Relegation Return? Competition format a talking point at Brier

The 18-team format at the Brier has been a topic of debate with six strong teams making it to the playoff round at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C. Despite the competitive nature of the teams, there were numerous blowout games and a 6-2 team missing the playoff cut without any tiebreakers.

Six-time Brier champion Brad Gushue suggested the consideration of relegation, a format that was used from 2015-17. In the relegation format, the four lowest-seeded provinces and territories played a round-robin, with the winner advancing to the main draw. This format was praised by some, including Northwest Territories women’s skip Kerry Galusha, who believed it made teams work harder and get better.

The current 18-team format includes three pre-qualified entries based on the previous season’s rankings, leading to debates around the fairness of the format. This was highlighted when Northern Ontario’s John Epping and Manitoba’s Reid Carruthers finished tied for third place in their pool at 6-2, with Epping missing out on the playoff spot due to their head-to-head record.

Despite the intensity and drama created by the current format, there are concerns about the imbalance in the pools and the lopsided games that some teams face. Former Curling Canada event manager Warren Hansen expressed concerns about lower-ranked teams getting annihilated in the competition.

Curling Canada announced that the current format will remain in place through the next season, with any potential changes to be considered in the next Olympic quadrennial. The recent Brier saw an interesting twist as Alberta’s Brad Jacobs went undefeated in round-robin play but had to win four straight playoff games to secure the title.

In the end, while the current format has its drawbacks and critics, there is no perfect solution. The debate around the format will continue as the sport looks to balance competitiveness and fairness for all teams involved.