Howard begins final push for Olympic berth
P.E.I. hosting Road to the Roar Pre-Trials
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The one thing missing from Glenn Howard’s impressive curling resume is an Olympic title. He’ll need to win the Home Hardware Road to the Roar Pre-Trials to have a chance of getting to the 2018 Winter Games.
Howard, a four-time Brier and world champion, is one of the headliners in a 14-team men’s field that opened play on Monday and includes former Brier champs Pat Simmons of Winnipeg, Jean-Michel Menard of Saint-Romuald, Que., and 2010 Olympic champion John Morris of Chestermere, Alta.
Shannon Kleibrink of Okotoks, Alta., who won bronze at the 2006 Turin Games, is in the 14-team women’s field along with Sherry Middaugh of Coldwater, Ont., Krista McCarville of Thunder Bay, Ont., and Edmonton’s Kelsey Rocque.
Play continues through Nov. 12 at Credit Union Place in Summerside, P.E.I.
This will be the final Olympic cycle for Howard, who turned 55 over the summer. He plans to use alternate Adam Spencer at third after vice-skip Richard Hart pulled out with a knee injury.
Hart will handle coaching duties for the team instead.
“We’re totally capable,” Howard said. “Are we the best team in the world right now? No. But can we beat anybody? Absolutely. I’m a firm believer of that.”
Two men’s teams and two women’s rinks from the Pre-Trials will qualify for the Dec. 2-10 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings — the Olympic Trials — in Ottawa. The winning teams from the Trials will represent Canada at the Pyeongchang Olympics in February.
“As much pressure as it is, that’s why we play the game,” Morris said. “It’s what you want to get to.”
Middaugh defeated Winnipeg’s Darcy Robertson 7-5 in the opening draw, scoring a ninth-end deuce and stealing one point in the 10th for the victory.
“It’s important to start off with a win, it’s important to start off by making some great shots and getting comfortable (with) the ice,” said Middaugh.
Morris beat Halifax’s Jamie Murphy 9-3, while Howard, from Tiny, Ont., defeated Mark Bice of Sarnia, Ont., 9-2.
“I really like the way the boys have been playing,” Howard said. “We’re coming off two really great ’spiels and we had a solid game there.”
Round-robin play continues through Friday and the crossover playoffs begin Saturday.
The top three teams from each pool will advance to the playoffs.
The first- and second-place teams will cross over to meet each other in the first round of the A-side. The winners will meet for the first Roar of the Rings berth.