Ottawa curlers figure prominently in Olympic competitions

Watching from The Ottawa Curling Club early Tuesday morning, Craig Savill was with John Morris stone for stone, through to a historic first Olympic gold medal in mixed doubles curling.

Savill and Morris grew up together at the old rink in downtown Ottawa, won two world junior championships representing the OCC and played in a Brier for Ottawa. It’s safe to say, Savill knew what Morris was thinking and playing at the same time his great friend was carrying on his championship form in Pyeonchang, South Korea.

“It was really exciting to watch him play,” he said. “Everyone knows John, he plays with a lot of heart. And you could see that this whole week.”

Savill sent a congratulatory text message to Morris. “I am sure his phone is melting down right now,” Savill said. “I’m not expecting any call back or message back, but certainly when he gets back into Canada I will reach out to him again to say hi and congrats.”

The Ottawa factor in Olympic curling is huge this year. Savill noted that of the four men and four women representing Canada, six of the eight are current or former OCC members. Rachel Homan’s team, of course, is carrying the flag for women’s curling.

Along with Morris, Brent Laing is a former OCC player, currently a second on the Kevin Koe team representing Canada in men’s curling. Then there are Ottawabased sports psychologists Kyle Paquette and Adam Kingsbury, Homan’s coach, who would have helped Morris and Kaitlyn Lawes in mixed doubles this week.

The leadership and strong mental play of Morris and Lawes was evident. Lawes, 29, had some struggles, especially in the semifinal against Norway, but rebounded in the gold medal game, when Canada breezed to a 10-3 win against the world champion Swiss team.

“I think you saw how that team came together, and were really able to play as a team,” Savill said. “John was a very good teammate to make sure Kaitlyn would play her best. And she did.”

The semi is the pressure cooker, Savill said. Less so the final. Having been the best team all week, there was the risk of not even getting a chance to play for gold, if they faltered in that one match. In mixed doubles play, where the pace is fast and there are fewer stones in play each end, the risks are higher.

“You get down by three or four, you can easily come back because there’s lots of threes and steals out there,” Savill said.

Morris, 39, is claimed by Canmore, Alta. now, where he works as a firefighter and trains as a curler. Alongside Lawes, whom he calls “Mighty Mouse,” Morris was lights out performing in the Olympic debut event of mixed doubles.

To those who suggest mixed doubles is a made-up Olympic sport, Savill would remind you it has been played at the world championship level for a decade. Savill played mixed doubles in the Continental Cup (North America versus the world) play as far back as seven or eight years ago. Canada has been playing catch-up, and timed its ascent to the Olympics perfectly.

As with most Olympic sports, the mental aspect of the game is at least as important as the physical component. “I guess that’s why we laugh and cry when we watch the Olympics,” Savill said. “We see people have record performances and then you see someone who clips an edge and falls, and all that hard work for four years is gone.”

Savill, diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2015, took a hiatus from curling. Last year, he ran the half marathon during Ottawa Race Weekend and continues to compete in spartan races. His improved health has enabled him to think about curling competitively again.