Nedohin battles rink rust

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This article was published 23/01/2011 (5599 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON — Dave Nedohin is a lot of things — an engineer, multiple business owner, husband, father of two young daughters and, according to those in the know, one of the best last-rock throwers in curling.

He’s certainly no fool.

The five-time Alberta provincial, four-time Brier and three-time world curling champion knows more than anyone that his run at another men’s provincial crown — after stepping away from competitive curling — will be a long shot at best. Nedohin realizes, especially after the layoff, that he needs to be much better, since recently reuniting with skip Randy Ferbey, just to qualify for provincials.

The two, along with front end Blayne Iskiw and Dave Harper, struggled early, but eventually earned one of two B berths out of the Edmonton city zone playdowns earlier this month. A late entrant into the event — the team didn’t practise together until the week of the playdowns — Nedohin grappled with regaining his usually fabulous form.

Saturday, Nedohin and Ferbey took the next step at the men’s northern Alberta playdowns, which began Friday in Leduc. They lost the A final to Edmonton’s Tom Appelman Saturday morning but defeated Warren Hassall of Lloydminster 7-6 in 11 ends to win the B final and a provincial berth Saturday night.

Having gone through a delivery change, not to mention equipment alterations — moving from a stabilizing broom to regular brush and donning new shoes and slider — has only added to the challenges for Nedohin.

“Not major things, but when you put them all together it can become major,” he said. “I feel like I’m able to throw it a lot harder and a lot more accurate.”

Middaugh on the mend

TORONTO — Wayne Middaugh was snowboarding with his two young daughters in late December when he lost control and wiped out.

“I looked up to see where the kids were and caught the back edge of the snowboard and fell flat on my back. I put my one hand out to try to catch myself and ended up breaking bones in my left hand and wrist,” said Middaugh, a two-time world curling champion.

The Toronto skip, who is right-handed, will attempt to keep his hopes of competing at the 2011 Tim Hortons Brier alive by winning a last-chance qualifying event in Oshawa, Ont., this weekend. Middaugh’s rink must win the 13-team tournament, which started Friday, in order to advance to next month’s Ontario Tankard playdowns. The provincial champion earns a ticket to the Brier.

“I’m wearing a cast and I really don’t have a lot of strength in my left hand, so I need something to hold for balance. I have this stainless steel thing that’s very easy to hold and it slides well on the ice.

“Do I slide as straight as I normally do? I would say definitely not. I’ve curled one way for over 30 years and now to change it is a little bit difficult.”

Martin saves his skin

RAMA, Ont. — Edmonton’s Kevin Martin barely eked out a victory in a battle of the sexes match with Calgary’s Cheryl Bernard at the TSN Curling Skins Game Saturday night.

Martin won $11,000 to Bernard’s $10,000 to advance to today’s final against Scotland’s David Murdoch.

Murdoch won $14,000 and advanced to the final earlier Saturday by beating world champion Kevin Koe.

Koe and his Edmonton rink were up $2,500-$1,000 on Murdoch through five ends before the Scotsman took control of the match by winning a sixth end worth $6,500. Koe reclaimed the lead, but Murdoch landed two big shots to ensure the victory in the final end.

“I feel a bit like Robin Hood,” said Murdoch. “It was very tough ice out there.”

Koe finished the day with $7,000.

— from the news services