Former Brier champ and longtime broadcaster Turnbull dies at 78

Ray Turnbull, a member of the

Manitoba’s 1965 Brier championship team, has died. He was 78.

Curling Canada said on its website that Turnbull died of leukemia at the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre.

Born in Huntsville, Ont., Turnbull rose to prominence as a curler in Manitoba. He served as the lead for Terry Braunstein’s squad that captured the ’65 Canadian championship and finished runner-up to the United States at the world men’s championship in Perth, Scotland, later that year.

Turnbull became a successful analyst after his career and was part of TSN’s curling broadcast team from 1984 to 2010.

“He loved family.. loved life..

my TSN partner for 25 years.. Ray Turnbull has passed.. heaven now has a lead RIP,” longtime TSN curling announcer Vic Rauter posted on Twitter.

Turnbull was inducted into

in 2015 and the Manitoba Sports

“It is with deep sadness that I convey the sincerest condolences

- tion and the curling community worldwide to the family and friends of Ray,” World Curling

- ness said in a statement.

“He did so much throughout the years to grow the sport both on the ice and through his 25 years of TV commentary. He was justifiably rewarded when inducted into the World Curling

be sorely missed.”