By: Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/11/2021 (185 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
SASKATOON — It was the only request for his services John Morris was willing to consider.
When his old friend and former teammate, Kevin Koe, called to recruit him 20 months ago, Morris didn’t need much convincing.
Michael Burns / curling canada
Second John Morris jumped at the chance to rejoin former skip Kevin Koe.
"I played with him in the past. I think it’s very unfortunate that he didn’t win a medal at the (2018) Olympics, because (Koe) deserved that," Morris said Monday afternoon, at the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials. "I know that they’re hungry for that, and that’s why I felt it was a good fit. So, that would probably have been the only call I’d have taken."
While Koe’s crew returned from the Winter Games in Pyeongchang with nothing to show for its effort, Morris captured gold with Kaitlyn Lawes of Winnipeg in mixed doubles curling.
The Canmore, Alta., firefighter figured that discipline was his future in the game, while focusing on his young family away from the rink. But the two-time Olympic champion, three-time Brier champion and 2009 world titleist had an immediate change of heart when Koe made it clear after the 2020 Brier in Kingston he was out for redemption with a slightly modified lineup.
Colton Flasch was out at second. Morris was in — and he’s clearly all in.
"I’m here to help Kevin Koe win a gold medal at the Olympics, that’s my role," said Morris, who tosses second stones but plots strategy with Koe and holds the broom when his skip delivers the good. "I’ve got a different role than I’ve had with teams in the past and I love this role, it’s a new challenge for me.
"There’s nothing more that I’d like to see in my life than seeing Kevin Koe standing on top of the podium winning the gold medal because he deserves it. He’s put a lot of time into the game, he’s a wonderful human being and a great leader, and I’ll give him everything I’ve got."
At 42, the fiery competitor — who was born in the Manitoba capital — is doing that and more after three draws at SaskTel Centre, registering a 92 per cent shooting efficiency to lead all players at the second position. Team Koe, with B.J. Neufeld of Winnipeg at third and Ben Hiebert tossing lead stones, raised its record to 2-1 after a convincing 10-3 in eight ends victory over Matt Dunstone’s Regina squad.
Morris tossed 16 rocks and earned 62 of a possible 64 points from Curling Canada scorers in the win over Dunstone, now 0-3 and all but done here, shy of divine intervention.
Koe said his list of replacements for Flasch consisted of one name.
"When John and I first played together, it was a long time ago. We were different people, the game was a little different. But his results speak for themselves," said Koe.
The Calgarian played third for Morris when the latter skipped a team from 2003 and 2006. Koe has seized four Canadian men’s championships and two world titles in the 14 years that preceded their reunion.
"We’ve been friends ever since we played together, so it was an easy fit," added Koe. "He brings good things to our team, the experience, the intensity and, obviously, he’s one of the better shot-makers."
Morris’ curling resume is nothing short of remarkable, however, the highlights are easy to spot. Playing for Kevin Martin, he won Olympic gold in 2010 in Vancouver and then stood atop the podium beside Lawes.
The father of two youngsters doesn’t reminisce much these days.
"Those are in the past and I’ve very proud of them and I’m sure that I’ll feel good about showing my kids and grandkids that when they can understand what that was," he said. "But I’m just focused on this event and helping my teammates win and battling as hard as I can, because that’s what it takes to win the Trials.
"You can’t let up an inch, you can’t take an end off. We’re in a good position, 2-1, we’ve got a day off and we’re probably right where we wanted to be at the start of the ‘spiel, right in the thick of things and just gotta ramp it up a bit."
This is his sixth appearance at the Trials, considered Canada’s toughest bonspiel, and he’s tied for most with a couple of brilliant Ontario players, Brent Laing and Glenn Howard.
"This field is always the toughest. From a Canadian standpoint, you’ve got really hard teams and it’s the hardest event to win in the world," said Morris. "You’re seeing it here, you’re seeing people that have trouble dealing with the pressure. It takes experience, it takes preparation, it takes discipline and not everyone has that, and I think you see maybe a few more misses than you’d see in a typical bonspiel.
"I love playing in this event, I love major events. It’s what gets me going at this stage in my career, it’s nice to have that extra motivation. You kind of need that, and this is definitely a motivating event. I love playing and I can’t wait to get out there and play the next game. I have three teammates who feel the same, and that’s why we want the big games, we want to be in a good position for the playoffs at the end of the week and then let’s give ‘er."
Morris totally gets this will likely be his last.
"It’s lot of fun ...just trying to take it all in and play with everything I’ve got because I know it’s my last one and I don’t want to leave anything out there," he said.
The squad from Calgary’s Glencoe Club has a bye in Tuesday’s only men’s draw.
Morris hit the karaoke stage a few times during the 2020 Brier in Kingston, Ont., and was thinking of ways to spend his entertainment dollar on the eve of a day off.
"We’ve been hitting some good restaurants in town. I would like to (karaoke)," he said, with a laugh. "I don’t like sitting in my room twiddling my thumbs. That’s boring and that’s not why I curl."
jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @WFPJasonBell
Jason Bell
Sports editor
Jason Bell wanted to be a lawyer when he was a kid. The movie The Paper Chase got him hooked on the idea of law school and, possibly, falling in love with someone exactly like Lindsay Wagner (before she went all bionic).
