It’s been called the greatest shot in the history of the Brier. It is certainly one of the most dramatic—it’s a tenth-end, last-rock double takeout made by Northerna Ontario’s Al Hackner at the 1985 Brier to score two points and tie up the game against Pat Ryan of Alberta. Hackner went on to win in one of the most stunning comebacks in the event’s history. Some background on what has come to be known as The Shot:
• Ryan finished the round robin at 11-0, while Hackner was 7-4.
• Ryan’s team hadn’t had an end stolen on them all week and gave up just one two-ender.
• When Ryan played his last shot, he thought he’d made it impossible for Hackner to score two, and therefore won the Brier. He came down the ice with his broom over his head in a premature celebration. Others thought he’d won too as photographers jumped all over the ice even though Hackner’s last rock was still to come. It took almost 10 minutes to restore order to allow Hackner to play his shot.
• Neither Hackner nor his third, Rick Lang, saw Ryan’s mini-celebration as they were busy lining up the final shot.
• When Ryan got down to the other end, he saw he’d left Hackner a shot. “From my perspective [at the other end], it looked as thought I had made the shot,” Ryan said later. “But actually I hadn’t—I’d lined it up.”
• Hackner’s team had played three shots down the same path as his final rock that end, so he knew the ice.
• After he made the shot, the fans in the arena went crazy. But Hackner slid stone-faced down the ice, and as he passed Ryan said one word: “Sorry.”
• When Hackner arrived beside Lang at the other end, Lang congratulated his skip, but also pointed out another problem: “Nice shot, skipper,” he said. “Now how the hell are we going to steal one.” The shot only tied the game, sending it to an extra end.
• In the extra end,Alberta second GordTrenchie missed both shots, and when Ryan came to throw his last rock, he needed to draw to a piece of the four-foot. His rock came into the rings, and Hackner swept it back enough that it gave them a single point—and the Brier crown to Northern Ontario.
• Lang normally swept the opposition rocks when they came into the house, but for some reason, on this occasion, as Ryan’s stone neared the tee line, he didn’t move, and Hackner jumped in at the last second to sweep it back.
• Hackner believes that if Ryan played more aggressively early in that final game, he would have won the game easily.
• Although happy at winning, Lang felt remorseful at defeating Ryan, who was the best team that week. “There was almost a feeling of guilt,” Lang admitted. “We know how Ryan’s team felt because it happened to us [in 1981]. It really took something away from winning.”