Ed Tait’s Primer The Roar of the Rings

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This article was published 05/12/2009 (6116 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DATE: Dec. 6-13 THE PRIZE: Representing Canada at the XXI Winter Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. in February. THE LOCALE: Rexall Place, Edmonton CAPACITY: 16,839

THE FIELD: eight women, eight men’s teams

THE WOMEN’S FIELD (Listed by seeding)

11Winnipeg

111111THE MEN’S FIELD (Listed by seeding)

11111111THE MANITOBA CREW

A look at the three rinks representing our province at The Roar of the Rings:

Team Jones

St. Vital Curling Club, Winnipeg

SKIP: Jennifer Jones, 35

BORN: Winnipeg

OCCUPATION: Corporate counsel, Wellington West Capital Inc.

CURLING PEDIGREE: Skipped in six Scotties for Manitoba/Team Canada (2002, 2005-09), winning in 2005, 2008 and 2009, skipped in three worlds, winning in 2008, won 2007 Continental Cup, won 2007 Canada Cup, won 1994 Canadian juniors.

THIRD: Cathy Overton-Clapham, 40

BORN: Winnipeg

OCCUPATION: Owner, Flatlanders Flooring

CURLING PEDIGREE: Won four Scotties as third for Manitoba/Team Canada including three times with Jones (2005, 2008, 2009) also won in 1995 as third for Connie Laliberte, won worlds with Jones in 2008 and Continental Cup in 2007, won Canadian juniors as skip in 1989 and bronze at 1990 world juniors.

SECOND: Jill Officer, 34

BORN: Winnipeg

OCCUPATION: Community ambassador, RBC

CURLING PEDIGREE: Played with Jones for all major accomplishments since 1994.

LEAD: Dawn Askin, 29

BORN: Ottawa

OCCUPATION: Case officer, Public Works & Government Services Canada.

CURLING PEDIGREE: Played lead for Jones for all major accomplishments since 2007.

ALTERNATE: Jennifer Clark-Rouire

HOW THEY GOT TO EDMONTON: Pre-qualified by winning the 2007 Canada Cup, 2007 Players’ Championship and 2008 Scotties.

Team Stoughton

Charleswood Curling Club, Winnipeg

SKIP: Jeff Stoughton, 46

BORN: Winnipeg

OCCUPATION: Co-ordinator, financial business systems (Air Canada)

CURLING PEDIGREE: Skipped Manitoba at seven Briers, winning twice in 1996 and 1999 and also won the world championship in 1996; skipped at 1997, 2001 and 2005 Canadian curling trials, finishing second in 2005; skipped Manitoba at four Canadian mixed championships, winning twice in 1988 and 1991.

THIRD: Kevin Park, 45

BORN: Edmonton

OCCUPATION: Database manager (Delvi Data)

CURLING PEDIGREE: Played third for Alberta skip Kevin Martin at the 1991, 1992 and 1995 Briers, winning in 1991, also finished second with Martin at 1991 worlds and represented Canada with Martin at the 1992 Olympic Winter Games; played third for Stoughton at 2009 Brier (runner-up); skipped at the 1997 and 2001 Canadian curling trials.

SECOND: Rob Fowler, 34

BORN: Brandon

OCCUPATION: Car dealer (Fowler Motors)

CURLING PEDIGREE: Played second for Stoughton at 2007 and 2009 Briers; skipped Manitoba at 1998 Canadian mixed and played second in five Canada Cups, for skip Kerry Burtnyk in 2004 and 2005 and for Stoughton in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

LEAD: Steve Gould, 37

BORN: Winnipeg

OCCUPATION: Business owner (Gould and Sons Roofing)

CURLING PEDIGREE: Played lead for Stoughton at 1996, 2006, 2007 and 2009 Briers and 1996, 1997 worlds and 1997 and 2005 Canadian curling trials; alternate for Stoughton at 1999 Brier and worlds.

ALTERNATE: Randy Dutiaume

COACH: Norm Gould

HOW THEY MADE IT TO EDMONTON: Won the A-event qualifier at the pre-trials in Prince George, B.C.

Team Gunnlaugson

Beausejour Curling Club, Beausejour

SKIP: Jason Gunnlaugson, 25

BORN: Winnipeg

OCCUPATION: Poker player

CURLING PEDIGREE: Won the Pre-trials C qualifier in Prince George, B.C.

THIRD: Justin Richter, 29

BORN: Beausejour

OCCUPATION: Managing partner (Sunova Credit Union)

CURLING PEDIGREE: Played third for Gunnlaugson at the Pre-trials C qualifier.

SECOND: Braden Zawada, 21

BORN: Oakbank

OCCUPATION: Anthropology student (University of Manitoba)

CURLING PEDIGREE: Just completed his final year of junior eligibility; played second for Gunnlaugson at the Pre-trials C qualifier.

LEAD: Tyler Forrest, 25

BORN: Dugald

OCCUPATION: Office manager/safety co-ordinator

CURLING PEDIGREE: Competed at the 2003 world juniors; played lead for Gunnlaugson at the Pre-trials C qualifier.

ALTERNATE: Ted Appelman

COACH: Calvin Edie

HOW THEY MADE IT TO EDMONTON: Won the C-event qualifier at the Pre-trials in Prince George, B.C. (The rink used to curl under skip Daley Peters and Reid Carruthers, thus built up enough Canadian Team Ranking System points to qualify for Prince George.)

THE PICKS

We asked curling afficionados in the media for their picks for the Roar of the Rings, including a men’s and women’s champ and a darkhorse from each field — although, as one succinctly put it, ‘in this field there is no darkhorse.’

The ‘Experts’ Women’s winner Women’s dark horse Men’s winner Men’s dark horse

Mario Annicchiarico, Edmonton Journal Stefanie Lawton Stefanie Lawton Glenn Howard Jeff Stoughton

Al Cameron, Calgary Herald Jennifer Jones Cheryl Bernard Kevin Koe Pat Simmons

Luke Coley, CurlTV Stefanie Lawton Kelly Scott Glenn Howard Pat Simmons

Resby Coutts, thecurler.com Kelly Scott Crystal Webster Jeff Stoughton Pat Simmons

Clayton Dreger, Golden West Radio Jennifer Jones Cheryl Bernard Glenn Howard Wayne Middaugh

Dean Gemmell, The Curling Show Stefanie Lawton Krista McCarville Kevin Martin Wayne Middaugh

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press Jennifer Jones Cheryl Bernard Glenn Howard Randy Ferbey

Con Griwkowsky, Edmonton Sun Jennifer Jones Stefanie Lawton Glenn Howard Jason Gunnlaugson

Bob Irving, CJOB Jennifer Jones Crystal Webster Jeff Stoughton Jason Gunnlaugson

Terry Jones, Edmonton Sun Cheryl Bernard Krista McCarville Kevin Martin Jason Gunnlaugson

Brian McAndrew, Toronto Star Jennifer Jones Krista McCarville Glenn Howard Wayne Middaugh

Murray McCormick, Regina Leader-Post Jennifer Jones Amber Holland Kevin Martin Kevin Koe

Bob Picken, Legend Jennifer Jones Stefanie Lawton Glenn Howard Kevin Koe

Ed Tait, Free Press Jennifer Jones Amber Holland Kevin Martin Jeff Stoughton

Ray Turnbull, TSN Jennifer Jones Krista McCarville Glenn Howard Jeff Stoughton

Randy Turner, Free Press Jennifer Jones Kelly Scott Kevin Martin Jeff Stoughton

Bob Weeks, Globe and Mail Jennifer Jones Krista McCarville Glenn Howard Wayne Middaugh

Paul Wiecek, Free Press Jennifer Jones Stefanie Lawton Kevin Martin Jeff Stoughton

Larry Wood, Morning Roar Jennifer Jones Crystal Webster Kevin Martin Kevin Koe

TSN/TSN2’s broadcast schedule for the ROAR OF THE RINGS:

SUNDAY, DEC. 6

Draw No. 1 at 2 p.m. on TSN

Draw No. 2 at 7 p.m. on TSN2

MONDAY, DEC. 7

Draw No. 3 at 9:30 a.m. on TSN

Draw No. 4 at 2 p.m. on TSN

Draw No. 5 at 7 p.m. on TSN2

TUESDAY, DEC. 8

Draw No. 6 at 9:30 a.m. on TSN

Draw No. 7 at 2 p.m. on TSN

Draw No. 8 at 7 p.m. on TSN

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9

Draw No. 9 at 9:30 a.m. on TSN

Draw No. 10 at 2 p.m. on TSN

Draw No. 11 at 8:30 p.m. on TSN

THURSDAY, DEC. 10

Draw No. 12 at 9:30 a.m. on TSN

Draw No. 13 at 2 p.m. on TSN

Draw No. 14 at 7 p.m. on TSN

FRIDAY, DEC. 11

Women’s Semifinals at 7 p.m. on TSN

SATURDAY, DEC. 12

Men’s Semifinals at 2 p.m. on TSN

TIM HORTONS ROAR OF THE RINGS CHAMPIONSHIP SPECIAL at 6:30 p.m. on TSN

Women’s Final at 7 p.m. on TSN

SUNDAY, DEC. 13

TIM HORTONS ROAR OF THE RINGS CHAMPIONSHIP SPECIAL at 1:30 p.m. ET on TSN

Men’s Final at 2 p.m. ET on TSN