Winnipeg curler likes the way he looks sporting the Maple Leaf

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This article was published 04/03/2020 (2340 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

KINGSTON, Ont — B.J. Neufeld likes the red-and-white threads, and he isn’t ready to turn them in just yet.

The Winnipeg curler put in considerable time and effort — sustaining some on-ice misery along the way — earning the right to wear them.

Neufeld throws third rocks for Team Canada, skipped by curling luminary Kevin Koe. The 2019 Brier champions march on, in defence of their Canadian men’s title this week in Kingston, Ont.

An import on the Calgary-based squad, Neufeld, who turned 34 last Friday, first pulled on the Canadian outfit in Lethbridge, Ont., at the world men’s championship last spring, and is wearing it inside Leon’s Centre, in this historic city of 125,000 people along the north shore of Lake Ontario at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River.

The married father of two girls likes the fit, feel and significance of the Team Canada uniform.

“I got a feel for it at the worlds last year (in Lethbridge, Alta.) and the responsibility that comes with playing for Canada. It’s such an amazing opportunity, such a privilege, representing your country in curling. It’s the best,” said Neufeld.

“Wearing that Maple Leaf, having the crowds behind you, it’s something you’ll never forget. And you know how hard it is to get to that point, so it makes is very special.”

A year ago, Neufeld was stationed in the house with the best view in Brandon, as Koe made a double-takeout for a game-winning deuce with just 13 seconds left on the time clock against Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher in the final.

Canada couldn’t duplicate that success in Lethbridge last April, losing 7-2 to four-time world champion Niklas Edin of Sweden.

Prior to the 2018-19 season, Neufeld had competed in three previous Briers with Mike McEwen team out of Fort Rouge. They won back-to-back Manitoba titles in 2016 and ’17, and earned a spot at the 2018 Canadian championship as Team Wild Card.

But the team suffered plenty of misfortune on the national stage — including a devastating defeat to Koe in the 2017 Trials final in Ottawa to determine the country’s representative at the ’18 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, finally disbanding after the 2018 Brier in Regina.

Neufeld was immediately recruited by Koe and his longtime lead Ben Hiebert, while Colton Flasch of Saskatchewan also joined the group. Chemistry was established almost immediately.

Neufeld had long respected Koe the player — and that admiration has only intensified in two seasons by his side — and he’s developed a close friendship with the devoted family man.

“I was a great decision. I’ve always looked up to Kevin as a player and the way he operates, and felt my style was going to be conducive to that. When he asked me to play, I thought it would be a great opportunity for me,” said Neufeld, the head golf pro at Larters at St. Andrews, just north of Winnipeg.

“He definitely has a great mind, he’s always thinking three or four shots ahead and I think that’s what maybe sets him apart. He has a plan in his head and very rarely does it backfire on us. And he’s got the right mindset to make the last one. He wants that responsibility. He wants the chance to make that last big shot.”

It’s been a up-and-down season for Neufeld, exhilarating off the ice but less than memorable on it.

He stepped away for a few weeks as he and his wife, Sarah, welcomed their second daughter, Grace, into the world. Overall, the Koe foursome qualified in five big-money bonspiels and made two finals but couldn’t seal the deal in either.

There’s a golden opportunity this week to make amends.

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“We haven’t really gotten into any sort of groove, I would say. It’s been a funny year, knowing that you’re in the Brier, no matter what. That urgency you get at the provincials, what that does for you coming in, we didn’t have that,” said Neufeld.

“Maybe it’s not ideal because you have to find it while you’re here. But Kevin’s made some big shots and we’ve had some good wins and, hopefully, that kick-starts us.

“Winning the Brier is massive. It’s going to give you confidence in any situation you get put into in this sport and, when the pressure’s on, you can always take comfort in knowing you’ve done it and you can do it again.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell