Team Gushue

TSN.ca - Curling - Canada’s Sports Leader - Ashley Howard following father’s footsteps

Canadian Press
1/19/2006 1:47:22 PM

THUNDER BAY, Ont. (CP) - There’s another Howard on the Canadian curling horizon.

Ashley Howard, daughter of Olympic-bound Russ Howard, plays second on the New Brunswick team at the Canadian junior curling championship starting Saturday.

When her father’s team won the Olympic curling trials in Halifax on Dec. 11, Ashley and brother Steve tried to get over the boards and onto the playing surface to congratulate Russ.

Steve was nabbed by security, but 16-year-old Ashley made it to her father to give him a hug.

Three weeks later, it was Russ rushing the ice when Ashley’s team, skipped by Mary-Jane McGuire, stole three points in the last two ends against Canadian junior champ Andrea Kelly to win a provincial title.

”When we won, dad was the first over the boards,” Ashley said. ”It’s all that sweeping he’s doing now, he’s in great shape.”

Said Russ: ”I’m pretty fast. There wasn’t any security around but I don’t think they would have stopped me anyway.”

McGuire’ twin sister Megan plays third and Sarah Berthelot throws lead stones on Ashley’s team. New Brunswick opens against Quebec on Saturday.

The M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championship marks Ashley’s national curling debut and Russ plans to be there to watch some of it.

”It’s more nerve-wracking to watch than play, even at the trials,” Russ said. ”Watching is scary. When you compete you have some sort of control over the situation or at least you think you do.”

Russ, who will turn 50 during the Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, next month, plays second for Brad Gushue’s team from St. John’s, N.L.

Gushue brought Russ on board just before the trials and handed the veteran the broom while continuing to throw fourth stones. The move paid off with an Olympic berth.

Steve Howard skipped the Prince Edward Island team to a 6-6 record in the 2005 Canadian junior championship. He plays second for his dad’s Moncton team, which is now looking for a replacement skip for provincial playdowns since Russ booked his ticket to Turin.

Russ is a former Canadian and world champion at skip, but he is as well known for calling his sweepers on with a loud growl that degenerates into a whispy rasp by the end of a tournament.

”I plan to be the only Howard not to lose my voice in a national event,” Ashley said.

The Canadian junior championship features 13 men’s teams and a dozen women’s teams.

The women’s final is Jan. 28 and the men’s championship is Jan. 29.

The men’s and women’s champs represent Canada at the world junior curling championships March 11 to 19 in Jeonju, Korea.

© 2006 Bell Globemedia All Rights Reserved

Russ Howard (Second)

Russ Howard (born: February 19, 1956) is a Canadian curler from Moncton, New Brunswick but originally from Penetanguishene, Ontario. Russ Howard has been to the Brier 13 times (8 as Ontario, 5 as New Brunswick), winning the title twice (both as Ontario).

He is also a 2-time world champion, winning in 1987 and 1993. He has also participated in 2 Canadian Mixed Curling Championships. In 2005, he “skipped” Brad Gushue’s team at the Canadian Olympic Trials, while he played second. Howard, along with Gushue (who throws last rocks), lead Jamie Korab and third Mark Nichols would in the trials, giving them the right to represent Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Howard himself as a skip had been in four previous trials, but had never won to go to the olympics. He works as a Real Estate agent for Re/Max. His brother, Glenn Howard is also a famous curler.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Howard