Fowler lead to Stoughton: I’m happy where I’m at

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This article was published 12/03/2012 (5271 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SASKATOON — Word out of the Jeff Stoughton camp over the weekend was they have now put together some names on a list and hope to begin scheduling interviews soon, as the remaining team members begin in earnest their search for a replacement for former longtime lead Steve Gould, who was sacked earlier this month.

One player they won’t be hiring, however, is Derek Samagalski. Samagalski had an outstanding week here as lead for Manitoba’s Rob Fowler, shooting 90 per cent for the week and earning first-team all-star honours at the Brier awards banquet Sunday.

Samagalski is a former teammate of current Stoughton second Reid Carruthers and there’s been speculation Stoughton might try to make him an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Not going to happen, Samagalski said here over the weekend, even if the offer does come. “I have a pretty good team on my hands right now,” said Samagalski. “That’s the least thing on my mind right now. I’m not even thinking about that. I’m very happy with the guys I got right now and I wouldn’t trade them in for the world.”

Fowler said Sunday he wouldn’t be surprised if Stoughton tried to poach his lead, but he said Samagalski has assured him he isn’t interested in switching allegiances.

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THE two teams weren’t yet on the ice for the Brier final last night and already Manitoba’s Chelsea Carey had won a berth into next year’s Manitoba women’s provincials.

Carey — the runner-up in the last two Manitoba women’s curling championship finals — won the Scotties berth bonspiel over the weekend, defeating Barb Spencer’s Fort Rouge foursome 9-7 in Sunday afternoon’s final at Carberry Curling Club.

With the victory, Carey will join defending Manitoba champion Jennifer Jones at the 2013 Manitoba Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Stonewall.

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NOLAN Thiessen had some great years curling with Mike McEwen. But he’s had even better years since.

A native of Pilot Mound, Thiessen won a Manitoba junior championship with McEwen in 2001 and then a World Universiade with McEwen in 2003.

But it wasn’t until 2006 when Thiessen moved to Alberta to curl, ultimately with Kevin Koe, that he really began to have success. A 2008 Canada Cup victory with Koe was followed with a Brier and world championship in 2010.

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Another run to the final with Koe at the 2012 Tim Hortons Brier has left no doubt about the wisdom of Thiessen’s move to Alberta, particularly as it has overlapped the recent tortured failures of McEwen to find a way to get out of Manitoba.

McEwen has lost the last three finals in a row of the Manitoba men’s curling championship and Thiessen said last week he feels the pain of his former skip.

“I’ve been real good friends with Mike forever,” said Thiessen. “I’ve kept in touch with those guys and I’m pulling for them…

“I told them that they’re a great team. They handed us our lunch a lot this winter. As soon as they get out of the province, they’re going to come here (to the Brier) and light it up. It’s not for a lack of talent or lack of effort. It’s just that you get in these one-game playoffs and anything can happen.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca