Strathroy, Ont.-born Jake Higgs leads Team Nunavut to first-ever Brier win – London | 24CA News
With the group inside Budweiser Gardens firmly on their aspect, locals Jake Higgs and Brady St. Louis helped lead Team Nunavut to a historic win on the Tim Hortons Brier Saturday afternoon.
Nunavut secured its first-ever win on the males’s nationwide curling championship by defeating Nathan Young’s Newfoundland and Labrador 7-4.
After the sport, Higgs mentioned he was emotional at getting not solely the territory’s first-ever win however the first win for any of the workforce members, together with himself.
“The crowd support was so great, and it just makes me want to tear up thinking about it,” mentioned Higgs.
Since becoming a member of the Brier as its personal workforce in 2018, Nunavut had beforehand gone 0-38 in round-robin play.
The back-and-forth sport was nearer than what the ultimate rating would inform. Newfoundland and Labrador jumped out to an early lead with a steal within the first finish earlier than Nunavut took two within the second to get their first lead of the sport.
Second thrower St. Louis and third Sheldon Wettig each made important photographs all through the sport to maintain Nunavut in it, with lead Christian Smitheram providing up some key guards when with the hammer.
The two groups – each taking part in their opening video games – would commerce singles for six straight ends, establishing a 5-4 lead for Nunavut getting into the ninth finish.
In the ninth, Newfoundland and Labrador had been sitting with two rocks contained in the 12-foot with a guard. Higgs knocked away each opposing rocks, resulting in a steal when Young missed his draw with the ultimate stone.
While Nunavut performed for the clean within the tenth and ultimate finish, Newfoundland and Labrador held on till the ultimate stone, shifting the full of life crowd tense with anticipation of historical past.
Nunavut skip Jake Higgs from Strathroy, Ont., shakes fingers with teammate Brady St Louis after making historical past by capturing Nunavut’s 1st ever Brier win at Budweiser Gardens on March 4, 2023. Curling Canada/ Michael Burns Photo.
Curling Canada/Michael Burns.
After Higgs buried the shot-stone behind guards, Young’s try at a double-takeout didn’t work, main the introduced crowd of 4,858 to leap to their ft cheering whereas the workforce raised their brooms within the air to the spectators.
“There were so many people I know from across Ontario and Canada out there watching and cheering for us and it felt really genuine and awesome,” mentioned Higgs.
“In front of this crowd today, it was the best moment of my curling life.”
The Strathroy native, who teaches math at Arthur Volden Secondary School in St. Thomas, is allowed to skip Nunavut because of a rule that enables one import participant from exterior a province or territory’s jurisdiction. St. Louis, who lives in St. Mary’s, was born in Iqaluit, making him eligible via delivery.
“It’s nuts,” mentioned St. Louis, describing the group’s environment and assist of the workforce.
“It’s nice looking up at the crowd and seeing people yelling my name.”
When requested about his and the workforce’s plans after profitable, Higgs promptly replied, “we’re going to have a few beers.”
Higgs and firm are again in motion early Sunday morning to face Manitoba at 9 a.m. earlier than taking part in Northern Ontario at 7 p.m.
While the victory was historic, Higgs says it doesn’t change the workforce’s angle for the remainder of the Brier.
“The expectations moving forward is to just go out and be as competitive as we can be,” mentioned Higgs.
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