Martin part of NBC Olympic curling coverage

Kevin Martin didn’t get to play in a fourth Olympics, but he’s still involved with the Sochi Games.

Martin, 47, was hired to be an NBC curling analyst at the U.S. network’s studios in New York during the Winter Olympics.

He started Monday after losing the Alberta men’s curling championship final on last rock to Calgary’s Kevin Koe at Lacombe.

“Day 2 of curling analysis is now over on @NBCOlympics. Exciting games. Great fun in the studio” Martin tweeted out on Tuesday.

The 2010 Olympic gold medallist was excited about the new opportunity as the end of his competitive curling career approaches, likely within two seasons.

“It’s going to be a new experience and a completely different way of looking at it,” Martin said. “NBC has really become very interested in our sport. I’m not sure if it’s 72 or 76 hours of coverage in the Olympics, so that’s a lot for curling.

“I’ve never done much of that for anybody,” Martin said about his new broadcasting gig. “I did a game in the West Edmonton Mall event and a provincial final when Tommy Reed won (both in the 1990s).”

NBC approached Martin last August about the position if he didn’t represent Canada at the Olympics.

When Martin lost to Koe, it marked the fourth straight final his third, Dave Nedohin, has lost in the championship since winning five in a row from 2001-05. Two of those losses were to Martin when Nedohin played with Randy Ferbey.

Morris will be only the third player to represent three provinces (Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia) in the Canadian men’s championship when he plays in the Tim Hortons Brier from March 1-9 at Kamloops, B.C.