Brier glory elusive

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This article was published 12/03/2010 (5890 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HALIFAX — Jeff Stoughton will have some decisions to make in the next little while and what path he chooses will play a ma­jor role in the future of Manitoba’s curling land­scape.

Stoughton and his Team Manitoba saw a frus­trating Brier come to an end on Thursday, fin­ishing with a 7-4 mark and out of the playoffs.

A pair of wins on Thursday, 9-3 over Nova Scotia and 7-6 over Saskatchewan, gave Mani­toba a little hope heading into the final draw but an easy win for Newfoundland over Quebec ended those chances.

Ontario, Alberta, Northern Ontario and New­foundland have advanced to the Page playoff beginning tonight.

"We did it to ourselves so we deserve what we get. We didn’t win enough games. You lose four and it’s hard to get in," said Stoughton.

After opening with a 5-1 mark, Manitoba lost three straight to Alberta, Newfoundland and Ontario, laying bare deficiencies in their game. The foursome of Stoughton, third Kevin Park, second Rob Fowler and lead Steve Gould were good enough to win their province but once on the big stage with other elite teams, were shown to be just an average club.

"Our expectations were a lot higher. These things happen. This week didn’t go as we ex­pected," said Stoughton. "You just don’t know how it happens. Maybe it’s not enough practice or throwing enough rocks. That’s the disappoint­ing part, that we didn’t show up against the bet­ter teams here."

Stoughton last won at the Brier in 1999 but is still the dominant skip in Manitoba. Should he want to continue, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest he could win a record ninth Manitoba title and get right back to the Brier next year.

But it’s doubtful Stoughton will want to return with the same club after watching them crumble at the national championship.

Age will also be a factor as the 46-year-old Stoughton makes his plans for the future. The curling cycle for elite teams is now a four-year commitment as players want to align them­selves with a group and then chase an Olympic berth.

"It’s a tough decision to make. It’s something I haven’t decided yet. Whether I’m going to play to get to the Olympics or just play a couple of years and have some fun and compete on the circuit," said Stoughton. "It’s my decision. If I’m going to curl I’m going to get players, if I don’t want to curl, who cares? I’ve been given the green light by my wife, which was very nice. It’s my decision."

Park lives in Edmonton and travels to join the three Manitobans for events and it’s beginning to look like the association will end after this season.

"We haven’t thought about it. Kevin was in for one reason and that was to get us to the Olym­pics and that didn’t happen. Once that was done, we committed to trying to get to the Brier and that was great," said Stoughton. "The gig was to get to the Olympics and he knows that better than anyone else."

Park was non-committal when asked this week about his future with the Manitobans.

"We haven’t sat down and discussed it because we have the Players’ Championship coming up, then we’ll sit down and discuss with these guys where they’re at and where I’m at," said Park earlier in the week.

Stoughton, should he decide to regroup and put together another team for a run at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, likely has a number of options. Lead Steve Gould will almost certain­ly be part of any team Stoughton puts together and second Rob Fowler will also be given strong consideration.

If Stoughton is just in need of a third, he could turn the clock back and try to grab his old team­mate Jon Mead, who curled this season with Wayne Middaugh in Ontario. Up and comers Jason Gunnlaughson and Reid Carruthers are both candidates.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca