‘It would be awesome:’ Team Sask. looking to end championship drought at Brier

It’s the question that follows whoever wears the green at the Brier: Will this be the year Saskatchewan ends its championship drought?

Colton Flasch, the third for Mike McEwen’s Saskatchewan rink at the Canadian men’s curling championship, said there’s no more added pressure on the team this week — even though the province hasn’t won a Brier title since 1980.

“Being in Saskatchewan makes it a little different but we put enough pressure on ourselves. For us, it’s just get into the playoffs and then you never know what’s going to happen,” Flasch said.

“It would be awesome. To win a Brier is surreal. Luckily I have been able to do that (in 2019 with Alberta) but to do it for Team Saskatchewan in Saskatchewan, there would be nothing better.”

The Biggar product is excited to get the Brier underway at the Brandt Centre in Regina.

“It’s pretty sweet – it’s my first hometown Brier,” Flasch said. “This is number seven (for me), I think. It’s nice to be in the hometown.

“I would expect a really good crowd. I did come and watch the closing weekend of (the 2018 Brier in Regina) and the crowds were great. I know Saskatchewan fans get behind their team and I hope to give them a show.

“I’ve got lots of family and lots of friends … I hope they get rowdy. This is for all the fans – get as rowdy as you can. The more noise, the better.”

The McEwen rink is fairly new on the curling circuit, with the 43-year-old skip from Brandon joining the rink this past summer. Flasch and two other teammates — second Kevin Marsh and his twin brother Dan as lead — recruited McEwen to skip their team.

“The three of us chatted last season and we thought it was time for a little switch-up and they asked me if I was willing to not skip and that’s the way I was kind of wanting to go,” Flasch said. “There wasn’t too many options out there. There was a few, but Mike McEwen was No. 1 on our list and luckily we were able to get him.

“We were just looking for someone that would fit our personalities and fit with our team. There’s so many good shooters out there. You spend so much time together, you need to get along and you need to be a cohesive unit. Mike just fit that mold.”

Saskatchewan will kick things off Friday against Tyler Smith’s Prince Edward Island rink at 6 p.m.

“I don’t think I’ve played them myself but it’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a full crowd, I assume, and I know they will put up a good fight,” Flasch said. “We’re the home team so everyone is going to be gunning for us.”