Team Epping listed as one of the top 5 surprises so far on 2025 Brier

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Surprise, surprise! When it comes to the bree, there is always one or two-and-more-more make the 10-day long National Curling Championship A little more interesting and exciting.

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On this year’s edition in Kelowna, BC, we may have to dig a little deeply because pretty much everything seems to be going for shape so far.

Among the many things we expected from the field, these teams are at the top of the position, including Canada’s Brad Gushue and Hans Newfoundland and Labrador Rink, who played playoffs early Wednesday.

Alberta’s Brad Jacobs And Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen both cluttered on Wednesday afternoon.

And the Élite Manitoba tracks jumped over Matt Dunstone And Reid Carruthers also went into Thursday’s game with a chance to earn bunks.

Otherwise, where are the surprises at Prospera place?

Here is our acquisition of five of those who make the event interesting on the way into the last day of Round-Robin Play by 2025 Brier …

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1. Epping a, man!

Maybe it doesn’t come as a surprise to John Epping And his northern Ontario masters that they enjoy success on this brier.

After all, they have worked hard on their craft and dedicated to the current year as they formed in the off -season.

But that’s just that. Epping and Hans Sudbury Rink-Mates are in their first year along with limited brier-experience-in the least compared to the others in the field, leaving a mark on the national championship this week.

However, they have transformed a busy schedule-nothing Canadian men’s team has played several games this season with a well-designed plan for BRIER, and it has paid dividends for Northern Credit Union Community Center Crew.

Team Epping has been a huge tough out and fully deserves of an endgame.

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In addition to the jump, Team Epping consists of brothers Jacob and Tanner Horgan, who are well known in Sudbury’s curling community, and Ian McMillan from Dryden, who now lives in Manitoba.

Their record so far is 5-2.

2. Koe’s matches

Four-time brier winner Kevin Koe Come in the hope of rebound from a 2-6 finish last year.

With his credentials you figured it would probably happen. After all, the bad veteran and two-time world champion are still among the best jumps and shooting manufacturers on the planet.

The 50-year-old from Calgary even recruited last year’s Alberta master Skip, Aaron Sluchinski, to help with return.

But for some reason, it hasn’t happened to Superstar Koe and this winter’s Alberta Kings.

Instead, it was only two wins in their first six matches, and that’s not good enough in Pool A – ‘Pool of Death’, with gushroom, Dunstone, Carruthers and Northern Ontario’s John Epping in the race as well.

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The latest loss came on Wednesday morning to the Gushue-a 7-6 Heartbreaker in an extra end-to eliminate the Glencoe Club troop from the Playoff dispute.

3. Broomgate swept away

There were some concerns among curlers that a verbal agreement before the tournament not to use the controversial tassel-foam heads with black foam would be tested.

But the same day that Brier started, Goldline – which came to a mutual agreement with World Curling – volunteered his pursuit foam back from competitive use, with reference to “the best interest in justice and maintaining the integrity of the sport.”

While the product meets all of the world’s curling equipment specifications and was originally approved for use, further testing on IS provided evidence that it exceeds the limits described in the World Curling Declaration on Principles of Competition Equipment, World Curling says.

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“After concerns raised with us and the provision of some athletes of video, we contacted Goldline,” said the world’s curling secretary Colin Grahamslaw. “They were unequivocal in their answer that the pursuit foam should be withdrawn in pending further investigations.”

Instead, the frost problems in the early event showed to be the biggest concern about Brier, but even it has fixed that the ice herd got a quick grip on the problem.

4th Iceland timeout

Tyler Smith makes his fifth straight brierced visit, and the set -up of his Prince Edward Island Champs is not much different from what it looked like the previous three trips.

But it certainly looks different on the scoreboard for them compared to last year in Regina.

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Yes … they were still considered Goliaths who came in among the many sports, but they left their tip at home this winter.

After going to a 4-1 start to place an impressive 5-3 record and narrowly missed the playoffs a year ago, Smith and his Crapaud Community Curling Club Rink not a win before their seventh match this time-the one coming Wednesday afternoon in a 10-5 smash in Northwest Territories’ Aaron Bartling.

Everyone loves an underdog, and after last year the Pei Party was believed to be turned on again this year.

Unfortunately, there has been no party.

5. Asselin’s anxiety

What happened to Pei corresponds to Follies by Félix Asselin and his Québec kings.

Only it comes two years after their last visit to Brier.

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In 2023, Team Asselin also counted a 5-3 record and also missed the playoffs with a hair.

But it has been less excellent in their return in Kelowna, and struggles to find the Darkhorse form.

In 2006, Asselin even brought Victor Jean-Michel Ménard to give them a shock for this commandment to win a national title.

Unfortunately, they were on the wrong side of too many games they could win – and even then they were lucky to get away with a ‘w’ over NWT.

A loss to Nova Scotias Owen Purcell on Wednesday afternoon really hurt Québec in what is now a long -shot chance of coming with the final game.

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