Koe three-peats in Northwest Territories/Yukon championship

Jamie Koe of Yellowknife once again has successfully defended his Northwest Territories/Yukon title February 13 in Yellowknife, clinching a berth in the Tim Hortons Brier in London. Koe, who completed the four-team double round robin with a 6-0 mark, is joined by third Tom Naugler, second Brad Chorostkowski and lead Marty Gavin. It will be Koe’s fifth trip to the Canadian men’s curling championship, after skipping in 2006 (6-5 in Regina), 2007 (5-6 in Hamilton), 2009 (3-8 in Calgary) and 2010 (1-10 in Halifax). Naugler will be making his Brier debut, although he was the alternate for the Koe team at the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier in Calgary. Chorostkowski makes his seventh Brier appearance, after playing second in 1998, 2001 2009 and 2010, and lead in 2006 and 2007, while Gavin returns for a third consecutive time as lead. The Northwest Territories/Yukon has yet to win the Brier since joining the competition in 1975, when it enjoyed its best finish ever, a tie for second with an 8-3 mark.