2006 Tim Hortons Brier

The 2006 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's national curling championship, was held from March 11 to 19 at the Brandt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan.

In the final, Quebec's Jean-Michel Ménard rink became only the second Quebec team to win the Brier, the first since Jim Ursel won in 1977, defeating Ontario's Glenn Howard 8–7. Quebec started the game with a commanding lead, stealing one in the first, and three more in the second to take a 4–0 lead. Ahead 5–4, Ménard had a chance to score four and take a five point lead in the sixth, but missed a tap back, taking two instead. The teams traded singles until the 10th end. With Quebec up by two, Ontario needed a steal of two to tie the game in the last end. On his final shot, Ménard took out two Ontario stones in the eight-foot to win the championship. The Ménard rink became the first francophone team to win the Brier. Quebec was considered a longshot to win the Brier against teams like Howard, Kevin Martin (Alberta), Jeff Stoughton (Manitoba) and Mark Dacey (Nova Scotia). The team had won $28,000 on tour by that point, but only played in events they could reach by car, due to a lack of sponsors.

Round-robin standings
Final round-robin standings

Round-robin results
All draw times are listed in Eastern Standard Time (UTC−5).

Draw 1
Saturday, March 11, 15:00

Draw 2
Saturday, March 11, 20:00

Draw 3
Sunday, March 12, 10:00

Draw 4
Sunday, March 12, 15:00

Draw 5
Sunday, March 12, 20:00

Draw 6
Monday, March 13, 10:00

Draw 7
Monday, March 13, 15:00

Draw 8
Monday, March 13, 20:00

Draw 9
Tuesday, March 14, 10:00

Draw 10
Tuesday, March 14, 15:00

Draw 11
Tuesday, March 14, 20:00

Draw 12
Wednesday, March 15, 10:00

Draw 13
Wednesday, March 15, 15:00

Draw 14
Wednesday, March 15, 20:00

Draw 15
Thursday, March 16, 9:30

Draw 16
Thursday, March 16, 14:00

Draw 17
Thursday, March 16, 20:00

Playoffs
The Tim Hortons Brier uses the page playoff system where the top four teams with the best records at the end of round-robin play meet in the playoff rounds. The first and second place teams play each other, with the winner advancing directly to the final. The winner of the other page playoff game between the third and fourth place teams plays the loser of the first/second playoff game in the semi-final. The winner of the semi-final moves on to the final.

1 vs. 2 game
Friday, March 17, 20:00

3 vs. 4 game
Friday, March 17, 13:00

Semifinal
Saturday, March 18, 13:00

Final
Sunday, March 19, 19:00

Top 5 player percentages
Round Robin only

Provincial playdowns
Bold indicates winner. Italics indicated defending provincial champion

[[undefined|Alberta]]
February 8–12 at the Saville Centre in Edmonton, Alberta

Playoffs
 * Morris 8–3 Petryk (2B vs 3B)
 * Ferbey 8–2 MacDonald (2A vs 3A)
 * Morris 6–5 Ferbey (Quarter-final)
 * Johnson 5–3 Martin (A1 vs. B1)
 * Martin 8–4 Morris (Semi-final)
 * Martin 7–5 Johnson (Final)

[[undefined|British Columbia]]
February 15–19 at the Chilliwack Curling Club, Chilliwack, British Columbia

Playoffs
 * Ursel 7–1 Gretzinger (Semi-final)
 * Windsor 7–6 Ursel (Final)

The defending champion, Deane Horning did not qualify.

[[undefined|Manitoba]]
February 8–12, T.G. Smith Centre, Steinbach, Manitoba

[[undefined|New Brunswick]]
February 8–12 at the Capital Winter Club, Fredericton, New Brunswick

Playoffs
 * Sherrard 5–3 Kennedy (Semi-final)
 * Grattan 9–6 Sherrard (Final)

Defending champion Wade Blanchard played third for Charlie Sullivan

[[undefined|Newfoundland and Labrador]]
February 7–12, St. John's Curling Club, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador

Tie-breakers
 * Skanes 12–11 Davidge
 * Oke 7–5 Symonds
 * Thomas 11–7 Skanes
 * Oke 9–8 Thomas

Playoffs
 * Noseworthy 7–4 Oke
 * Peddigrew 6–5 Noseworthy

Defending champion Brad Gushue did not participate, as at the time he was representing Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Northern Ontario
February 6–12, Nipigon Curling Club, Nipigon, Ontario

Tie-breakers
 * Harnden 8–6 Salo
 * Belec 8–6 Burgess
 * Scharf 9–6 Harnden
 * Harnden 8–2 Burgess
 * Scharf 4–3 Belec

Playoffs
 * Scharf 5–3 Gordon (1 vs. 2)
 * Harnden 9–1 Belec (3 vs. 4)
 * Gordon 6–4 Harnden (Semi-final)
 * Gordon 7–6 Scharf (Final)

Defending champion Mike Jakubo did not qualify.

[[undefined|Nova Scotia]]
February 10–15, Liverpool Curling Club, Liverpool, Nova Scotia

[[undefined|Ontario]]
The 2006 Ontario Kia Cup was held February 6–12, Guelph Sports Centre, Guelph, Ontario

Tie-breakers
 * Matchett 11–9 Jeffries
 * Matchett 7–5 Epping

Playoffs
 * Howard 8–7 Middaugh (1 vs. 2)
 * Harris 8–3 Matchett (3 vs. 4)
 * Middaugh 9–5 Harris (Semi-final)
 * Howard 9–6 Middaugh (Final)

[[undefined|Prince Edward Island]]
February 8–12, Charlottetown Curling Club, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

[[undefined|Quebec]]
February 6–12, Arena Conrad-Parent, Sept-Îles, Quebec

Playoffs
 * Charette 10–4 Crête (A2 vs B3)
 * Desjardins 8–5 Kennedy (A3 vs B2)
 * Ménard 6–4 Lafleur (A1 vs B1)
 * Charette 8–7 Desjardins (Quarter-final)
 * Charette 7–6 Lafleur (Semi-final)
 * Ménard 10–5 Charette (Final)

[[undefined|Saskatchewan]]
February 8–12, Weyburn Curlin Club, Weyburn, Saskatchewan

[[undefined|Yukon]]/ [[undefined|Northwest Territories]]
February 16–19, Whitehorse Curling Club, Whitehorse, Yukon