OLD WORLD CHAMPS GATHER FOR MONCTON OPENINGOtto Danieli, Wes, Sam and Arnold Richardson, Eigil Ramsfjell, Ron Northcott, David Smith, Peja Lindholm, Ernie Richardson, Randy Ferbey, Russ Howard

OUR PICKS

Saville Sports Centre (Edmonton)Skip: Kevin Martin Third: John MorrisSecond: Marc Kennedy Lead: Ben HebertThe skinny: On paper, this should be a cakewalk, based on Martin’srecent exploits at the Brier and Canada Cup. But the Worlds presents adifferent kind of pressure, and Martin knows all about that, too. Still, inthe end, this team should prevail because of the shotmaking power-house it is . . . albeit without an undefeated record.

1. CANADAKEVIN MARTIN

Lockerbie Curling Club (Lockerbie)Skip: David Murdoch Third: Ewan MacDonaldSecond: Peter Smith Lead: Euan ByersThe skinny: UK Sports has installed Murdoch and Byers as profes-sional curlers. As such, they provide the bookends for a well-honedlineup that won the Euros the last two years running and was lastyear’s Worlds finalist at Grand Forks. Based on those results, nothingmuch seems to have changed in the global order of things.

2. SCOTLANDDAVID MURDOCH

Snaroen Curling Club (Oslo)Skip: Thomas Ulsrud Third: Torger NergardSecond: Christoffer Svae Lead: Havard Vad PeterssonThe skinny: Ulsrud has improved, slowly but steadily, since taking overthe Norwegian champion’s mantle from veteran Pal Trulsen. But thereremains an element of hot-and-cold with this unit. It can be red-hotone game, mediocre the next. And it has yet to consistently put it alltogether in any international competition that leads to a gold medal.

3. NORWAYTHOMAS ULSRUD

Basel-Regio Curling Club (Basel)Skip: Ralph Stoeckli Third: Jan HauserSecond: Markus Eggler Lead: Simon StrubinThe skinny: Great things have been predicted for Stoeckli since his worldjunior days but he’s been close only once at the men’s level, in 2003 atWinnipeg. Now, with a new semi-experienced lineup, national funding andthe coaching assistance of the seemingly indefatiguable Russ Howard, thiscould be Stoeckli’s year to shine. But he’ll need a quick start out of the gate.

4. SWITZERLANDRALPH STOECKLI

Playoff bound . . . CHINA — Fengchun Wang upset Canada

last year and their national momentum could

carry the Harbin boys up the ladder toward

the top. But they haven’t the luxury of the

experience afforded the women’s team.

They still may be two or three years away.

GERMANY — Veteran Andy Kapp has fin-

ished everywhere from No. 2 to No. 10 and

is playing in his 12th Worlds. The tipoff on

how he’ll finish should be evident early on.

His Bavarians need to get on a roll and

intimidate some of their European foes.

FRANCE — Thomas Dufour made a commit-

ment at mid-decade to steadily improve his

French side. He can be a sometimes spec-

tacular shotmaker but, at other times, the

director of a fairly ordinary group. Once

again, a steaming roll is required and

there’s some doubt if this team is up to it.

DENMARK — Veteran Ulrik Schmidt and

younger shooter Johnny Frederiksen have

combined a la Ferbey-Nedohin in hopes of a

breakthrough and a shot at qualifying for the

Vancouver Olympics. A mid-pack finish

here, though, would be credible.

FINLAND— The remains of Markku

Uusipaavalniemi’s bunch may suffer without

M15 at the helm. This team, in fact, should

continue to struggle without the heavy

artillery provided by their leader, one of the

few guys on the planet who can match

Kevin Martin for big weight.

U.S.A. — Youth has prevailed in Yankland

with former lead John Shuster stepping up

to the teehead to guide a gang of raw rook-

ies from Minnesota’s Iron Range country.

This, definitely, is one horse that will need a

race or two at the world level. But, also def-

initely, it will spoil the race for at least an

opponent or two.

CZECH REPUBLIC — Only the second world

appearance for the Czechs, but they proved

a surprise with two wins in their debut year.

JAPAN — Rookies galore and a certain

candidate for deer-in-the-headlights hon-

ours in this crowd. Question is, who will

they beat?

Don’t overlook . . .

Spoilers at best . . .

Enjoy the visit

Saturday, April 4 2009 2

Saturday, April 4, 2009 3

Runaway trainrolls into town

Kevin Martin? Undefeated throughtwo Briers? The favourite at thisFord Worlds which start today at the

Coliseum?Like, no kidding Kornelius!With apologies to the remainder of this

world men’s championship field, the Martinjuggernaut from Edmonton has just toomuch going for it to be rated anywhere butfront-of-the-pack.

What’s that? You want specifics?This fearsome combination stretched its

Brier winning streak to a record andunheard-of 26 games last month. The team’ssuperiority bordered on the incredible.

Operating under a new pre-game button-draw system of deciding the possession ofhammer in the first end, Martin won it in allof his 13 games, outdrawing every oppo-nent. Yet he required the hammer at the fin-ish to win only three of the 13. With hisfourth Brier title, Martin moved into elitecompany that includes Ernie, Arnold andGarnet Richardson of Regina andEdmonton rivals Dave Nedohin, ScottPfeifer and Marcel Rocque.

The team became the sixth in Brier histo-ry to win back-to-back, but the first-ever towin back-to-back with undefeated records.

In addition, the 42-year-old Martinbecame the 10th skip to repeat as Brierchampion.

By LARRY WOODEye Opener Editor

Canada’s Kevin Martin has his sights set on another world curling title.

PLEASE SEE WORLDS P5

Martin will be hard to stop at Worlds

Saturday, April 4, 2009 4

WorldsFrom Page 3

The last team to win back-to-back worldmen’s titles was that of Martin’s chiefprovincial adversary Randy Ferbey in 2002and 2003.

The Ferbey double was the first since DonDuguid of Winnipeg won back-to-back in1970 and 1971, back when the champi-onship curling game was 12 ends in dura-tion.

Ron Northcott of Calgary won two in arow the previous two years. And the ReginaRichardson posted a double-double —1959-1960 and 1962-1963.

Something else never before achieved atwhich the Martin crew will take dead aim.No team ever has gone undefeated throughboth the Brier and Worlds in the same win-ter.

“Things like undefeated records and stuffare nice after the fact,” says vice-skip JohnMorris.

“But we don’t think that way going in.”Adds Martin:“We don’t worry about others teams at all.

We totally worry about our own mechanics.One game at a time. And there seems to belots of movement in the ice here so that’sgood. There’s always a worry if it’s straightice. And this is not. So all we worry aboutnow is releasing it clean and throwing highnumbers.

“You know that’s what I think about allthe time. It’s all about the numbers. Wethrow the nineties we’ll have a chance.”

Martin has been a numbers guy for eons.“Numbers have been the whole thing for

me since 1990, 91,” he admits. “I read thebusiness pages, it’s all about numbers.Numbers are what the whole world revolvesaround. It’s just the way I think. But ifyou’ve looked at the stats for a million yearson the Briers I’ll bet you’ve seldom seen a

team at 89 in seventh place. You don’t at theCanada Cup, the Grand Slams, anywhereyou play. If you’re at 89-90-91, you’ll bedoing fine.”

Martin’s Team Canada, which alsoincludes second Marc Kennedy and leadBen Hebert, kicks off defence of its plane-tary title tonight (7:30) against the rookieJapanese skipped by Yusuke Morozumi ofKaruizawa.

A much younger Martin finished secondto Scotland's David Smith in 1991 atWinnipeg and wound up fourth at Berne,Switzerland in 1997. Last year at GrandForks, N.D., this current batting order ran upa 10-1 round-robin record, losing only toChina’s Fenchung Wang (6-5). Canada thenlost the Page One-Two playoff game 7-6 toScotland’s David Murdoch before defeatingNorway’s Thomas Ulsrud 5-4 in the semi-final, and doubling Murdoch 6-3 in the final.

The team took five days off following agruelling 21-games-in-16 days schedule thatincluded a Canada Cup win in Yorktonimmediately following the Brier.

“I was more than a little mentally tiredmentally at Yorkton . . . and not just at theend of it,” Martin admitted. “That was atough grind, particularly for me.

“I took five days off after that. I didn’tthrow a rock. I didn’t go to the gym. I onlywent to work for a couple hours a day.

“We all took a little time off, and thenstarting last Saturday morning, we all gotback at it with Jules (coach Owchar).

“We worked on straight mechanics forfour days. All slide mechanics, releasemechanics, and tons of sweeping. It was justa matter of maintaining our level.

“We’ll need that because the Worlds isgetting tougher every year. More and morecountries look good. It used to be, you neverheard of any of these teams. Now they’recome over to Canada and playing all thetime and getting better all the time.”

An indication of just how much better willbe on display over the next nine days on theColiseum ice lanes.

Well done, Moncton! Thoseopening ceremonies a blast

Like, wow?

How was that for an opening act?

Rarely if ever has a Ford World Curling

Championship been afforded a kickoff like

the one Monctonians presented Friday

night at the Coliseum.

A rousing extravaganza. In front of

close to 6,000 souls.

By comparison, the opening ceremonies

at last month’s World women’s champi-

onship at Gangneung, Korea, was a mere

10-minute production.

But this one had everything. Well,

almost everything. Former champions,

stretching all the way back to the very

start of the event — Regina’s Richardsons,

circa 1959-60, 1962-63. Yep, all four of

them — Ernie, Arnie, Sam and Wes.

There was Randy Ferbey, Peja Lindholm,

Ron Northcott, Russ Howard, Eigil Ramsfjell,

Otto Danieli, to name the principals.

There was all manner of musical pre-

sentations— men’s, women’s, youth and

children’s choral and orchestral, individual

performance, dancing, fiddling, pipes and

drums, you name it.

The show went off without a hitch. The

speeches were short. The historical refer-

ences pointed and concise.

All in all, an effort worthy of applause

Lots of it.

Well done, Moncton.

Team

ChinaHarbin CCHarbin

Skip — Fengchun Wang 27-2)3rd — Rui Liu (27-2)2nd— Xiaoming Xu (24-2)Ld — Jialiang Zang (21-2)Alt — Lu’an Chen (21-0)Coach — Daniel Rafael (age47)Last year’s record: FengchunWang.7-6, finished fourth

4

Team

U.S.A.Duluth CC

Duluth, Minn.Skip — John Shuster (27-4)3rd — Jason Smith (25-1)2nd— Jeff Isaacson (25-1)Ld — John Benton (39-1)Alt — Chris Plys (21-0)Coach — Brian Simonson(age 56)Last year’s record: CraigBrown, Madison, Wis., 5-6,finished seventh.

3

Team

CanadaSaville Sports Centre

EdmontonSkip — Kevin Martin (42-4)3rd — John Morris (30-2)2nd— Marc Kennedy (27-2)Ld — Ben Hebert (26-2)Alt — Terry Meek (46-0)Coach — Jules Owchar (age64).Last year’s record: KevinMartin, Edmonton, 12-2, fin-ished first.

6Team

Czech Rep.CC BrnoBrno

Skip — Jiri Snitil (34-2)3rd — Martin Snitil (30-2)2nd— Jindrich Kitzberger(27-2)Ld — Karel Uher (25-1)Alt — Milos Hoferka (25-1)Coach — Sune Frederiksen(age 25).Last year’s record: Jiri Snitil,Prague, 2-9, finished 12th.

3Team

DenmarkHvidovre CC

Hvidovre (Copenhagen)Skip — Ulrik Schmidt (thirdrocks) (46-8)3rd — Johnny Frederiksen(fourth rocks) (33-6)2nd— Bo Jensen (33-7)Ld — Lars Vilandt (34-6)Alt — Mikkel Poulsen (24-1)Coach — James Dryburgh(age 33) Last year’s record: JohnnyFrederiksen, Copehagen, 4-7, finished ninth.

23

Team

FinlandHyvinkaa CCHyvinkaa

Skip — Kalle Kiiskinen (33-6)3rd — Jani Sullanmaa (27-3)2nd — Teemu Salo (35-6)Ld — Jari Rouvinen (27-3)Alt — Juha Pekaristo (29-0)Coach — PaavoKuosmanen (age 33)Last year’s record: Did notqualify.

14Team

GermanyFussen CCFussen

Skip — Andy Kapp (41-12)3rd — Andreas Lang (29-4)2nd— Holger Hohne (38-9)Ld — Andreas Kempf (41-5)Alt — Daniel Herberg (35-3)Coach — Oliver Axnick (age38)Last year’s record: AndyKapp, Fussen, 5-6, finishedeighth.

26

Team

NorwaySnaroen CC

OsloSkip — Thomas Ulsrud (37-6)3rd — Torger Nergard (34-6)2nd— Christoffer Svae (27-2)Ld — Havard Vad Petersson(25-2)Alt — Thomas Lovold (27-0)Coach — Ole Ingvaldsen(age 60)Last year’s record: ThomasUlsrud, Oslo, 9-5, finishedthird

12

Team

SwissBasel-Regio CC

BaselSkip — Ralph Stoeckli (32-4)3rd — Jan Hauser (24-2)2nd— Markus Eggler (40-7)Ld — Simon Strubin (30-4)Alt — Toni Muller (24-0).Coach — Russ Howard(age 53)Last year’s record: ClaudioPescia, St. Gallen, 3-8, fin-ished 11th.

13Team

ScotlandLockerbie CCLockerbie

Skip — David Murdoch (30-4)3rd — Ewan MacDonald(33-8)2nd— Peter Smith (44-11)Ld — Euan Byers (34-4)Alt — Graeme Connal (39-4).Coach — David Hay (age47)Last year’s record: DavidMurdoch, Lockerbie, 9-4,finished second.

23Team

JapanKaruizawa CCKaruizawa

Skip — Yusuke Morozumi(24-1)3rd — Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi(24-1)2nd— Tetsuro Shimizu (21-1)Ld — Kosuke Morozumi (20-1)Alt — Keita Satoh (20-0)Coach — Hatomi Nagaokia(age 56)Last year’s record: Did notqualify.

0Team

FranceChamonix CCChamonix

Skip — Thomas Dufour (36-5)3rd — Tony Angiboust (25-4)2nd — Richard Ducroz (25-3)Ld — Jan Ducroz (37-5)Alt — Raphael Mathieu (25-2)Coach — Andre Ferland(age 65)Last year’s record: ThomasDufour, Chamonix, 6-5, fin-ished fifth

13

Team number

indicates

combined

years of

experience

at previous

World

championships.

Teams listed skip to lead(in brackets age and

previous World appearances)

In his latest incarnation, Moncton’s Russ Howard (above) is coaching skip Ralph

Stoeckli’s Swiss entry in the Ford World men’s curling championship at the Coliseum.

Saturday, April 4, 2009 8

Saturday, April 4, 2009 9

Grand Transoceanic Match – Proudly sponsoredby Delta Beausejour Hotel

Tuesday, April 7thCome join us Tuesday at the Beaver Curling Club

for a morning of fun curling and a chance to meetother curlers from around the world at the GrandTransoceanic Match. There will be lots of Fun, Foodand Entertainment. Further information and registra-tion at the Keith’s Patch. Participation by pre-regis-tration only, which closes Sunday evening, April 5.

Draw to the Button CompetitionParticipating curling clubs in the Maritimes have

held competitions to determine their representativeat the “Draw to the Button Competition. Qualifyinground to take place Friday, April 10th at 1:00 pm atCurling Beausejour Inc. The finalists will competeduring the fifth end break at Friday night’s 7:30 play-off game.

Autograph Session – Proudly sponsored byHansen Signs

Former world champions and the 12 participatingteams will be available for autographs in The Patcheach day from Saturday, April 4 to Thursday, April 9.On Saturday, April 11th, 10 of the 12 teams will be onhand. Bring your cameras for a lasting memento.

Schedule: Saturday April 4, 6–7 p.m. — 50th anniversary

celebration of 10 former world champions

Sunday, April 5 — 4–5 p.m. DEN/NOR

Up Close and Personal – Proudly sponsored byInColor, Aliant and Coca-Cola

Come and meet teams, media and internationalpersonalities in the relaxed setting of the Keith’sPatch. Participate in live, informative interview withformer world champions, Team Canada, TSN mediaand other special guests. Asking questions of theseguests involves audience participation, so join us forwhat promises to be an informative and fun event.

Sunday, April 5 — 4:15– 5:15 p.m.Up Close and Personal

Otto Danieli, Switzerland • 1975 World Champion Eigil Ramsfjell, Norway • 1979, 84, 88 World

Champion

Monday, April 6 — 6–7 pmUp Close and Personal

Ernie Richardson, Canada • 1959, 60, 62, 63 WorldChampion

Arnold Richardson, Canada • 1959, 60, 62, 63World Champion

Sam Richardson, Canada • 1959, 60, 62, 63 WorldChampion

Wes Richardson, Canada • 1959, 60, 62 WorldChampion

Ron Northcott, Canada • 1966, 68, 69 WorldChampion

Saturday, April 4, 2009 10

Place à lacompétition

Le coup d’envoie a été donné hier soiret les meilleurs joueurs de curling aumonde se mettent au travail sérieux

devant les yeux du monde cet après-matinalors que débute la 50e édition duChampionnat mondial de curling Ford, auColisée de Moncton.

C’est devant une foule sympathique etémerveillée que le banquet et les céré-monies marquant l’ouverture officielle duchampionnat se sont déroulés lors d’un tat-too mondial haut en couleur et riche en his-toire avec des centaines de bénévoles, desmusiciens de toute sorte, danseurs, athlèteset artistes divers qui ont fait vivre desmoments de toutes les couleurs aux plus de6 000 spectateurs chanceux d’avoir un bil-let. Les dignitaires présents ont pu apprécierl'immensité de cet événement et son impor-tance sur la scène momdiale.

Le président du comité organisateur,James Lockyer, et les membres du comitépeuvent être fiers de leur travail des deuxdernières années qui a aboutit à cette soiréemémorable et digne de ce 50e anniversaire.Les joueurs d'à travers le monde ont eu lachance de vivre un moment de la culturefrançaise/acadienne et anglophone tout enétant témoins d'un moment historiqueincroyable. Les grands du curling mondial,

ceux ayant remportés plusieurs titres aucours des 50 dernières années, étaientprésents pour célébrer cet anniversaire siprécieux dans le monde du curling, unecélébration de l'excellence dans un sportpopulaire dans la région.

Le clou de la soirée a été la présentationdes 12 équipes participantes, chacune rece-vant une ovation monstre et le Canada étantla plus chaleureusement accueillie.

Des membres de l'orchestre des jeunesdu Nouveau-Brunswick aux joueurs deviolon d'Ivon Hicks aux chorales etdanseurs, tous ont bien reflété la richesseet la vitalité de Moncton et du Nouveau-Brunswick.

Les compétitions débutent cet après-midiavec la première ronde à 15 h et la deux-ième à 19 h 30 en soirée. Il y en aura troisdimanche.

En bref… Le Canada a remporté 31 titresmondiaux, le plus grand nombre de champi-onnats depuis 1959… Ernie Richardson, duCanada, présent à ce tournoi, a quatre titre àson actif entre 1959 et 1963… EigilRamsfjell de la Norvège s’est rendu auchampionnat à 15 reprises… Le Canadaavec Kevin Martin a remporté le titre l’andernier… Moncton avait organisé le cham-pionnat mondial en 1980 avec le Balai d’ar-gent Air Canada… L’entraîneur de l’équipede la Chine est un jeune originaire de Mont-Laurier, Québec, Daniel Rafael.

Par NORMAND LÉGERCorrespondant Info-curl

Les célébrations du 50e passent à l’histoire

Info-curl quotidienLa chorale des Jeunes chanteurs d’Acadie lors des cérémonies d’ouverture.