Tim Hortons Brier - Qualification and Eligibility

Qualification and Eligibility

The Brier is currently contested by 12 teams. Most provinces are represented by one team, with Ontario, which sends two teams (named Ontario and Northern Ontario), being the exception. The territories send one team. Teams qualify for the Brier through their respective provincial championships, which are held every year and are open to any Canadian men's curling team consisting of Canadian citizens. The formats for these championships vary from province to province, but most entail a series of club, municipal, district and/or regional playdowns prior to the provincial championship.

Unlike the Canadian women's championship the defending champions do not automatically qualify for the Brier and must re-enter their provincial championship. Most provincial associations now automatically qualify their respective champions for the provincial championship, but until recently that was often not the case.