The last time Saskatchewan won the Brier was in 1980 and Team Kelly Knapp's Mat Ring is well aware how long it's been.
"It comes up every year. I think whoever represents the green and white, that statement comes up, and something you always dream about, winning that and breaking the curse," Ring explained.
"Some of the best teams in the world are going to be out in Newfoundland and we'll have to be at our best and our sharpest."
Ring, who will be the lead for Knapp's rink, knows Saskatchewan's history at the Brier. Knapp's team earned the right to play in the Brier after winning the SaskTel Tankard in January, which is the men's provincial curling championship.
“I know we had a fairly successful year on tour. We stayed in the province, mainly at Saskatchewan curling tour events. We didn't go much on the world tour at all and had some success, won some spiels, and we're feeling pretty good,” Ring said.
“End of October, early November, we were starting to really think, 'What's it going to look like heading into Melville in January?' Right after the holiday season is even tougher to prep for a big event like that.”
Ring remembers one event in particular he enjoyed alongside Knapp's team in December last year.
"We got an invite to the tier two Grand Slam of Curling event in Martensville and hemmed and hawed about are we able to take time off work. Can we make this work with our families? We made a decision to play these top teams in the world. The ice in Martensville has been known for having great arena conditions, ice surfaces. We decided to make that jump. We ended up qualifying for the playoffs and playing those big teams,” Ring recalled.
“We played Team China, Team Norway, who are in Italy right now, and were right up in the thick of things with them. I think that event really kick-started us in Melville and was a long week, but a week worth it for sure."
When it comes to training, Ring explains the regimen the team follows while preparing for the Brier and representing Saskatchewan.
"Definitely on the ice multiple times a week over at Highland Curling Club. They've been gems to us so far, gearing us up for some of the best ice we can practice on," Ring said.
"I know we're taking some sessions with Brian McCusker, our coach, to really get focused on the mental side of things. Hitting the gym a little bit to keep your legs moving and whatnot for a long week out there."
Ring's schedule will be busy because he is going to the Brier, which runs from February 27 to March 8. He is also on the volunteer committee for the U Sports Curling Championships, and that tournament takes place in Regina from February 17 to 21 at the Callie Curling Club.
"I could speak on, definitely members of our host committee and other high-profile curlers out there, this U Sport or CIS program back in the day, and as well as the college side, have produced some very good curlers. It was part of our theme and our marketing team, we called it who's next for a lot of our promotions and marketing campaigns." Ring detailed.
"I think it gets a little bit under-seen on how many big-name curlers have come through these post-secondary programs. For example, Brett Gallant came from the UPEI program and competed at the same national championship. Sarah Wilkes, from Team [Rachel] Homan, came out of the Laurier program, and Marc Kennedy came through the Brandon one, went to the first world university games as well. Matt Dunstone, who lost a couple of Brier finals, has come up through the University of Manitoba program. I played against him the last time he was here. So a lot of big names have come through, and it's exciting to be a part of."
