Saskatchewan’s win Wednesday night at the Montana’s Brier served as a reunion for former college teammates.
Saskatchewan Skip Mike McEwen and Nunavut’s third Sheldon Wettig curled together for Brandon University in the early 2000s, winning Nationals together in 2002 and the World University Games in 2003. They last curled together in 2005 and, according to McEwen and Wettig, had never curled against each other since.
McEwen says they were on some great teams even after those championship runs.
“Just to see Sheldon get this opportunity has been really important to me,” McEwen said. “From the sidelines, I’ve been cheering him on because he’s chased this the last few years.
“To see them get the win earlier (on Wednesday) was pretty cool,” McEwen added.
While McEwen is playing in his ninth Brier, this is Wettig’s third. He attended the Brier as an alternate for Team Nunavut in 2020 and was part of last year’s team as a third in London, Ontario, where Nunavut picked up their first-ever win at the Brier.
Wettig says, looking back, the opportunity to curl with Mike is the reason why he attended Brandon University.
“Mike is one of the best curlers in the world, but he’s also an amazing person,” Wettig said. “He’s someone I’ve looked forward to curling against at the Brier for a few years now, and this is the first time we’ve actually been in the same pool. I didn’t quite play the way I wanted to against him, but being on the ice with him was still pretty cool.”
McEwen says a lot had to go right for him and Wettig to get this opportunity, especially for Team Nunavut.
“That’s a big commitment for them to (get to the Brier),” McEwen said. “Sometimes, some of the teammates live up north, sometimes it’s birthright, so for them to go and do that shows how much they love the game.”
Team Saskatchewan secured the top spot in Pool B with a 9-3 win over Nunavut Wednesday night. McEwen’s rink concludes round-robin play Thursday afternoon against Quebec.
