Dawson Creek’s Jason Ginter (second from left) and Fort St. John’s Sterling Middleton (second from right) will be playing in their first Brier as part of Team BC. Photo from the Team Gauthier Facebook page. 

By Curtis Galbraith

Curling

Two BC Peace curlers to make their Brier debuts in Draw 1

Mar 3, 2023 | 2:41 PM

Two curlers from the BC Peace will be playing in their first Brier starting later today in London, Ontario.

Team BC includes Dawson Creek’s Jason Ginter at second and Fort St. John’s Sterling Middleton at third.

Ginter says this is what they all dreamed about since they started curling.

“You end practice (and) you say this is going to be the draw that’s going to win the Brier and you make the draw. You’re 14,15,16-years-old and you’re just saying it’s a dream of yours

“Now to at least have a chance to make that dream a reality, it’s pretty huge.”

Team BC will play Beaverlodge’s Geoff Walker and the defending champions in Brad Gushue’s Team Canada in Draw 1, which starts at 5 pm Friday afternoon Alberta time.

Ginter says “who better to start against” adding they have been looking forward to this game since they first saw the schedule.

“I’ve been able to play against Geoff a little bit. We had Geoff come out and speak at our, I think it was the mixed doubles provincials when they were in Dawson Creek. (I) played against him a little bit in some men’s bonspiels. More so just friendly competition.”

Ginter says at first they were thinking about just getting it out of the way.

“After thinking about it, I think that’s probably the time you want to play against Brad Gushue is the first game when they’re also learning the ice conditions. It might give us a chance to, maybe, provide the first upset of the week. We’re really looking forward to it. I think there is no better time to play them than the first game.”

All four players on the BC side will be making their Brier debuts. The team is based in Victoria where Middleton and lead Alex Horvath live. Ginter now lives in Edmonton and skip Jacques Gauthier. Gauthier’s mom is a three-time national champion and TSN commentator Cathy Gauthier.

Ginter says the team spent Thursday doing what he calls “fun stuff.” That included social media and various poses for TSN. There was also a doughnut-eating contest between Ginter and his skip.

“We had two Boston cream doughnuts (from Brier title sponsor Tim Hortons), one for each of us, and we had to finish them as fast as we could on camera. I think I squeaked it out. I think I got the victory.”

Ginter says the hope for the team is to make the playoffs. he adds they have a 5-2 record against the five top-ranked teams in Canada.

Ginter adds he can’t remember the last person from Dawson Creek or Fort St. John.

“(Sterling and I) are super-happy to represent the area and we know Geoff has been there for quite a few years but we’re happy to provide a little bit more of a presence from the Peace region.”

Ginter wants to thank everyone back in the Peace for supporting their team.