Jean-Michel Ménard, the skip of Team Quebec, is competing in his ninth Brier this week, but none have been as close to his hometown of Aylmer, Que. as this one.
“Over the years, we never really had the opportunity where family and friends could come and watch the Brier for the full week,” Ménard said on March 6 after his team fell to Brad Jacobs and Team Northern Ontario in extra ends.
“This year, we’ve had a lot of friends and support, families can come and experience what the Brier is all about,” he said. “So far the comments I’ve had from all of them are that they’re pretty excited and impressed with the size of the event.”
Ménard hails from Aylmer, which has since become a sector within Gatineau. Although this year’s Brier is basically as close to home as it can get for Ménard, he said the Brier doesn’t feel any different to him.
“It’s pretty much the same atmosphere,” he said. “I think the building is the right size, the last few Briers were in really big buildings, they were half—still ten thousand—but felt half empty . . . This year, the Civic Centre [TD Place Arena] is jam packed and it’s a really cozy atmosphere, lots of noise,” he said. “That’s super for a player, like we really get into a nice groove of excitement.”
Despite the Brier being so close to home, Ménard said he doesn’t get recognized on the streets too often.
“Not as much as a hockey player would,” Ménard said. “But every time I go to a restaurant or shopping centre, a person or two will recognize me.”
“It’s pretty neat—I chit-chat with these people,” he said. “[March 6] we went to eat at Milestones in downtown Ottawa. While we were sitting a couple curling fans came over and wanted pictures. People in the restaurant were kind of wondering who are these guys—that was cool.”
Team Quebec opened the Brier with two losses, but Ménard said he has been happy with his team’s efforts so far.
“We’ve played two really tough teams in Team Canada and Northern Ontario, the defending Olympic champions,” he said. “Really good game . . . against Northern Ontario, we lost in overtime.”
“Honestly we are just taking it a game at a time. Our focus is on P.E.I. They have a pretty good squad so we will have to regroup this afternoon, relax, and give it a go tonight,” he said.
Team Quebec was able to top Team P.E.I. 4-2 but has since fallen to Team Saskatchewan by a score of 7-3. Heading into their March 8 morning matchup against Team British Columbia, Quebec currently sits with a record of 1-3.
Jean-Michel Ménard previously won the Brier ten years ago in Regina, and will be looking to win it all once again, this time on home ice.
