Purple Patch Curling Legends

LONDON, ON — The purple lights of the famed Brier Patch don’t make for particularly good photos.

That’s where I met up with Ontario second Brent Laing, who was entertaining two of his golf buddies.

My colleague (and Brier roommate) Matt Hames suggests Laing might be the most underrated second that has ever played the men’s game. He did reach third position on TSN’s “Greatest” ranking series from 2019 but Marc Kennedy has now been a third for perhaps as long as he was a second, and Ferbey Four legend Scott Pfeifer hasn’t had near the longevity.

Brent played primarily in an era of having to win to get to the Brier, i.e. there were no wild card berths. Plus, Ontario was no pushover in Laing’s Team Glenn Howard era. They earned their way through, winning a world title having lost in their zone or regional playdown and needed to secure a provincial spot through the Last Chance, which I believed Ontarians called the challenge round.

Lainger has won five world championships (2007, 2012 and 2016 in men’s and 1998 and ’99 in juniors), he’s two behind Glenn Howard in Brier championship final appearances (with nine, Glenn has 11), he’s tied with Howard for most Brier playoff games (29, and he could overtake Glenn this year) and he’s the leader with most Brier playoff wins with 17.

(He’s also got the most playoff wins as a second with 16; Carter Rycroft ranks second with 10.)

Oh, and he’s fourth in all-time Brier wins with 139.

Golf buddies Kevin (with the beard) and Jason travelled from Barrie, Ont. to see Laing play. It’s their first time at a Brier. 

I wonder if they have any idea of their friend’s status in the game, the things he’s done? How many curling stars have pals who don’t really grasp their on-ice lives and legacies?

Now 44, Laing is the oldest front-ender at this Brier among the contending teams. He’s also not the prototypical physical specimen of the modern era. Karrick Martin and Brad Thiessen tick that box for Team Alberta’s Kevin Koe—heck, look at the forearms on Laing’s own teammate Joey Hart.

Laing recently earned kudos for his first curling commentary gig, where he worked solo. Despite all of his accomplishments, he still takes a backseat to his wife’s career.

The Mike McEwen team isn’t a favourite coming in but with Lainger’s experience, Mike’s capabilities, Olympic gold medallist Ryan Fry, Joey’s pipes and papa Rich Hart as coach they have a chance. They’re 38 to 1 on Coolbet to start the week; it will be interesting to see if that long shot can come in.