We’re down to the 8-team championship pool at the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier

After seven days of fantastic curling, the round-robin portion of the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier came to an end on Thursday night.

That means we’re down from 18 teams to eight, who will begin Championship Pool play this morning from the Markin MacPhail Centre in Calgary.

We're down to the final eight in the bubble! Read about Thursday night's action in our roundup: https://t.co/0URtQ3Jtdx#curling#Brier2021#HubCity2021 pic.twitter.com/XN0LRoBWCJ

— Curling Canada (@CurlingCanada) March 12, 2021

After eight round-robin games over the past week, it’s a pair of Wild Card teams that lead the way with seven wins and just one loss apiece.

One is Kevin Koe’s Alberta rink, while the other is Glenn Howard’s Ontario rink, one of the feel-good stories of the tournament so far.

Howard was injured in a snowmobile accident before the Brier, so legendary Canadian curler Wayne Middaugh came out of retirement to be the team’s skip for this year’s tournament.

The round robin is complete! Advancing to the Championship Round from Pool A are:

7-1 WC3 (@TeamGlennHoward)
6-2 AB (@TeamBottcher)
5-3 NO (@TeamBradJacobs)
5-3 MB (@TeamJGunns)#Brier2021 pic.twitter.com/BBrqGgUSGJ

— Curling Canada (@CurlingCanada) March 12, 2021

It was a winter accident that led to Middaugh’s retirement in 2016, as a serious ski crash shattered his leg in 11 places.

There are four teams entering the Championship Pool at 6-2, including Matthew Dunstone’s Team Saskatchewan, John Epping’s Team Ontario, Brad Gushue’s Team Canada and Brendan Bottcher’s Team Alberta.

Brad Jacob’s Team Northern Ontario and Jason Gunnlaugson’s Team Manitoba round out the eight teams who advanced, but each have their work cut out for them with 5-3 records.

It's a wrap for the Pool B round robin! Moving on to the Championship Round are:

7-1 WC2 (@TeamKevinKoe)
6-2 CA (@TeamGushue)
6-2 ON (@TeamJohnEpping)
6-2 SK (@TeamMDunstone) #Brier2021 pic.twitter.com/TlgMNc7Ao7

— Curling Canada (@CurlingCanada) March 11, 2021

Over the next two days, every team who advanced will play four matches against each of the teams that advanced from the other round-robin pool.

After action wraps up on Saturday night, the four teams with the best overall record will advance to the four-team playoff on Sunday.

The winners of Sunday morning’s two semi-final matchups will square off in Sunday night’s final, with the Brier Tankard on the line.

Tonight marks the 100th @timhortons Brier game for Rick Sawatzky, Steve Laycock and Jim Cotter. Congratulations on this incredible accomplishment! 💯 #Brier2021 pic.twitter.com/aQjxIvePyi

— Curling Canada (@CurlingCanada) March 7, 2021

Unfortunately, Steve Laycock’s Team BC is on their way home to Vernon after finishing the tournament 3-5, but it was an impressive round-robin performance for them nonetheless.

Team BC lost a close matchup to Team Northern Ontario earlier in the week, upset Team Manitoba on Thursday morning and nearly did the same against Team Alberta on Thursday night.

Although Laycock and company won’t be part of the weekend action at the Brier, there will be plenty of exciting action on TSN over the next three days!

It gets going with the first draw of the Championship Pool today at 11:30 am PST.