Jimmy the Kid guiding New Brunswick to playoff contention at 2025 Canadian Seniors

In 1997, a young James Grattan took the curling world by storm at the Canadian men’s curling championship. That year, Jimmy the Kid, as he became known, earned a bronze medal. Since then, he has been a staple of the Canadian curling scene, competing at 17 Briers. He has become one of the sport’s prominent modern veterans.

Now, at 51, Grattan is reclaiming his nickname as he enters his senior curling eligibility and competes at the 2025 Canadian Senior Curling Championships at the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club.

“I think it’s a bit of an adjustment just to the draw games that these guys have. These guys all have experience, so we’re not going to out-skip anybody out there. That’s what I’ve noticed more than anything else,” Grattan said. “I know on the men’s tour, I can utilize my experience and try to maybe trick somebody into playing the shot that I want them to play, but these guys are too experienced for that and probably way more experienced than me, for that matter. So it’s been an adjustment for me, just kind of planning the ends out a little more carefully and leaving them with a shot that they don’t want to play.”

That adjustment contributed to New Brunswick’s 8-5 win against Northern Ontario’s Team Al Harnden (3-6; Sault Ste. Marie) on Friday afternoon. With that victory, New Brunswick (7-2; Saint John) is tied for second in the Championship Pool, with one more game to play.

The top four teams in the Championship Pool advance to Saturday’s semifinal games at 10 a.m. (all times ET). The winners play for gold, and the losers compete for bronze at 2:30 p.m.

Grattan, third/vice-skip Charles Sullivan, second Jason Vaughan, and Paul Nason led 2-1 after three ends. Northern Ontario then went on a run, scoring three in the fourth and stealing a single in the sixth.

“We had a game plan at the beginning just to try to get into a little simple hitting style game, but those guys just didn’t fall for it. They just started pouring them in on us, and they didn’t miss any of those little hack weighters, little hit and rolls and draws,” Grattan said. “I think that’s what I’ve been noticing all week at this thing. These guys don’t miss those kinds of shots, and I’m falling right into their traps.”

Despite this, New Brunswick remained resilient and set up its comeback in the sixth end. First, Sullivan made a runback to sit four. This led Grattan to make an angle raise takeout to score three. That big end, combined with a steal in the seventh, gave New Brunswick a one-point lead without hammer heading into the eighth.

“I think we kind of fell back to our comfort zones. Charlie and I have always played together in the past, and that’s his strength — blasting those things out for me, then hopefully I can make a draw to the four-foot. In that case, he left me with probably the only spot on the ice I knew. That out-turn coming home was pretty straight. So we just knew if we got it on the right path, we were going to make that one, and it felt pretty good.”

In the eighth end, Northern Ontario’s fourth Al Belec made a triple to sit two. This forced Grattan to make a draw up to the back counter. Northern Ontario then tried a runback for the win, but missed. New Brunswick took the win.

“It puts the pressure on me. He’s done his job. Now I’ve got to do mine, right? At least I came through,” Grattan said. “I let my team down in the fourth. We gave up three when I wrecked on a couple of guards I shouldn’t have wrecked on. I felt like I had to do something to redeem myself.”

Looking ahead, Grattan and his teammates — who all competed together at the 2011 Brier in London, Ont. — face Manitoba’s Team Dave Boehmer (4-5; Petersfield) in their final round-robin game tonight.

Saskatchewan’s Team Bruce Korte (9-0; Saskatoon) is first in the Championship Pool. Ontario’s Team Mike Harris (7-2; Brandford) is tied with New Brunswick for second in the standings. British Columbia’s Team Neild Dangerfield (6-3; Victoria) currently holds the final playoff spot.

In women’s action, Ontario’s Team Sherry Middaugh (8-0; Barrie) is currently in first place in the Championship Pool. Following in the standings at 7-1 are British Columbia’s Team Shiella Cowan (New Westminster) and Saskatchewan’s Team Amber Holland (Saskatoon). Nova Scotia’s Team Andrea Saulnier (Kentville) is also in playoff contention with a 7-2 round-robin record.

Action from the 2025 Canadian Seniors Curling Championship resumes today with draws at 4:30 and 8:30 p.m.

For live scores, live streaming, team rosters, and the draw schedule, CLICK HERE.