Jamie Koe’s NWT rink will take part in their first Brier play-off since 2012 – and only the second in the territory’s history at the event – from 6pm MT on Friday.
Koe reached the knockout stage of this year’s men’s national championship, in Regina, by stealing an extra-end point to defeat Prince Edward Island’s Tyler Smith 9-8 on Thursday.
“It’s just wild,” Koe told the Canadian Press. “Everyone was crying and got me going. Dad’s crying.”
For the first time, Jamie’s older brother, Kevin, and his Alberta rink had a worse week than the NWT at the Brier, finishing 2-6 to the territory’s 5-3.
“It’s our moment. We’re going to take it,” said the younger brother, competing alongside third Glen Kennedy, second Cole Parsons and lead Shadrach Mcleod.
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The NWT doesn’t discover its play-off opponent until later on Friday.
First, defending champion Brad Gushue faces Manitoba’s Reid Carruthers and Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen plays Alberta’s Brendan Bottcher.
The losers of those matchups play again in the evening against either the NWT’s Koe or Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone.
From that point, the NWT would need two more victories to reach Sunday’s final.
In 2012, the last time Koe reached this point – representing both the NWT and Yukon – he lost the bronze-medal game to Manitoba.
Sister Kerry Galusha, writing on X, said: “Very proud of both my brothers right now. Maybe the Koe that made playoffs was unexpected but still proud of both for battling all week.”
