Rick Sawatsky hopes his seventh time is a charm.
The 琉璃神社 curler will be throwing lead rocks for the Okanagan-based John Morris foursome at the 2017 Brier beginning Saturday in St. John鈥檚, N.L.
Sawatsky, like Vernon鈥檚 Jim Cotter, will be making his seventh appearance at the Canadian men鈥檚 curling championship. Second Tyrel Griffith, from 琉璃神社, will be playing at the Brier for the fifth time.
鈥淭he feeling never gets old,鈥� said Sawatsky, who has been a teammate of Cotter鈥檚 for all seven B.C. titles. 鈥淭o be able to represent the province is a privilege and an honour. I know after we won B.C., Jim (Cotter) and I smiled and just appreciated the fact that we get to go back.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to be part of it again, and this time we鈥檙e going to go and try make the most of it.鈥�
The last time the 琉璃神社-Vernon curlers teamed up with Morris, the B.C. champs came agonizingly close to a Brier title, losing the 2014 Canadian final in Kamloops to Kevin Koe.
Three years later, with Morris skipping and Cotter again throwing last rocks, the 琉璃神社-Vernon crew has had a solid season on the World Curling Tour, winning one event, finishing second in another and qualifying in several more.
After a few weeks to get reacquainted early in the season, Sawatsky said the Morris-Cotter rink has hit its stride.
鈥淕etting back after a hiatus with John, it took a little time for us to come together,鈥� Sawatsky said. 鈥淏ut once we got comfortable again, everything fell into place pretty well. I think we got stronger with each event we played and hopefully that鈥檚 something we can carry with us into (St. John鈥檚).鈥�
This year鈥檚 Brier, as is often the case, is a who鈥檚 who of Canadian men鈥檚 curling. Defending national champion Kevin Koe, ex-Brier champs Brad Jacobs and Glenn Howard, former Olympic gold medalist and hometown favourite Brad Gushue, and Manitoba鈥檚 Mike McEwen are all included in the field. The Morris-Cotter rink has beaten each one of those teams at least once during the season.
As for playing for a Brier championship on The Rock, Sawatsky said the B.C. champs are looking forward to the experience.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 going to be pretty fun,鈥� Sawatsky said. 鈥淲e were (in Newfoundland) last year for a Slam event, the fans were amazing and the atmosphere was top notch. I expect the same kind of excitement this time around.鈥�
Still, all hype and pomp of a Brier aside, Sawatsky said his team is in Newfoundland this week with one goal in mind.
鈥淲e can just really need to focus on what we can control,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he four of us need to go out and have a good week, get to the final and see of we can win it this time. We think we鈥檝e got the game and steam do it鈥t鈥檚 matter of us playing like we we鈥檙e capable of.鈥�
The B.C. champs will open the 2017 Brier on Saturday against Northern Ontario鈥檚 Brad Jacobs.
