Team Knapp excited to represent Saskatchewan at the 2023 Brier Globalnews.ca

“To do it with that group of people just makes it as special as it can be,” Newly team saskatchewan Skip Kelly Knapp talks about earning his spot in 2023 Tim Hortons Barrier,

The longtime lead-turned-skip was carried through a whirlwind afternoon of curling before a hurried interview on Sunday, throwing a takeout on the final stone that earned his team a 5-4 win over Steve Laycock.

Twin brother and team lead Trent Knapp said, “The captain and the team made the right shots at the right time.” “[The]stars have to align and we are so grateful for that, (we) can’t wait for what’s next.”

In his second year skipping, Kelly was able to lead his tight-knit team to an undefeated 5–0 record at the Saskatchewan Men’s Curling Championships.

“My twin brothers Trent and Mike (Armstrong) and my two best friends in Brennan (Jones), and (optional) Dustin (Kidby) who have become such close friends through this year and coach Brian who is with Trent and me. Been involved for so many years, I can’t imagine doing it with anyone else.

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“To have to share this with your brother, it’s insane,” Trent said. “We were (in) grade 5 when we started together, (we’re) very lucky with all the coaches we’ve had over the years. We split up for a few years, but it’s great to be back with him in Skip For, it is literally a storybook.

This may be the first Brier appearance for both of the Knapp brothers, but second Mike Armstrong and third Brennan Jones have both won green jackets before – Armstrong in 2012 and Jones the year before, playing with the man he tanked. In the finale Steve Laycock was defeated. ,

Jones said, “It was a little bit more of an important game because he’s a past teammate.” “Steve’s finesse, he’s always been a great player and we knew he was going to fire, even though we’d already beaten him twice; We knew we had the tools, we just had to use them.”

It’s been a long 12 years for the 35-year-old who is eager to return to the Brier, with the opportunity to represent both province and country at the World Curling Championships.

“I didn’t think I’d ever be here again. I took a few years off, had a bit of a back injury and didn’t think I’d ever be in this position again.” Jones explained. “Kelly asked me last year if I wanted to play and it was too good an opportunity to pass up, just being good friends with these guys.”

Both a sense of community and provincial pride was worn on Team Knapp’s sleeve in the tankard the group would carry with them to the Brier.

Kelly said, “I’m proud to be from Regina and to represent that city, but by and large, our province.” “I was born and brought up here, I haven’t lived anywhere else, it’s always been a dream to wear the green and white.”

The team hopes to end a 43-year barrier drought for Saskatchewan. The championships run March 3-12 in London, Ont.

“We’ve all performed against teams that are out there and we know we can beat them, it’s just about putting it all together, which I think we can do.”

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