Men’s world champions ready
The Glenn Howard rink will be among the teams battling for the Players’ Championship in Summerside next week
PENETANGUISHENE, ONT. — The reigning world men’s curling champions are coming to Summerside.
Ontario’s Glenn Howard rink from the Coldwater and District Curling Club will be competing in the Grand Slam of Curling Players’ Championship from April 17 to 22.
“We’re pumped,” said Howard. “Obviously, P.E.I. is a phenomenal place to be.
“I love the province, and I can’t wait to get there. Coming off a world championship just makes it that much sweeter.
“We are going to need a little rest between now and then, but really looking forward to it.”
The Howard rink arrived back in Canada late Monday night from Basel, Switzerland, where they pulled out an 8-7 extra-end victory over Scotland in the final game of the world championship on Sunday.
“We’ve come off a hectic winter, and just coming back from Switzerland we are pretty tired,” said Howard in a phone interview on Tuesday morning. “Right now we are still on Swiss time. It’s a matter of trying not to get sick, and just get ready for P.E.I.” Personnel change The Howard rink underwent one key personnel change this season, with former skip Wayne Middaugh replacing longtime third stone Richard Hart, who retired following the 2010-11 season.
“He (Middaugh) and I have been best friends for 25, 30 years,” said Howard, who won a world men’s championship in 1993 with Middaugh as members of his brother Russ’ rink. “For him to jump into Rich’s shoes, which to me are some of the biggest shoes as he was arguably one of the best thirds to ever play the game, Wayne jumped into a position he’s never played. Most of his career he was a skip.
“He knows the position well, and he knows how to push my button and what not to do. It’s been a seamless transition. I can’t give him enough credit for how he’s adapted. It’s a big change for him.” Front end The steady front end of lead Craig Savill and second stone Brent Laing are in their eighth year curling with Howard, who has won four Canadian and four world
Howard has played more games — 182 — in Brier history than any other curler.
“This is theoretically a new team, and to go right through and do well on the tour, win a couple of Slams, win the Brier and then win the worlds is unbelievable,” he said. “Hopefully, we can cap it with a Players’ Championship in Summerside.”
men’s
championships.
Howard, though, knows it won’t be easy. He offered this assessment of the field: “It’s the best of the best. There’s the top eight teams in the world as far as I’m concerned.
“The bottom line is if you play average, you don’t win. If you play average you are going to get drilled.
“You have to have your A game pretty much all the way through the week. We know that. We’ll be prepared.”
He added fans can expect to see teams being aggressive with lots of rocks in play.
“It will be fantastic for the fans. Hopefully, lots of people will show up, and they’re going to see some of the best curling they’ve ever seen before.”