Pickering curler Brier bound

PICKERING -- For the fourth time in his storied curling career, Pickering's Richard Hart gets another shot at the Holy Grail of Canadian curling -- The Brier.

Hart, 40, and his teammates on the Glenn Howard rink are fresh off streamrolling the competition en route to the title at the Ontario Curling Championships in Woodstock last week. Howard had little trouble putting away Peter Corner's Brampton rink 8-1 in the final after only five ends of curling.

The runaway result for Howard in the provincial final, said Hart, was due to a combination of factors.

"Yeah, I was very surprised when the game got that lop-sided. We curled flawlessly for five ends but that was only half the story. Those guys were obviously off their game. That's what created the lop-sided score."

And now, Howard, Hart, who plays third, along with second Brent Laing and lead Craig Savill, will get the chance to atone for a loss to Alberta's Kevin Martin in the 2008 Brier final as they represent Ontario at the 2009 Brier (Canadian men's championship) in Calgary next month.

Hart, for one, relishes the chance to get back to the Brier after a strong week of curling in Woodstock.

"Oh, we sure are," said Hart. "It was a terrific week for us, obviously it was a little nerve-wracking being the favourite. To come through and succeed the way we did was great. Now we want to get on to Calgary and reclaim our (Brier) title of 2007."

And Hart hopes the team's success this season will continue on through the Brier at Calgary's Saddledome from March 7 to 15.

"This year, we seem to be a team on a mission. It's the best season we've ever had. We've had seven bonspiel wins and the provincials, so eight wins out of 10 events. I think we're really ready to take care of some unfinished business."

As with other Briers in the past, Hart said his Ontario rink won't have an easy time getting back to the Brier final. He notes Newfoundland and Labrador's Brad Gushue rink could be the Howard rink's biggest obstacle to a Brier title.

"They're game has been improving over the last couple of years, so we expect them to be tough," said Hart of Gushue, an Olympic gold medallist.

Hart also includes the team that ultimately represents host Alberta, as well as the one from Manitoba as the Howard rink's biggest challengers at the Brier.

"Whichever team comes out of Alberta, either (Kevin) Martin or (Randy) Furbey, they'll be ranked at the same level. In Manitoba, it will be one of three teams -- (Kerry) Burtnyk, (Jeff) Stoughton or (Mike) McEwan. Again, they'll be ranked right with us."