Russ Howard
Encyclopedia
Russell W. "Russ" Howard, ONL
(born February 19, 1956 in Midland
, Ontario
) is a Canadian
curler
and Olympic champion, based in Moncton, New Brunswick
, but originally from Midland, Ontario
. His home club in Moncton is Curling Beausejour. Known for his gravelly voice, Howard has been to the Brier
14 times (8 as Ontario, 6 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 two Canadian Mixed Curling Championships.
In 2005, he called the shots for 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
went on to win the trials, giving them the right to represent Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics
, where they won the gold medal, defeating Finland
10-4 in the final match. The gold medal was the first time that a Canadian team had won the gold medal for men's curling. Howard, who turned 50 during the Olympics, is also the oldest Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal. The oldest person ever to win a gold medal was Robin Welsh
, aged 54, who won gold at curling in the 1924 Winter Olympics
.
As a skip, Howard has been in four previous trials, but never went on to the Olympics. He and his wife Wendy, work as Real Estate Agents for Royal LePage Atlantic . His brother, Glenn Howard
, is also a well known curler.
Howard is also the innovator of the "Moncton Rule", which evolved into the "Free Guard Zone", part of international and Olympic rules. This makes his 2006 medal particularly significant, as it is likely that without the excitement this rule adds to the sport it would not have become an Olympic event in the 1990s.
In the 2009-10 curling season
, although he played in bonspiels throughout the year, Howard did not curl in the New Brunswick Tankard
due to his broadcasting commitments with TSN
. Howard has been commentating curling events for TSN
since 2001.
In 2006, he was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame
.
Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Order of Newfoundland and Labrador is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Instituted in 2001, when Lieutenant Governor Arthur Maxwell House granted Royal Assent to the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador Act, the order is administered by the...
(born February 19, 1956 in Midland
Midland, Ontario
Midland is a town located on Georgian Bay in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.Situated at the southern end of Georgian Bay's 30,000 Islands, Midland is the economic centre of the region, with a 125-bed hospital and a local airport. It is the main town of the southern Georgian Bay area...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
curler
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
and Olympic champion, based in Moncton, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, but originally from Midland, Ontario
Midland, Ontario
Midland is a town located on Georgian Bay in Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada.Situated at the southern end of Georgian Bay's 30,000 Islands, Midland is the economic centre of the region, with a 125-bed hospital and a local airport. It is the main town of the southern Georgian Bay area...
. His home club in Moncton is Curling Beausejour. Known for his gravelly voice, Howard has been to the Brier
Tim Hortons Brier
The Tim Hortons Brier, or simply the Brier, is the annual Canadian men's curling championship, sanctioned by the Canadian Curling Association . The current event name refers to its main sponsor, the Tim Hortons coffee and doughnut shop chain.The Brier has been held since 1927, traditionally during...
14 times (8 as Ontario, 6 as New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
), 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 two Canadian Mixed Curling Championships.
In 2005, he called the shots for Brad Gushue
Brad Gushue
Bradley Raymond "Brad" Gushue, ONL is a Canadian curler from Mount Pearl, Newfoundland and Labrador. Gushue, along with teammates Russ Howard, Mark Nichols, Jamie Korab and Mike Adam, represented Canada in curling at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where they won the gold medal by defeating Finland...
's team at the Canadian Olympic Trials, while he played second. Howard, along with Gushue (who throws last rocks), lead Jamie Korab
Jamie Korab
Jamie A. Korab, ONL is a Canadian curler.Korab was the lead for the Canadian men's team at the 2006 Winter Olympics skipped by Brad Gushue....
and third Mark Nichols
Mark Nichols
Mark Nichols, ONL is a Canadian curler from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.Nichols played third for the Brad Gushue rink from 1999 to 2011, and represented Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics. With Gushue, Nichols has been to three Canadian Junior Curling Championships and six Briers...
went on to win the trials, giving them the right to represent Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
, where they won the gold medal, defeating Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
10-4 in the final match. The gold medal was the first time that a Canadian team had won the gold medal for men's curling. Howard, who turned 50 during the Olympics, is also the oldest Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal. The oldest person ever to win a gold medal was Robin Welsh
Robin Welsh
Robin Welsh was a Scottish sportsman who represented Britain as a curler in the Winter Olympics, represented Scotland at tennis and played international rugby union for Scotland....
, aged 54, who won gold at curling in the 1924 Winter Olympics
1924 Winter Olympics
The 1924 Winter Olympics, officially known as the I Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was held in 1924 in Chamonix, France...
.
As a skip, Howard has been in four previous trials, but never went on to the Olympics. He and his wife Wendy, work as Real Estate Agents for Royal LePage Atlantic . His brother, Glenn Howard
Glenn Howard
Glenn Howard is a Canadian curler from Penetanguishene, Ontario. He has won three Briers and three world championships in his career. He has also won six straight Ontario provincials.-1980s-2006:...
, is also a well known curler.
Howard is also the innovator of the "Moncton Rule", which evolved into the "Free Guard Zone", part of international and Olympic rules. This makes his 2006 medal particularly significant, as it is likely that without the excitement this rule adds to the sport it would not have become an Olympic event in the 1990s.
In the 2009-10 curling season
2009-10 curling season
The 2009–10 curling season began in September 2009 and ended in April 2010.-Season of Champions top three finishes:-Other events:-World Curling Tour events:-Women's World Curling Tour events:...
, although he played in bonspiels throughout the year, Howard did not curl in the New Brunswick Tankard
Alexander Keith's Tankard
The Molson Canadian Men's Provincial Curling Championship is the New Brunswick provincial championship for men's curling. The winner represents Team New Brunswick at the Tim Hortons Brier...
due to his broadcasting commitments with TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
. Howard has been commentating curling events for TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
since 2001.
In 2006, he was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame
New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame
The New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1970 to honor outstanding athletes, teams and sport builders in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The facilities are located in the provincial capital city of Fredericton....
.