Gauthier taking slider and broom to Alberta’s Team Koe

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This article was published 24/03/2023 (1163 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One of Manitoba’s most promising young curlers will be teaming up with Alberta’s Kevin Koe next season.

Winnipegger Jacques Gauthier, a 24-year-old who skipped Team British Columbia at last month’s Brier, announced Friday he will be playing second for the four-time Canadian champion, third Tyler Tardi and lead Karrick Martin. With former second Brad Thiessen recently announcing he was taking a step back from competitive curling, a spot became available.

Gauthier parts ways with B.C.’s Sterling Middleton, Jason Ginter and Alex Horvath after one season.

Gauthier and Tardi are first cousins.

“To be quite frank with you, I wasn’t looking for anything different this year. I was very confident of our guys and very proud to be a part of that team. But last week, Tyler reached out to me and said there could be an opportunity,” Gauthier said.

“It’s tough, like how do you turn down an offer to play with one of the greatest curlers of all time and a cousin who’s basically been like a brother to me my entire life? So, I took a lot of time to think about it was it was a big decision for me, but I couldn’t be more excited.”

Gauthier was an alternate for Tardi at the world juniors in 2018 where they ended up winning gold, but they haven’t been on the same team since. Tardi beat Gauthier, who played third for J.T. Ryan at the time, in the 2019 Canadian Junior championship final. The following year, Gauthier skipped his own junior team to gold at nationals and worlds.

“Playing against Jacques in the national junior final has been one of the hardest things of my career given we are so close and want the best for each other,” said Tardi, who’s coming off his first season with Koe.

“I’m very excited that now we get to share those moments together and push each other to be the best versions of ourselves.”

Gauthier led B.C. to a 3-5 record at the Brier. Despite showing a lot of potential at skip, Gauthier said he has no issue making the move to the front end. His girlfriend Karlee Burgess spent this past season playing third for Jennifer Jones. Now Gauthier can also learn from a curling legend. Koe won world titles in 2010 and 2016.

“I think it shows you the kind of players Tyler and I are,” said Gauthier.

“Both of us had some success at the junior level at skip, but we’re both happily taking a step back to learn from one of the greatest and follow his lead going forward.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31