1999 Brier
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1999 BRIER
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1999 Brier
The odds are:
- Jeff Stoughton, Manitoba: 2-1: Tough to go against the 1996 world champ and 1998 Welton Beauchamp runner-up. His team finished second on the WCT money board with $54,000, and there won't be many betting against him in Edmonton.
- Rich Moffatt, Ontario: 3-1: The "Moff Squad" collected $33,000 on the cashspiel tour this year, and capped a great season with their Nokia Cup victory. Should get at least a playoff spot, and have a very legitimate shot at becoming the first Ottawa team to win a Brier title.
- Ken Hunka, Alberta: 4-1: First time for the 49-year-old Edmonton native at the Brier, but he'll be the overwhelming crowd favourite, even more than Guy Hemmings. His young teammates, including vice Brent MacDonald, got big-event experience at the 1997 Olympic Trials.
- Bert Gretzinger, B.C.: 9-2: Beat controversial province-jumper Dale Duguid in the Left Coast semi-final, then downed last year's titlist Greg McAulay in the final. Vice Bob Ursel is a former world junior champ.
- Gerald Skymko, Saskatchewan: 6-1: When he won the provincial championship, Skymko, a Brier rookie, said, "I'm going to Disney World, and I'm going to kiss Mickey Mouse." His team won $26,000 on the money tour.
- Guy Hemmings, Quebec: 5-1: The Man with the Mop was incredible at the Winnipeg Brier last year and became the sport's fan favourite. But his team, which includes Rockland native Pierre Charette, struggled to get out of the Quebec playdowns. An encore? Mais, non.
- Russ Howard, New Brunswick: 7-1: WCT money leader with $123,000 and veteran will play his 100th Brier match, and will try to become only the fourth skip in history to win three Golden Tankards. His team, which includes former Ottawan Wayne Tallon, will try to become the first New Brunswick squad to win one.
- Paul Flemming, Nova Scotia: 12-1: There's no way the Bluenosers can win a national mixed, a Scott, and a Brier in the same year. Absolutely no way.
- Robert Campbell, P.E.I.: 15-1: He was touted as an up-and-coming young skip when the Brier rolled through Ottawa six years ago, a threat to win Spud Island its first ever national title. But we're still waiting.
- Scott Patterson, Northern Ontario: 20-1: North Bay restaurant manager and former Pembroke resident played for Howard at the Olympic Trials in Brandon. So did vice Phil Loevenmark who also spent some time in Pembroke.
- Glenn Goss, Newfoundland: 50-1: This is the third trip to the Big Event for the skip. He'll need a miracle like the one that blessed Jack MacDuff in 1976 for the Rock's only Golden Tankard championship.
- Orest Peech, Territories: 999-1: The question isn't whether these Northerners from Whitehorse will win the Brier. It's whether they'll manage to win a game.