Subscribe to Curling Scoops

World Champs Headed to Continental Cup

About a month ago, we introduced you to the members of Team World who will play at this year's Continental Cup. The other half of the combatants, Team North America, have now been named as well. And there are very few surprises as to who will try to defend the Continental Cup for the North American side, as the team is studded with World Champions and national champions.

Jennifer Jones and Kevin Martin, both coming off what has probably been their best seasons ever, will make up part of the team. Both Jones and Martin, from Manitoba and Alberta respectively, claimed the world title last spring when Jones defeated China's Bingyu Wang in the gold medal match, and Martin brought down David Murdoch in the gold medal game for his first world title of his career.

Also making the cut were Canada's Stefanie Lawton and Kevin Koe. Both of these teams earned their place on Team North America by winning the Canada Cup during the 2007-08 season.

The final two vacancies on Team North America are reserved for teams from the United States. These last spots will be filled by Debbie McCormick and Craig Brown, who were the womens and mens representatives at the world championships.

It's a bit of a surprise that Glenn Howard, one of the hottest teams in the world right now, had not been added to the team. Team Howard had one of their best season ever this year, with the only glitch being in the Brier final, where Howard came up short against Kevin Martin. That loss was redeemed at the Players' Championship in St. John's, where Howard convincingly defeated Martin in the finals. Regardless, this is still one of the stronger teams North America has sent to the Continental Cup.

But at least there will be one Howard on Team North America. Big brother Russ Howard, the Olympic champion, will be the team captain. Russ Howard has had arguably one of the greatest careers in curling, competing at an incredible thirteen Briers and being a part of Canada's only Olympic gold medal winning mens team.

Team North America has won the Continental Cup three times, and Team World/Europe has won it twice. This year's event will be December 18th to the 21st at the Edgeworth Centre in Camrose, Alberta.

Advertise on Curling Scoops

© Copyright 2008, Scoops Media. Some rights reserved.
To reproduce or distribute, visit: scoopsmedia.icopyright.com