Howard Still Perfect
December 9, 2009
- Article by Brad Norman
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Glenn Howard leads the men so far at this year's Roar of the Rings. Howard's Ontario rink is at the top of the pack after four games with a perfect 4-0 record. Two teams, however, are without wins and have their Olympic dreams come to an end.
The Howard rink was a heavy favorite at this event, and so far they haven't disappointed. The continued their winning streak Tuesday evening with a 7-5 win over Pat Simmons. This was Howard fourth consecutive win at the Olympic trials. With only three games left to go, Howard is close to securing himself a playoff berth.
Alberta's big three—Kevin Martin, Kevin Koe, and Randy Ferbey—are all dead-locked in second place. These three teams all hold 3-1 records and are front runners in the hunt for those three playoff spots.
Two teams, however, are officially out of the running. Rookie Jason Gunnlaugson and veteran Wayne Middaugh have both suffer four losses at the trials. This is too man, and it is now mathematically impossible for either to qualify for the playoffs. For Gunnlaugson, this only means his Olympic dreams will have to be put on hold for another four years. They were a team that wasn't even expected to play in this event, so by taking this experience with them into the future, we can count on seeing them again in 2013.
On the women's side of things, Cheryl Bernard is the only team with a perfect record. There are no women's team who are winless at this point, though Amber Holland, Crystal Webster and Kelly Scott are all on the ropes, with 1-3 records. Though it is still mathematically possible for them to squeek into the playoffs, time is running out.
The Roar of the Ring action continues on Thursday. Check back at Curling Scoops often for updates throughout the event!
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