Jean-Michel Ménard
Encyclopedia
Jean-Michel Ménard (born January 19, 1976) is a curler from Quebec
, Canada
. Ménard is notable for being the first Francophone skip
from Quebec to win the Brier - Canada's national curling championship- which he did in 2006.
and playing in leagues at the Ottawa Curling Club
and the Rideau Curling Club
, Ménard also represents the Club de Curling Victoria in Sainte-Foy, Quebec along with his team of Martin Crête, Éric Sylvain
and Jean Gagnon
.
Ménard had a 5-7 record at the 1996 Canadian Junior Championships, and would return to a national championships in 2000 at the Mixed
. He would return to the mixed in 2001, winning the tournament. Ménard found himself on the team of Guy Hemmings
as his second in 2003, which they won the Quebec championships sending them to the 2003 Nokia Brier
. At the Brier, they finished 6-5, just out of the playoffs.
Ménard would return to the Brier at the 2005 Tim Hortons Brier
, this time as a skip where he finished the round-robin with a 7-4 record sending him to the playoffs. However, he lost in the 3-4 game to Nova Scotia
's Shawn Adams
.
Ménard returned once again to the Brier in 2006
. His team finished the round robin in second place and an 8-3 record. In the playoffs they lost the 1-2 game, but went on to win the semi-final against Team Nova Scotia skipped by Mark Dacey
in a lacklustre game. In the final, against Ontario
's Glenn Howard
team, Ménard and his Quebec foursome played a much better game, claiming victory- the first ever for a Francophone
team and the second ever for a Quebec team.
Ménard's victory at the Brier qualified him for the 2006 World Men's Curling Championship
in Lowell, Massachusetts
. At the Worlds, Ménard's team went all the way to the finals, but lost to Team Scotland (skipped by David Murdoch
) in the final.
In 2007, Ménard lost the provincial championship to Pierre Charette
, ending his bid to repeat as defending Brier champions. In 2008, Ménard returned to the Brier, where he finished with a disappointing 4-7 record.
Ménard is married to 5-time provincial champion Annie Lemay
.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Ménard is notable for being the first Francophone skip
Skip (curling)
The skip, in conjunction with the team, determines strategy. Based on the strategy, the skip holds the broom indicating where the player throwing must aim . When it is the skip's turn to throw, the vice-skip holds the broom...
from Quebec to win the Brier - Canada's national curling championship- which he did in 2006.
Profile
While living in GatineauGatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
and playing in leagues at the Ottawa Curling Club
Ottawa Curling Club
The Ottawa Curling Club is an historic curling club located in downtown Ottawa on O'Connor Street. It is the oldest curling club in Ottawa, established in 1851 by Allan Gilmour as the Bytown Curling Club. The Club first played on the Rideau Canal until 1858...
and the Rideau Curling Club
Rideau Curling Club
The Rideau Curling Club is a curling facility and organization located in Ottawa, Ontario. Founded in 1888, the Rideau Curling Club maintains a rivalry with the Ottawa Curling Club.-History:...
, Ménard also represents the Club de Curling Victoria in Sainte-Foy, Quebec along with his team of Martin Crête, Éric Sylvain
Éric Sylvain
Éric Sylvain is a Canadian curler from Lévis. He currently plays second for Jean-Michel Ménard.Sylvain joined up with Ménard in 2003, and qualified for his first Brier in 2005 as a member of Team Quebec...
and Jean Gagnon
Jean Gagnon
Jean Gagnon is a Canadian-born former ice hockey player who played 20 seasons of professional hockey, including 6 seasons with HC Fribourg-Gottéron in the Swiss National League A.-Awards and honours:-External links:...
.
Ménard had a 5-7 record at the 1996 Canadian Junior Championships, and would return to a national championships in 2000 at the Mixed
Canadian Mixed Curling Championship
The Canadian Mixed Curling Championship is the national curling championship for mixed curling in Canada. It is considered as the highest level of mixed curling in the world, with the absence of a World Championships. However, a...
. He would return to the mixed in 2001, winning the tournament. Ménard found himself on the team of Guy Hemmings
Guy Hemmings
Guy Hemmings is a Canadian curler from Sorel. Hemmings is a popular curler who gained prominence after reaching the final of the Brier in 1998 and 1999...
as his second in 2003, which they won the Quebec championships sending them to the 2003 Nokia Brier
2003 Nokia Brier
The 2003 Nokia Brier was held at the Halifax Metro Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia from March 1-9. The defending champion, Randy Ferbey and his team from Alberta were the winners, winning their third Brier in a row. At the Worlds they went on to represent Canada and win the gold medal.Final...
. At the Brier, they finished 6-5, just out of the playoffs.
Ménard would return to the Brier at the 2005 Tim Hortons Brier
2005 Tim Hortons Brier
The 2005 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's curling championship was held at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta from March 5 to 13. The tournament consisted of 12 teams—one from each province, plus a team representing the Yukon and Northwest Territories, plus a team representing Northern Ontario...
, this time as a skip where he finished the round-robin with a 7-4 record sending him to the playoffs. However, he lost in the 3-4 game to Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
's Shawn Adams
Shawn Adams
Shawn Adams is a Canadian curler from Upper Tantallon, Nova Scotia.Adams rose to curling prominence being runner-up in the 1992 Canadian Junior Championship, and then the next year, won the 1993 Canadian Junior Championship, however he was stripped of the championship because of alcohol...
.
Ménard returned once again to the Brier in 2006
2006 Tim Hortons Brier
The 2006 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's national curling championship, was held at the Brandt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan March 11-19. In the final, Quebec's Jean-Michel Ménard rink became only the second Quebec team to win the Brier. They also became the first francophone team to win...
. His team finished the round robin in second place and an 8-3 record. In the playoffs they lost the 1-2 game, but went on to win the semi-final against Team Nova Scotia skipped by Mark Dacey
Mark Dacey
Mark Dacey is a Canadian curler from the Mayflower Curling Club in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but originally from Saskatchewan....
in a lacklustre game. In the final, against Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
's Glenn Howard
Glenn Howard
Glenn Howard is a Canadian curler from Penetanguishene, Ontario. He has won three Briers and three world championships in his career. He has also won six straight Ontario provincials.-1980s-2006:...
team, Ménard and his Quebec foursome played a much better game, claiming victory- the first ever for a Francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
team and the second ever for a Quebec team.
Ménard's victory at the Brier qualified him for the 2006 World Men's Curling Championship
2006 World Men's Curling Championship
-Draw 2:April 1, 16:00-Draw 3:April 2, 09:00-Draw 4:April 2, 14:00-Draw 5:April 2, 19:00-Draw 6:April 3, 09:00-Draw 7:April 3, 14:00-Draw 8:April 3, 19:00-Draw 9:April 4, 09:00...
in Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
. At the Worlds, Ménard's team went all the way to the finals, but lost to Team Scotland (skipped by David Murdoch
David Murdoch
David Murdoch is a Scottish curler from Lockerbie. Murdoch and his former team of Ewan MacDonald, Warwick Smith, Euan Byers and Peter Smith were the 2006 and 2009 World Curling Champions.-Background:...
) in the final.
In 2007, Ménard lost the provincial championship to Pierre Charette
Pierre Charette
Pierre Charette is a Canadian curler from Gatineau, Quebec.Charette has played in nine Briers, and is the only curler to have played every position at a Brier...
, ending his bid to repeat as defending Brier champions. In 2008, Ménard returned to the Brier, where he finished with a disappointing 4-7 record.
Ménard is married to 5-time provincial champion Annie Lemay
Annie Lemay
Annie Lemay is a Canadian curler from Gatineau, Quebec. She currently plays third for Marie-France Larouche.-Career:...
.