over Ontario 7-6 in the tiebreaker playoff. This was the ninth time that Alberta won the Brier championship and the first of three Briers that Northcott won as a skip.

Northcott and his team would go on to represent Canada at the 1966 Scotch Cup, the World Curling Championship, which they won.

Event Summary

After the Thursday afternoon draw (Draw 8), there were five teams with a legitimate shot at the championship. Alberta was sitting at 6-1 with Ontario sitting at 6-2, Manitoba and Saskatchewan both sitting at 5-2, and Nova Scotia sitting at 5-3.

The Thursday evening draw saw the standings tighten up even more. Manitoba scored two in the final end for a 9-8 victory over Alberta, Saskatchewan rolled past PEI 17-5, and Ontario beat Newfoundland 10-8 while Nova Scotia drew a bye. This caused four teams to now be sitting at two losses heading into the final two draws on Friday.

The penultimate draw on Friday morning saw Alberta beat British Columbia 10-8, Nova Scotia beating Quebec 9-6, and Saskatchewan rolling past New Brunswick 14-5 while Ontario drew a bye. However, Newfoundland (who entered the draw with only one win) pulled off a stunning upset as they blew out Manitoba 17-5. This would cause a three-way tie between Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan with 7-2 records while Manitoba and Nova Scotia both now sitting a game back at 6-3. With matchups featuring Manitoba and Ontario along with Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan in the final draw, there was a high chance that at least one tiebreaker would be needed to determine the Brier champion after round robin play concluded.

The final draw of the round robin on Friday afternoon ended up living up to its hype. Saskatchewan, who was one of the teams tied for first led Nova Scotia 7-5 heading into the twelfth and final end without hammer. Nova Scotia would end up scoring two and forced the game into an extra end. Nova Scotia then would steal one in the extra end to beat Saskatchewan 8-7 as both teams now needed Alberta and Ontario to both lose to still have a shot at the championship via a five-way tiebreaker. However, this would not be up to fruition as Alberta pulled away late against PEI for a 7-3 win eliminating Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan from contention. Ontario won a back-and-forth game with Manitoba as Ontario broke a 7-all tie with two in the final end for a 9-7 victory and forcing a tiebreaker playoff with Alberta for the Brier championship.

In the playoff, Alberta skip Ron Northcott missed three last-rock takeouts in a row to go down 0–3 after the first three ends. Northcott drew for a single in the fourth, before Ontario scored a single in the fifth. Alberta then scored two in six, then stole a single in the seventh when Ontario skip Joe Gurowka was heavy on a draw attempt. The teams exchanged singles over the next four ends, with the game tied after 11. Northcott had attempted to blank the eleventh to carry over hammer to the 12th and deciding end, but missed, giving the hammer back to Ontario. In the last end, Northcott wicked off an Ontario stone behind cover to lie one with his last shot. Gurowka elected to counter with a draw to the button, but was wide and heavy, giving the championship to Alberta.[3]

Teams

The teams were as follows:[4]

Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick
Calgary CC, Calgary

Skip: Ron Northcott
Third: George Fink
Second: Bernie Sparkes
Lead: Fred Storey

 Burnaby WC, Burnaby

Skip: Lynn Mason
Third: Leslie McCabe
Second: Omer Eberg
Lead: Al Thun

 Maple Leaf CC, Winnipeg

Skip: Hersh Lerner
Third: Bob Lemecha
Second: Allan Dudar
Lead: Bob Dudar

 St. Andrews CC, Saint John

Skip: Charlie Sullivan Sr.
Third: Dave Sullivan
Second: Bob Arseneau
Lead: Malcolm McLaughlin

Newfoundland Northern Ontario Nova Scotia Ontario
St. John's CC, St. John's

Skip: George MacCharles
Third: John Taite
Second: Ken Ellis
Lead: Alex Andrews

 Cobalt-Haileybury CC, Haileybury

Skip: Bill Grozelle
Third: Bob Grozelle
Second: Ted Butt
Lead: George McIllwaine

 Halifax CC, Halifax

Skip: Vic Snarr
Third: Ken Bell
Second: Don Green
Lead: Bob Cunningham

 Dixie CC, Cooksville

Skip: Joe Gurowka
Third: Tom Howat
Second: Ken Ingo
Lead: Donald Mackey

Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan
Belvedere G&WC, Charlottetown

Skip: Art Burke
Third: Arnold Llewellyn
Second: Ralph Manning
Lead: Temple Hooper

 RCAF Bagotville CC, Bagotville

Skip: Bill Tracy
Third: Earl Carson
Second: Chuck Perry
Lead: Terry Bloom

 Avonlea CC, Avonlea

Skip: Bob Pickering
Third: Jack Keys
Second: Garnet Campbell
Lead: Glenn Campbell

Round Robin standings

Key
Teams to Tiebreaker
Province Skip W L PF PA
 AlbertaRon Northcott8210370
 OntarioJoe Gurowka829472
 Nova ScotiaVic Snarr738080
 SaskatchewanBob Pickering7310978
 ManitobaHersh Lerner649188
 British ColumbiaLynn Mason558992
 Prince Edward IslandArt Burke467692
 QuebecBill Tracy469291
 New BrunswickCharlie Sullivan Sr.377992
 NewfoundlandGeorge MacCharles288493
 Northern OntarioBill Grozelle1974123

Round Robin results

All draw times are listed in Atlantic Time (UTC-4:00)[5]

Draw 1

Monday, March 7 3:00 PM

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 New Brunswick (Sullivan) 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 6
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 0 3 0 3 1 0 2 0 1 0 1 11
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 British Columbia (Mason) 2 0 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 0 2 0 14
 Ontario (Gurowka) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 6
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 2 0 3 0 3 0 4 0 1 0 1 0 14
 Quebec (Tracy) 0 4 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 12
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Newfoundland (MacCharles) 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 7
 Prince Edward Island (Burke) 0 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 8
Sheet E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Nova Scotia (Snarr) 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 7
 Northern Ontario (Grozelle) 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 2 1 0 0 6

Draw 2

Monday, March 7 8:00 PM

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 New Brunswick (Sullivan) 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 1 7
 Newfoundland (MacCharles) 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 4
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Manitoba (Lerner) 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 3 0 9
 British Columbia (Mason) 2 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 7
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Prince Edward Island (Burke) 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 6
 Ontario (Gurowka) 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 2 0 2 8
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 0 2 0 3 0 3 0 1 0 2 0 11
 Nova Scotia (Snarr) 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 1 9
Sheet E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Quebec (Tracy) 0 0 0 3 0 4 4 0 0 3 2 0 16
 Northern Ontario (Grozelle) 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 7

Draw 3

Tuesday, March 8 9:00 AM

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 New Brunswick (Sullivan) 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 5
 Ontario (Gurowka) 0 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 4 10
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 3 0 4 13
 Northern Ontario (Grozelle) 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 5
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Newfoundland (MacCharles) 0 2 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 8
 Nova Scotia (Snarr) 2 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 9
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Manitoba (Lerner) 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 1 0 1 0 7
 Prince Edward Island (Burke) 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 8
Sheet E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 4
 Quebec (Tracy) 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 2 1 8

Draw 4

Tuesday, March 8 2:30 PM

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 New Brunswick (Sullivan) 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 8
 Manitoba (Lerner) 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 3 0 1 3 0 11
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 6
 Alberta (Northcott) 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 4 0 3 0 12
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Nova Scotia (Snarr) 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 7
 Ontario (Gurowka) 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 1 0 13
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Newfoundland (MacCharles) 2 0 2 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 10
 Quebec (Tracy) 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 2 0 1 8
Sheet E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 British Columbia (Mason) 0 1 1 0 0 4 0 3 0 1 1 0 11
 Prince Edward Island (Burke) 1 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 1 9

Draw 5

Wednesday, March 9 2:30 PM

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Newfoundland (MacCharles) 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 5
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 3 9
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 British Columbia (Mason) 2 1 0 0 2 0 4 0 2 0 1 0 12
 New Brunswick (Sullivan) 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 1 8
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Northern Ontario (Grozelle) 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 5
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 0 2 3 15
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Nova Scotia (Snarr) 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 6
 Manitoba (Lerner) 1 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 1 3 0 1 11
Sheet E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Ontario (Gurowka) 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 3 11
 Quebec (Tracy) 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 6

Draw 6

Wednesday, March 9 8:00 PM

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Prince Edward Island (Burke) 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 6
 New Brunswick (Sullivan) 2 2 0 1 0 3 0 1 0 1 0 3 13
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Nova Scotia (Snarr) 0 2 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 1 1 0 9
 British Columbia (Mason) 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 7
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Northern Ontario (Grozelle) 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 2 2 1 1 11
 Newfoundland (MacCharles) 0 2 2 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 9
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Quebec (Tracy) 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 6
 Manitoba (Lerner) 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 1 0 2 9
Sheet E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Ontario (Gurowka) 1 0 2 0 1 1 0 0 3 1 0 2 11
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 0 2 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 8

Draw 7

Thursday, March 10 9:00 AM

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 4 2 0 0 6 0 1 0 0 1 0 14
 Newfoundland (MacCharles) 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 1 2 0 0 7
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Ontario (Gurowka) 2 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 9
 Northern Ontario (Grozelle) 0 2 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 8
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Manitoba (Lerner) 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 9
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 0 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 3 0 0 3 11
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Quebec (Tracy) 0 2 1 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 2 0 11
 British Columbia (Mason) 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 8
Sheet E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Prince Edward Island (Burke) 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 6
 Nova Scotia (Snarr) 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 8

Draw 8

Thursday, March 10 2:30 PM

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 New Brunswick (Sullivan) 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 5
 Nova Scotia (Snarr) 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 6
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 1 2 1 0 10
 British Columbia (Mason) 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 6
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Manitoba (Lerner) 0 1 0 3 0 2 1 0 2 0 4 1 14
 Northern Ontario (Grozelle) 1 0 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 8
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 1 0 4 0 2 0 1 0 0 2 1 11
 Ontario (Gurowka) 2 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 7
Sheet E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final
 Quebec (Tracy) 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 3 0 1 0 9
 Prince Edward Island (Burke) 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 10

Draw 9

Thursday, March 10 8:00 PM

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 3 0 3 2 2 2 0 2 0 1 0 2 17
 Prince Edward Island (Burke) 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 0 5
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 New Brunswick (Sullivan) 1 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 2 0 9
 Quebec (Tracy) 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 2 0 3 10
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Newfoundland (MacCharles) 0 3 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 8
 Ontario (Gurowka) 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 1 0 3 10
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Manitoba (Lerner) 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 2 0 2 9
 Alberta (Northcott) 1 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 8
Sheet E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 British Columbia (Mason) 2 2 0 3 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 12
 Northern Ontario (Grozelle) 0 0 4 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 11

Draw 10

Friday, March 11 9:00 AM

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 0 3 4 3 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 14
 New Brunswick (Sullivan) 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 0 5
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Newfoundland (MacCharles) 0 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 5 2 2 17
 Manitoba (Lerner) 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 5
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 British Columbia (Mason) 1 0 0 2 0 0 2 1 1 0 0 1 8
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 0 2 0 1 2 0 0 0 2 3 0 10
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Nova Scotia (Snarr) 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 9
 Quebec (Tracy) 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 6
Sheet E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Northern Ontario (Grozelle) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 5
 Prince Edward Island (Burke) 3 2 1 3 0 2 1 0 1 0 2 0 15

Draw 11

Friday, March 11 2:30 PM

Sheet A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Northern Ontario (Grozelle) 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 8
 New Brunswick (Sullivan) 0 3 0 1 2 1 0 2 1 0 3 0 13
Sheet B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 British Columbia (Mason) 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 3 12
 Newfoundland (MacCharles) 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 3 0 9
Sheet C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Prince Edward Island (Burke) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 0 0 0 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 7
Sheet D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final
 Nova Scotia (Snarr) 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 2 1 8
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 7
Sheet E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Ontario (Gurowka) 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 1 0 0 2 9
 Manitoba (Lerner) 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 7

Tiebreaker

Friday, March 11 7:30 PM

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Ontario (Gurowka) 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 6
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 1 0 1 1 7

Awards

All-Star Team

The media selected the following curlers as all-stars:[6]

PositionNameTeam
SkipRon NorthcottAlberta
ThirdTom Howat Ontario
SecondBernie SparkesAlberta
LeadFred StoreyAlberta

Ross G.L. Harstone Trophy

The Ross Harstone Trophy was presented for the first time in 1966. The award is presented to the player chosen by their peers as the curler in the Brier who best represents Harstone's high ideals of good sportsmanship, observance of the rules, exemplary conduct and curling ability.[7]

NameTeamPosition
George MacCharles NewfoundlandSkip

References

  1. ↑ "Curling's Elite Opens Play for Brier Trophy". Victoria Times-Colonist. March 7, 1966. p. 7. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  2. ↑ "EE22_BrierSouvenirProgramFinal.pdf" (PDF). Curling Canada. p. 59. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  3. ↑ "Northcott Brier King". Edmonton Journal. March 12, 1966. p. 43. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Quebec Opens With Saskatchewan". Montreal Gazette. March 7, 1966. p. 37. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Canadian Curling Play Opens Today in Halifax". The Montreal Star. newspapers.com. Canadian Press. March 7, 1966. p. 22. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  6. ↑ "Are We Satisfied?". Edmonton Journal. March 12, 1966. p. 43. Archived from the original on 2022-03-05. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  7. ↑ "EE22_BrierSouvenirProgramFinal.pdf" (PDF). Curling Canada. p. 52. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
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