If Tanner and Jake Horgan are the least bit awestruck competing at their first ever Brier, it certainly hasn't shown yet.

Of course, the veteran presence of both Darren Moulding and Colin Hodgson certainly helps, as does the impressive curling resume the Horgans have compiled over the years - all of which makes the Northern Ontario record of 3-1 to date not all that surprising in London, site of the 2023 Tim Hortons Brier.

Team Horgan were tested right out of the gate, picking up a critical win in a matchup of rinks that were expected to be right in the mix for the final playoff spots in Pool "A".

Deuces in both the second and sixth ends while surrendering just one steal allowed the NOCA champs to outscore the Reid Carruthers wildcard entry from Manitoba 6-4. Tied 2-2 after five ends of play, Horgan scored two in the ensuing end and traded solo scores in the final four ends, enough to kick off their first Brier with a win on Saturday.

Early Sunday morning, Horgan went toe to toe with two time world champion and four-time Brier winner Kevin Koe of Alberta. The local lads were tied 4-4 after eight ends before giving up three in the ninth en route to a 7-4 loss which did not necessarily take much steam out of their sails, with the Koe rink (Tyler Tardi, Brad Thiessen, Karrick Martin) expected to contend for top spot in their bracket.

The key was to get back on the winning track ASAP, which Horgan and company did thanks to victories over Nunavut - Jake Higgs (6-4 on Sunday night) and Newfoundland & Labrador - Nathan Young (6-4 on Monday afternoon).

Horgan will face the winless Northwest Territories rink (Jamie Koe) on Monday evening before enjoying a day off on Tuesday and closing out rround robin play against Saskatchewan (Kelly Knapp - Wed at 9:00 a.m.), Nova Scotia (Matthew Manuel - Thurs at 9:00 a.m.) and Manitoba (Matt Dunstone - Thurs at 2:00 p.m.).

The top three in each pool advance to the playoffs, with second versus third matchups likely to take place on Friday.