Olympic trials, tribulations continue for Stoughton

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/12/2009 (6073 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON — Jeff Stoughton grinned. He didn’t curse — at least, not publicly — and he didn’t shed a single tear.

No, when his Olympic dream ended for the fourth time in Saturday’s 11-6 loss to Glenn Howard in the semifinal of The Roar of the Rings, the veteran Charleswood skip left the ice, smiled to those who offered condolences and spoke graciously in defeat to a large media throng gathered in front of him.

And, as always, he was candid and upfront, honest and forthcoming. An example: Asked what he would take away from an event like this — the inquisitor likely thought he’d get some pap answer about memories, experiences and blah, blah, blah — Stoughton said:

“That’s an interesting question. I would probably take nothing away from this event because we didn’t win. We’ve lost in finals, we’ve been to Briers… there’s nothing here that we’re learning other than you have to play your best and we didn’t play our best today. There’s really nothing I can take away from here other than you go out and practise more and be better.”

And, truthfully, that’s likely the sentiment of every curler that leaves Edmonton without a Team Canada jacket on their back and a coveted ticket to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver this February. This is an event, after all, that is nothing like a Scotties or a Brier. It’s an intense grind to get to the Roar of the Rings, it’s an intense grind to win at the Roar of the Rings and when it’s all said and done those who don’t win are so emotionally and physically drained they feel like they’ve been dragged through a knothole backwards.

But for Stoughton — supported by third Kevin Park, second Rob Fowler and lead Steve Gould — these Trials had a different feel than his three previous trips. At the trials in Brandon in 1997 he was one year removed from being crowned World Champion in 1996. In 2001 in Regina he was 5-4 in the round-robin and in 2005 in Halifax he lost in the final to eventual gold-medal winner Brad Gushue.

The sting of losing still hurts, but…

“I just think there are more things in perspective after four years,” said Stoughton. “It’s not the end of the world. Tomorrow’s another day — I know that’s a bad quote — but back in ’05 we put so much more work and effort into it and we were expecting to win. That’s why it was more of a disappointment.

“Don’t get me wrong, we put a ton of work and effort into this. Our expectations were that we could win this thing, but it was not out of necessity.”

And so the obvious question is, now what for Stoughton? It’s a question that was asked of every team here — including Jennifer Jones — but few gave any enlightening answers.

Stoughton said his Charleswood squad will now focus on two Slam events in January — including the BDO Classic in Winnipeg — and on the provincial championships and, possibly, the Brier in Halifax in March.

Does he have another Trials in him? Well, he is 46 but is in tremendous physical condition and remains one of the game’s best shot-makers. What his team might look like in four years is an entirely different question, however. Third Kevin Park is based in Edmonton and Brandon, and second Rob Fowler also calls the Wheat City home.

“I haven’t thought about it, seriously,” said Stoughton. “We’ll enjoy the two days off we get at Christmas and after that try and play well in the Slams and try to get to Halifax.”

ed.tait@freepress.mb.ca