1968 Macdonald Brier

1968 Macdonald Brier
Host cityKelowna, British Columbia[1]
ArenaKelowna Arena[2]
DatesMarch 4–8[3]
Attendance25,813[4]
WinnerAlberta
Curling clubCalgary CC, Calgary
SkipRon Northcott
ThirdJim Shields
SecondBernie Sparkes
LeadFred Storey
« 1967
1969 »

The 1968 Macdonald Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship, was held March 4–8 at the Kelowna Arena in Kelowna, British Columbia. A total of 25,813 fans attended the event.[5]

At the time, Kelowna was the smallest city to have hosted the Brier.[6] The city had been trying since 1961 to host the event, and was finally selected after a successful pitch to Brier trustees at the 1967 Brier.[7]

Team Alberta, skipped by Ron Northcott, captured the Brier Tankard by finishing round robin play with a 9–1 record. This was Alberta's tenth Brier championship overall and the second one won by Northcott's rink, who also won the Brier two years prior in 1966. Northcott's rink would represent Canada in the 1968 Air Canada Silver Broom, which was the men's world curling championship.

Alberta won the championship by winning their game against Northern Ontario in the last draw. A loss would have forced a tiebreak match against Saskatchewan, who were runners-up, with an 8–2 record.[6] Prince Edward Island finished in third with a 7–3 record, which at the time was PEI's best Brier finish.[8]

Ice conditions at the event were considered poor, with the ice on Thursday being so bad that "sweeping power was nullified".[9]

Manitoba's 22–5 victory over British Columbia in Draw 4 was the last time a team scored 20 or more points in a Brier game until 2025, which was also held in Kelowna.

Teams

The teams are listed as follows:[10]

Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick
Calgary CC, Calgary

Skip: Ron Northcott
Third: Jim Shields
Second: Bernie Sparkes
Lead Fred Storey

 Richmond WC, Richmond

Skip: Bob McCubbin
Third: Jack Tucker
Second: Ed Trimble
Lead: Keith Issac

 Dauphin CC, Dauphin

Skip: Burke Parker
Third: Lloyd Yerama
Second: Roy Berry
Lead: Jack Yuill

 Fredericton CC, Fredericton

Skip: Jim Ayer
Third: Ron Ketch
Second: Jim Anderson
Lead: Frank Ayer

Newfoundland Northern Ontario Nova Scotia Ontario
St. John's CC, St. John's

Skip: Bill Piercey
Third: Frank M. Stent
Second: Thomas A. Warren
Lead: William C. Roy

 Geraldton CC, Geraldton

Skip: Herbert Pile
Third: Len Tremblay
Second: Ross Davis
Lead: D. Wayne Downey

 Mayflower CC, Halifax

Skip: Don Flemming
Third: Chuck Piper Jr.
Second: Gregory Jeans
Lead: David Conrad

 St. Thomas CC, St. Thomas

Skip: Don Gilbert
Third: Al Zikman
Second: Jimmy Waite
Lead: Dick Donald

Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan
Charlottetown CC, Charlottetown

Skip: Alan Smith
Third: Doug Bell
Second: Bob Dillon
Lead: Merrill Wiggington

 CFB Bagotville CC, Chicoutimi

Skip: Bill Tracy
Third: Earl Carson
Second: Alan R. Sully
Lead: Ed Wood

 Avonlea CC, Avonlea

Skip: Bob Pickering
Third: Jack Keys
Second: Garnet Campbell
Lead: Gary Ford

Map of teams

1968 Macdonald Brier is located in Canada
Northcott
McCubbin
McCubbin
Parker
Parker
Ayer
Ayer
Piercey
Piercey
Pile
Pile
Flemming
Flemming
Gilbert
Gilbert
Smith
Smith
Tracy
Tracy
Pickering
Provincial Winners

Round Robin standings

The final standings were as follows:[8]

Key
Brier champion
Province Skip W L PF PA
 AlbertaRon Northcott9111970
 SaskatchewanBob Pickering829867
Prince Edward IslandAlan Smith739684
New BrunswickJim Ayer648977
OntarioDon Gilbert648078
British ColumbiaBob McCubbin558588
ManitobaBurke Parker469592
Nova ScotiaDon Flemming467485
QuebecBill Tracy377997
NewfoundlandBill Piercey2875118
Northern OntarioHerbert Pile1971105

Round-robin results

Draw 1

Monday, March 4, 4:00pm[11]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Quebec (Tracy) 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 5
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 2 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 11
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland (Piercey) 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 5
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 0 2 0 1 2 2 0 3 0 3 0 13
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Northern Ontario (Pile) 0 4 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 10
British Columbia (McCubbin) 2 0 2 1 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 11
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Ontario (Gilbert) 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 7
Manitoba (Parker) 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 5
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final
Prince Edward Island (Smith) 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 7
Nova Scotia (Flemming) 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 6

Draw 2

Monday, March 4, 11:00pm[11]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Alberta (Northcott) 3 0 0 1 0 3 1 2 1 0 3 0 14
Nova Scotia (Flemming) 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 5
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
New Brunswick (Ayer) 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 6
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 1 3 0 1 0 3 5 0 0 3 2 0 18
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland (Piercey) 0 2 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 8
British Columbia (McCubbin) 2 0 0 1 1 0 3 1 0 0 0 2 10
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Prince Edward Island (Smith) 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 1 1 1 2 10
Quebec (Tracy) 1 2 0 3 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 9
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Ontario (Gilbert) 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 2 8
Northern Ontario (Pile) 1 0 1 0 0 1 3 0 1 1 0 0 9

Draw 3

Tuesday, March 5, 12:00pm[12]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
New Brunswick (Ayer) 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 7
Prince Edward Island (Smith) 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 1 0 8
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Nova Scotia (Flemming) 2 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 1 1 0 0 9
British Columbia (McCubbin) 0 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 8
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland (Piercey) 0 1 1 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 8
Ontario (Gilbert) 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 3 0 2 0 1 11
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Manitoba (Parker) 1 4 0 1 3 0 2 0 1 0 1 1 14
Northern Ontario (Pile) 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 7
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 1 0 3 0 1 9
Quebec (Tracy) 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 8

Draw 4

Tuesday, March 5, 5:30pm[12]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Manitoba (Parker) 2 0 1 0 0 4 3 0 2 1 5 4 22
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland (Piercey) 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 5
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
British Columbia (McCubbin) 2 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 10
Quebec (Tracy) 0 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 6
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 1 0 7
New Brunswick (Ayer) 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 6
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 0 0 2 1 1 1 0 3 0 0 3 0 11
Prince Edward Island (Smith) 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 2 8
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Nova Scotia (Flemming) 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 4
Ontario (Gilbert) 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 7

Draw 5

Wednesday, March 6, 5:30pm[13][14]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 6
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 2 2 0 4 1 2 0 4 1 0 1 17
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Quebec (Tracy) 2 2 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 9
Ontario (Gilbert) 0 0 2 0 3 0 2 0 1 1 0 2 11
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Nova Scotia (Flemming) 1 1 0 2 0 5 0 1 3 1 0 0 14
Manitoba (Parker) 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 5
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Northern Ontario (Pile) 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 6
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland (Piercey) 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 1 9
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
British Columbia (McCubbin) 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 6
New Brunswick (Ayer) 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 3 0 8

Draw 6

Wednesday, March 6, 11:00pm[13]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Prince Edward Island (Smith) 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 1 2 8
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 3 0 1 1 2 3 0 4 0 0 0 14
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Ontario (Gilbert) 1 0 5 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 9
New Brunswick (Ayer) 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 3 2 1 0 10
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
British Columbia (McCubbin) 1 0 2 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 10
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 5
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Quebec (Tracy) 0 0 0 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 8
Manitoba (Parker) 1 2 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 6 0 0 12
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final
Northern Ontario (Pile) 2 0 0 1 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 9
Nova Scotia (Flemming) 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 1 10

Draw 7

Thursday, March 7, 12:00pm[15]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Prince Edward Island (Smith) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 0 6
British Columbia (McCubbin) 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 2 7
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
New Brunswick (Ayer) 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 8
Manitoba (Parker) 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 6
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Quebec (Tracy) 0 0 3 0 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 8
Northern Ontario (Pile) 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 7
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland (Piercey) 0 1 0 1 1 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 9
Nova Scotia (Flemming) 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 5
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Ontario (Gilbert) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 3
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 4 10

Draw 8

Thursday, March 7, 5:30pm[15]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland (Piercey) 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 3 8
Quebec (Tracy) 1 0 2 1 0 2 3 0 1 0 1 0 11
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Manitoba (Parker) 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 0 2 0 2 0 4 2 1 0 1 0 0 12
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Ontario (Gilbert) 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 1 4
Prince Edward Island (Smith) 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 4 0 7
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Alberta (Northcott) 1 2 2 1 0 1 4 0 0 1 0 2 14
British Columbia (McCubbin) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 0 5
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
New Brunswick (Ayer) 0 0 0 0 3 0 2 0 1 2 2 1 11
Northern Ontario (Pile) 1 0 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 6

Draw 9

Thursday, March 7, 11:00pm[15]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 2 0 1 0 8
Ontario (Gilbert) 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 3 0 1 9
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Nova Scotia (Flemming) 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 2 7
Quebec (Tracy) 2 2 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 10
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Prince Edward Island (Smith) 1 0 3 0 1 1 0 2 2 0 1 0 11
Manitoba (Parker) 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 5
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 7
Northern Ontario (Pile) 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
New Brunswick (Ayer) 0 2 0 0 4 1 0 1 0 4 2 0 14
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland (Piercey) 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 4

Draw 10

Friday, March 8, 12:00pm[8][16]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Nova Scotia (Flemming) 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 2 2 1 0 8
New Brunswick (Ayer) 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 7
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Northern Ontario (Pile) 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 5
Prince Edward Island (Smith) 2 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 0 2 1 14
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Manitoba (Parker) 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 0 3 1 0 9
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 0 2 10
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
British Columbia (McCubbin) 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 8
Ontario (Gilbert) 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 3 0 3 11
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 3 1 9
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland (Piercey) 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 3

Draw 11

Friday, March 8, 5:30pm[8]

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
British Columbia (McCubbin) 2 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 3 0 2 0 10
Manitoba (Parker) 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 4 0 1 11
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Final
Prince Edward Island (Smith) 0 4 2 0 5 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 17
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland (Piercey) 2 0 0 3 0 2 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 16
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
 Saskatchewan (Pickering) 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 2 1 9
Nova Scotia (Flemming) 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 6
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Quebec (Tracy) 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5
New Brunswick (Ayer) 0 1 0 1 0 1 3 1 2 0 3 0 12
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final
Northern Ontario (Pile) 1 0 2 0 0 2 1 0 2 0 0 1 9
 Alberta (Northcott) 0 2 0 3 1 0 0 2 0 3 2 0 13

Awards

All-Star Team

The media selected the following curlers as All-Stars:[17]

Bernie Sparkes became the first player to be selected to the all-star team three times as he was selected the two previous years as well.

PositionNameTeam
SkipRon Northcott (2)Alberta
ThirdJack KeysSaskatchewan
SecondBernie Sparkes (3)Alberta
LeadFred Storey (2)Alberta

Ross G.L. Harstone Award

The Ross Harstone Award was presented to the player chosen by their fellow peers as the curler who best represented Harstone's high ideals of good sportsmanship, observance of the rules, exemplary conduct and curling ability.[18]

NameTeamPosition
Charles Piper Jr. Nova ScotiaThird

Records

Prince Edward Island's 17-16 extra end victory over Newfoundland in Draw 11 tied the record for the highest scoring game in Brier history.[19] This was also matched in 1932 with Ontario's 17–16 win over New Brunswick and in 1957 with Saskatchewan's 30–3 victory over New Brunswick.

References

  1. ↑ "Ontario rated Brier dark horse". The Montreal Gazette. 1968-03-04. p. 24. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  2. ↑ "BRIER BY THE NUMBERS" (PDF). 1969-02-10. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  3. ↑ "1968 MacDonald Brier - Scores". Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  4. ↑ "1968 MacDonald Brier". Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  5. ↑ "EE22_BrierSouvenirProgramFinal.pdf" (PDF). Curling Canada. p. 59. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Albertans curl right to button". The Province. March 9, 1968. p. 13. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Dallis Beck". Calgary Albertan. March 5, 1968. p. 10. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Ron Northcott repeats '66 Brier win". The Montreal Gazette. 1968-03-09. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  9. ↑ "Good ice, bad ice -- Northcott is the best". Toronto Star. March 9, 1968. p. 26. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
  10. ↑ "1968 MacDonald Brier - Curling Canada Stats Archive". Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  11. 1 2 "Quebec's Tracy falls 11-5 to Pickering". The Montreal Gazette. 1968-03-05. p. 27. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  12. 1 2 "Northcott, Pickering undefeated". The Montreal Gazette. 1968-03-06. p. 30. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  13. 1 2 "Northcott crashes Pickering 17-6 for fifth victory". The Montreal Gazette. 1968-03-07. p. 31. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  14. ↑ "Pickering's Sask rink falls apart". Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph. 1968-03-07. p. 9. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  15. 1 2 3 "Gilbert upsets Northcott at Kelowna". The Montreal Gazette. 1968-03-08. p. 22. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  16. ↑ "Brier meet linescores". Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph. 1968-03-09. p. 9. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
  17. ↑ BRIER INDIVIDUAL AWARDS & ALL-STAR TEAMS
  18. ↑ "EE22_BrierSouvenirProgramFinal.pdf" (PDF). Curling Canada. p. 52. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  19. ↑ "BRIER BY THE NUMBERS" (PDF). 1969-02-10. p. 5. Retrieved 2020-04-04.
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