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• After winning the Canadian title in 1959 and ’60, the Richardsons lost out in 1962, never making it past the Regina city playdowns.

• In 1960, before there were playoffs, the Richardsons secured the title with one draw left to play, a draw in which they had a bye. When the award ceremonies started, the four players walked down the ice holding hands in what fans thought was a show of team solidarity. In truth, they celebrated heartily during their bye and were trying to keep each other from falling down.

• The team won the first World Curling Championship by defeating a team of Scots in the Scotch Cup. They followed up with three more world championship wins.

• In 1960, the City of Regina planned a massive civic reception for the team but was unsure when they were to arrive home from Scotland and a second Scotch Cup victory. When they finally received word of the date, it was too early, and so despite having been away for three weeks, the Richardsons were told to spend three extra days in Toronto while the reception was organized.

• The Richardsons were just the second team from Saskatchewan to win the Brier, after Garnet Campbell in 1955.

• Despite several tries, the team was never able to make it back to the Brier, and they disbanded in 1968.

A WOMAN’S PLACE

Shannon Kleibrink may be best known as the skip of Canada’s team at the 2006 Olympics, but she holds another distinction of note: she is the only woman to skip a team to the Canadian Mixed championship.

MULTI-TALENTED

Pierre Charette of Quebec is the only player to compete in a Brier at all four positions. In 1989 and ’93, he skipped Quebec’s entry. In 1996 he played lead; a year later, second; and a year after that he was third.

THE SHOT

It’s been called the greatest shot in the history of the Brier. It is certainly one of the most dramatic—it’s a tenth-end, last-rock double takeout made by Northerna Ontario’s Al Hackner at the 1985 Brier to score two points and tie up the game against Pat Ryan of Alberta. Hackner went on to win in one of the most stunning comebacks in the event’s history. Some background on what has come to be known as The Shot:

• Ryan finished the round robin at 11-0, while Hackner was 7-4.

• Ryan’s team hadn’t had an end stolen on them all week and gave up just one two-ender.

• When Ryan played his last shot, he thought he’d made it impossible for Hackner to score two, and therefore won the Brier. He came down the ice with his broom over his head in a premature celebration. Others thought he’d won too as photographers jumped all over the ice even though Hackner’s last rock was still to come. It took almost 10 minutes to restore order to allow Hackner to play his shot.

• Neither Hackner nor his third, Rick Lang, saw Ryan’s mini-celebration as they were busy lining up the final shot.

• When Ryan got down to the other end, he saw he’d left Hackner a shot. “From my perspective [at the other end], it looked as thought I had made the shot,” Ryan said later. “But actually I hadn’t—I’d lined it up.”

• Hackner’s team had played three shots down the same path as his final rock that end, so he knew the ice.

• After he made the shot, the fans in the arena went crazy. But Hackner slid stone-faced down the ice, and as he passed Ryan said one word: “Sorry.”

• When Hackner arrived beside Lang at the other end, Lang congratulated his skip, but also pointed out another problem: “Nice shot, skipper,” he said. “Now how the hell are we going to steal one.” The shot only tied the game, sending it to an extra end.

• In the extra end,Alberta second GordTrenchie missed both shots, and when Ryan came to throw his last rock, he needed to draw to a piece of the four-foot. His rock came into the rings, and Hackner swept it back enough that it gave them a single point—and the Brier crown to Northern Ontario.

• Lang normally swept the opposition rocks when they came into the house, but for some reason, on this occasion, as Ryan’s stone neared the