1927 Macdonald Brier

1927 Macdonald Brier Tankard
Host city Toronto, Ontario
Arena Granite Club, Toronto
Dates March 1-3, 1927
Winner Nova Scotia
Curling club Halifax CC, Halifax
Skip Murray MacNeill
Third Al MacInnes
Second Cliff Torey
Lead Jim Donahoe
Finalist New Brunswick
1928»

The 1927 Macdonald Brier Tankard, the Canadian men's national curling championship, was held March 1-3 at the Granite Club in Toronto. This edition of the Brier would be the first, with it also being the first time it was hosted in Ontario, and the first time it was hosted in Toronto's Granite Club.

Skip Murray MacNeill of Nova Scotia would win the inaugural tournament, leading his rink of skips (his original team couldn't make the trip) to victory.

The event began with an opening banquet with Ontario Lieutenant Governor William Donald Ross and Ontario Premier Howard Ferguson welcoming players.[1]

Event Summary

After successful trips by the winner of the Manitoba Bonspiel in 1925 and their participation in the Quebec Bonspiel being deemed popular enough to consider a national tournament in 1926, the Stewart brothers of Macdonald Tobacco would sponsor what would become the Brier in 1927. Played at the Granite Club in Toronto, the tournament would feature teams from four provinces, two cities, and a representative from Western Canada and Northern Ontario, the latter becoming a fixture at the Brier. It would be the only Brier that would have all games go 14 ends (with two games going to a 15th end to break ties)[2]

Teams

The teams are listed as follows:[3]

Nova Scotia New Brunswick Quebec Montreal
Halifax CC, Halifax

Skip: Murray MacNeill
Third: Al MacInnes
Second: Cliff Torey
Lead: Jom Donahoe

Saint John Composite Rink

Skip: Johnny Malcolm
Third: Fred Beatteay
Second: Reg Shives
Lead: Elbridge MacKay

Quebec CC, Quebec City

Skip: Major Robert Whyte
Third: Robert Morton
Second: Malcolm Holliday
Lead: Joe Power

Granite CC, Montreal

Skip: Peter Lyall
Third: Willie Brown
Second: Howard Stewart
Lead: Bruce Stewart

Toronto Ontario Northern Ontario Western Canada
High Park CC, Toronto

Skip: William Scott
Third: Ed Peaker
Second: Thomas Wright
Lead: Fred Lucas

Sarnia CC, Sarnia

Skip: Bob McKenzie
Third: William Watson
Second: J. M. Hunt
Lead: Harry Watson

Haileybury, Haileybury

Skip: Emmett Smith
Third: Dunc Sutherland
Second: Dan Millar
Lead: Mel Hunt

Yellow Grass CC, Yellow Grass, SK

Skip: Oswald Barkwell
Third: Alf Hill
Second: Hector Hay
Lead: Pete Wilken

Standings

Province Skip Club City W L
Nova Scotia Murray Macneill Halifax CC Halifax 6 1
New Brunswick Johnny Malcolm Saint John Composite Rink Saint John 5 2
Toronto William Scott High Park CC Toronto 4 3
Northern Ontario Emmett Smith Haileybury CC Haileybury 3 4
Ontario Bob McKenzie Sarnia CC Sarnia 3 4
Western Canada[4] Oswald Barkwell Yellow Grass CC Yellow Grass 3 4
Quebec Major Robert Whyte Quebec CC Quebec 2 5
Montreal[5] Peter Lyall Granite CC Montreal 2 5

Note: The Oswald Barkwell rink represented all of Western Canada in this tournament, but were from Saskatchewan.

Scores

March 1

Draw 1 (morning)[6]
Draw 2 (afternoon)

March 2

Draw 3 (morning)[7]
Draw 4 (afternoon)
Draw 5 (evening)

March 3

Draw 6 (morning)
Draw 7 (afternoon)[9]

Team selection

Teams were chosen by invitation. Many provinces had yet to have provincial championships.[10]

References