As 3-Man Howard Team Secures Brier Berth, Key Decision Looms Ahead Of Nationals | CBC Sports

After securing a provincial title with a three-man lineup, the members of Team Glenn Howard will be Regina-bound in about a month to play in the Montana’s Brier.

Ontario rink could add 4th player or stick to formula with Scott Howard skipping

Gregory Strong · The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jan 29, 2024 4:24 PM EST | Last Updated: January 29

Glenn Howard, left, and Scott Howard, right, qualified for the Brier with a three-man rink after the former suffered a knee injury. Now, they must decide if they want to add a fourth player ahead of nationals. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)After securing a provincial title with a three-man lineup, the members of Team Glenn Howard will be Regina-bound in about a month to play in the Montana’s Brier.

What remains uncertain is whether the short-handed crew will add a player — and if so, who — for the Canadian men’s curling championship.

Howard’s status remains uncertain due to lingering pain in his surgically repaired left knee. Son Scott Howard skipped the team to victory at last week’s Ontario playdowns and will likely throw last stone again at the March 1-10 nationals at Brandt Centre.

The elder Howard served as a coach last week in the London, Ont., suburb of Dorchester. He hasn’t played a competitive game in almost two months and remains out indefinitely.

Scott ran the table in his place and made a draw to the button for an 8-7 extra-end win over Jayden King in the final.

“The best part is I felt so confident,” Scott said Monday. “I felt comfortable actually the whole week skipping and having that last rock.”

Possible additionsThe younger Howard usually plays third but has skipped on occasion over the years. He also guided the team to victory at a bonspiel last month in Penticton, B.C., when Glenn’s knee “seized up” midway through the event.

The Penetanguishene, Ont.,-based side, which also includes lead Tim March and second David Mathers, does not use a regular fifth player. Adam Spencer and Wayne Middaugh have served as team alternates on occasion in the past.

If the team decides to add a player, it can pick up anyone who played in the Ontario championship or any free agent who hasn’t competed in another provincial/territorial playdown this season, a Curling Canada spokesperson said in an email.

Three-man squads are used infrequently in team curling but sometimes can be quite effective.

One of the more notable examples came in 2022 when Brad Gushue won the Brier without vice Mark Nichols, who missed the final weekend due to a positive COVID-19 test.

WATCH | That Curling Show peeks into future of Pan Continentals:

Curlers ready for Lacombe, Alta., to ‘put on a show’ at Pan Continental Curling ChampionshipsCurlers Darren Moulding, Chelsea Carey and Colin Hodgson are behind the successful bid for Lacombe, Alta. to host the 2024 Pan Continental Curling Championships. They plan to incorporate an athlete-first approach into every element of the event.

However, the Brier is a 10-day competition from start to finish. The physical toll on a short-handed squad would be more significant than at a shorter event like a provincial playdown or a Grand Slam.

Last week, March threw the first three rocks of each end for the team before sweeping the next five. His body “took a pretty big beating,” Scott said, adding that physiotherapy was needed after every game.

“It’s not like you get a break here or there being the opposite-side sweeper,” Scott said. “He’s sweeping hard every single rock … throughout 10 ends, it’s a daunting task for sure.”

Scotties draw releasedDefending champion Brad Gushue of St. John’s, N.L., Calgary’s Brendan Bottcher and Winnipeg’s Matt Dunstone are some of the Brier headliners. The full 18-team field will be finalized Feb. 11.

Also Monday, Curling Canada released the draw for the Feb. 16-25 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Calgary.

Canada skip Kerri Einarson, who’s aiming to win a record fifth straight Hearts crown, will open against Quebec’s Laurie St-Georges at the WinSport Event Centre.

Winnipeg’s Kate Cameron and Corryn Brown of Kamloops, B.C., rounded out the 18-team field based on their positions in the Canadian rankings.

Winnipeg’s Jolene Campbell missed the cutline by just 1.25 ranking points.

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