3-time champ John Morris ready for Brier, bubble life

CALGARY – John Morris and Team Kevin Koe have something to prove at the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier.

With the first stone scheduled to be thrown Friday night (March 5) at the men’s curling championship, 18 teams are competing in a bubble to be named the country’s best from March 5-14 at the WinSport Arena in Calgary.

For Canmore’s Morris, a three-time Brier champion, he and his team of decorated national championship winners are one of the early favourites, but after a tough 2020 and some years away from the Brier, there are questions that need answering.

“In men’s curling in our country right now, we have a lot of depth,” said Morris. “At the Brier, there are probably six teams that could win it on any given week."

First prize is $100,000 and representing Canada at the 2021 World Men's Curling Championship, which will also be held in Calgary from April 2-11.

Unlike all other years, the 2021 Brier has two major factors affecting every competitor: two additional teams are entered, and everyone must stay in a bubble similar to the NBA and NHL last year to eliminate any COVID-19 exposure.

The men entered the bubble on Wednesday (March 3) after the women’s tournament, which saw Team Kerri Einarson win in back-to-back Scotties Tournament of Hearts on Sunday (Feb. 28).

They’ll take three COVID tests prior to and once inside the bubble and then remain isolated from the outside world for the tournament.

Speaking with some of the women who’ve experienced the bubble, Morris expects the most mentally disciplined teams will emerge as favourites.

“Whoever can do that the best is going to have a really big advantage here,” Morris said.

He also pointed out a nice “home field advantage,” allowing those driving into Calgary, like the Canmorite, to bring in a lot more personal items to the hotel to make it a  homey feeling than for those flying in.

Even the team’s alternate, Mike Caione, is a physiotherapist, offering a different approach to being stuck in an unusual circumstance.

Despite some home field advantages, this will be the first time the veteran team of Koe, Morris, Ben Hebert and B.J. Neufeld will compete at a major tournament together after forming in March 2020.

However, Morris doesn't think that adds any additional pressure for them.

In fact, members of the team have shared a unique history with one another as teammates, or crossing paths in some way, such as Morris and Hebert winning two Briers together in 2008-09, and Morris replacing Koe as skip in the 2015 Brier and subsequently winning it all.

Morris then tried his hand at mixed doubles, winning gold at the 2018 Olympics with Kaitlyn Lawes.

In 2016 and 2019, Team Koe won the Brier for Alberta, but in 2020, they were eliminated after losing a tiebreaker to Team Brad Jacobs.

Shortly after, Colton Flasch and Team Koe parted ways, making room for Morris to join his first four-man team since 2017, where he’s had success with three Brier titles and Olympic gold in 2010.

“I feel better going into a season like this sometimes,” said Morris.

“After you’ve won everything the season before, everyone expects for you to do that again. Whereas this team is coming off a bit of an off year from their standards, and I know these guys, and they’re all just very driven competitors, and I feel like we got a lot to prove here, so we’re pretty excited to go and do that.”

Prior to bubble life, Team Koe had done more scouting on competition than in the past.

Zoom calls became the newest way to strategize with time away from the ice.

“I think we kind of wanted to take advantage of that, we didn’t want to waste that time,” said Morris.

“Will that necessarily change the way we play? I don’t think so, but there might be some times in this tournament where we’ll resort back to that and provide us with some help.”

Team Koe is Pool B’s “Wild Card 2” and its first game is against Team Nova Scotia (Team Jamie Murphy), Friday (March 5) at 6:30 p.m. on TSN.

For the team, which has something to prove this year, a big relief is being allowed to play.

“Quite honestly, I can’t wait to throw that first stone,” said Morris.

The Brier's full draw schedule can be viewed here.