News release

RCMP at the Brier

March 31, 2025 - Kelowna, British Columbia
From: Kelowna RCMP

Content

The Canadian Brier curling championship tournament is one of the oldest national titles in Canada and has been played every year since 1927 to crown the men’s champion.

It was recently held in Kelowna at Prospera Place with Team Alberta and skip Brad Jacobs winning the championship and will now represent Canada at the Worlds in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan this week.

During the Brier championship game between Team Alberta and Team Manitoba, a pair of RCMP officers, dressed in their traditional red serge received the honour of escorting the trophy across the ice to be on display.  Much like the Scotty Tournament of Hearts or the Grey Cup, the championship trophy is safe and secure in the hands of members of the RCMP before being presented to the winner.

Retired Sgt. Bob Ursel and Reserve Cst. Mike Kube were asked a couple of months prior to the event to be the trophy handlers and they couldn’t have asked two better people.

Ursel won the 1985 World Junior Curling Championship, has curled in three Briers and two Olympic Trials.  As a matter of fact, he lost in the semi-final of the Trials to go to the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.  Furthermore, his dad, Jim Ursel won the 1977 Brier in their hometown of Montreal when Ursel was 12 and in attendance cheering him on.

Bob’s dad played in a total of seven Brier championships, winning it once in ’77 so carrying the trophy into Prospera Place was an emotional moment, “Absolutely…You couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I was not only proud to be a curler but I was extremely proud to be a Mountie as well.”

“Carrying the Brier trophy was an extremely special moment for me for a few reasons,” says Ursel.  “First of all, my Dad’s name is on that trophy and he passed away a few years ago. Curling has been a huge and integral part of my life for as long as I can remember as I had the opportunity to compete in three Briers but was never able to win one. I am still heavily involved in Curling as the coach for the Japanese Men’s National Team.”

Constable Kube was also excited to get the opportunity to escort the Brier trophy onto the ice, he said yes before Ursel could finish asking him.  “It meant the world to me,” he says. “I have curled for over 25 years, so being a part of the premier Canadian men’s curling championship was a huge honour.”

This was the first time he was lucky enough to be part of a major Canadian championship like this, handling the trophy.  “In my humble opinion, the Brier, the Scotty’s and the Grey Cup are the big three of Canadian championship trophies and I was incredibly humbled to have been a part of this.”

With the game being broadcast on TSN, both officers had similar thoughts before carrying the trophy onto the ice surface in front of the fans in attendance and the thousands watching at home, “Please don’t fall and drop the trophy,” they say with a smile.  In an effort to be flawless in their delivery the duo thought it would be a good idea to have a couple of dry runs that afternoon and Curling Canada granted that idea.  

“The trophy was surprisingly lighter then I had anticipated,” said Kube.  “It’s actually hollow in the middle of the wood base, so easy to grab and hold as we carried it down the ice.  The Brier staff recommended we take our time marching down because it’s an exciting moment, and there is a risk of rushing as a result.”

Not only is Kube a proud RCMP Mountie, he’s also a proud 25-year curler who has been holding onto a jacket from the 1989 Brier waiting for the perfect opportunity to dawn it again.  He brought it with him to the final and was lucky enough to meet Russ Howard, who skipped Ontario to the Brier title in 1989 and is now a broadcaster on TSN.  Howard was happy to sign the jacket and get a picture with Kube in his red serge. 

It was an honour and a thrill for both Ursel and Kube, a moment they will never forget.

Photo credit – Curling Canada / Michael Burns 

Contacts

Ryan Sencar
Communications Advisor, Police Services
Kelowna RCMP Detachment / Government of Canada
kelowna_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Kelowna RCMP