Newfoundland’s Greg Smith impresses in Brier debut against Jamie Koe of N.W.T.
REGINA — There’s an aggressive skip leading Newfoundland and Labrador at the Tim Hortons Brier and, for the first time in years, it’s not Brad Gushue.
Rookie skip Greg Smith pushed veteran Jamie Koe of the Northwest Territories to his limit on Saturday in a 9-7 loss in the second draw of Canada’s men’s curling championship. Gushue, as the defending champ, is leading Team Canada this year.
“We knew absolutely nothing about them,” said Koe, who has faced Newfoundland 12 times at the Brier, 10 of those times with Gushue as skip. “We thought we’d be the aggressors and boy, they went really, really aggressive like I’ve never seen any other team do out here.”
Koe’s first Brier appearance was 2006 in Regina when Ken Peddigrew was at the helm for Newfoundland. Koe defeated Peddigrew 9-5 in nine ends.