Kamloops curlers take aim at B.C. title, Kelowna Brier: ‘It’s probably the most open it’s been in the last 15 years’

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“Jim [Cotter] is not there this year. Brent Pierce is top 15 in CTRS [Canadian Team Ranking System standings]. Other than that, it’s put six good games together and you could win provincials.”

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Kolomaya’s team — which includes fourth Cody Tanaka of Richmond, second Andrew Nerpin of Kelowna and lead Nicholas Meister of Langley — is 45th in CTRS standings, the top-ranked team among those that include Kamloops members.

Third Mitchell Kopytko and second Coburn Fadden are the Kamloops Curling Club members who belong to Team Nobert, which includes skip Rob Nobert and lead Cameron Weir of Vernon.

The rink is ranked 72nd in CTRS standings and aims to surprise next week at the George Preston Arena.

“It’s big,” said Kopytko, assistant ice technician at the KCC. “It’s kind of one of those things where you play your whole season with it in your mind. You kind of want to be ramping up toward that event because it’s the event of your season. You put it all on the line because if you don’t, it’s the end of your season — and you never want it to be the end.”

Team Thompson — skip and third Brad Thompson, fourth Brook Calibaba, second Matt Whiteford and lead Bryce Laufer — is the only all-Kamloops rink heading to provincials, sliding in on the back of winning the ‘C’ event at a qualifier last month in Abbotsford.

“We took the long road,” Thompson said with a laugh.

Ranked 98th in CTRS standings, the quartet — a long shot to reach the Brier — would make a lovely underdog story.

“It’s why we curl. It’s why every kid curls,” Thompson said. “They want to go to the Brier. It’d be a dream. It’d be fantastic.”

This is an ideal season for a Kamloops Cinderella story.

The Montana’s Brier gets underway on Feb. 28, a stone’s throw away in Kelowna.

“That was always the goal growing up,” said Kolomaya, a B.C. champion and Brier participant in 2022. “You want to play in the Brier. That’s everybody’s dream. Getting to do that was exceptional and then once you do it, you always want to do it again. That’s the goal — to get back.”