RING- MASTER BACK ON THE ICE
Jeff Stoughton hired by Curl Canada
Former skip Jeff Stoughton was named Curling Canada’s mixed doubles program manager on Tuesday.
The three- time Tim Hortons Brier champion and two- time world champ will oversee several aspects of the program leading up to the sport’s debut as a medal discipline at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
“I’m excited to have this opportunity and I truly appreciate Curling Canada’s support as we ramp up our chase for the mixed doubles gold medal in South Korea,” said Stoughton. “… I know our country’s top players are eager to get involved and I want to be able to help in any way I can.”
Traditional curling involves teams of four players, while mixed doubles teams have one male and one female. Mixed doubles teams also throw six stones in each end instead of eight.
Stoughton, who retired at the end of last season, started working with coaches and players earlier this summer in Edmonton.
He’ll be involved in the Oct. 20- 21 Canad Inns Mixed Doubles Classic in Portage la Prairie, Man., an inaugural competition sandwiched between traditional men’s and women’s events at the Portage Curling Club. It’s possible that many of Canada’s top players will participate in the mixed doubles as well.
“Jeff has already been doing some terrific work behind the scenes to help build mixed doubles curling in Canada, and the Canad Inns Mixed Doubles Classic is an example of that,” Curling Canada high- performance director Gerry Peckham said in a release. “Canad Inns and Portage have stepped up and are definitely on the radar for more events leading to how we determine our mixed doubles entry for the 2018 Winter Olympics, and I’m thrilled to have an individual of Jeff’s calibre, with his accompanying competitive background, on board as we pursue gold.”
Stoughton also has been working with Canada’s entries for the upcoming Audi quattro Winter Games New Zealand mixed doubles competition. Reigning national champions Charley Thomas and Kalynn Park of Calgary are entered along with 2014 champions Kim and Wayne Tuck of Strathroy, Ont.
“Kalynn and I had a chance to work with Jeff earlier this summer and truly enjoyed the experience,” said Thomas. “Jeff has an amazing resume, as we all know, and his experience and knowledge of the game will be a huge benefit to our mixed doubles program leading up to the 2018 Winter Olympics.”
The 2016 world mixed doubles championship is scheduled for April 16- 23 in Karlstad, Sweden. The location and dates for the Canadian mixed doubles curling trials have not been finalized.