Russ Howard
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| Born | February 19, 1956 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Curling career  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brier appearances | 14 (1980, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top CTRS ranking | 12th (2004–05) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Grand Slam victories | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Russell W. "Russ" Howard, CM, 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 two-time world champion, winning in 1987 and 1993.[1][2] He has also participated in two Canadian Mixed Curling Championships, and two Canadian Senior Curling Championships. Russ Howard was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.[3]
Career
In 2005, he joined team Gushue to call 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,[4] where they won the gold medal, defeating Finland 10–4 in the final match.[5] It was the first time that a Canadian team had won the gold medal for men's curling.[2] Howard, who turned 50 during the Olympics, is also the oldest Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal.[1][5] The oldest person ever to win a gold medal was Robin Welsh, aged 54, who won gold in curling at the 1924 Winter Olympics.
As a skip (captain), Howard has been in four previous trials, but never went on to the Olympics. Howard is also the innovator of the "Moncton Rule", which evolved into the "free guard zone", part of international and Olympic rules.[1] 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.[citation needed]
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 The Sports Network (TSN). Howard has been commentating curling events for TSN since 2001.
In 2006, he was inducted into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.[6] He was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2015.[7]
Brier records
As of the end of the 2009 Brier, Howard had appeared in more Briers than any other player (14), and played more games at the Brier than any other player (174).[8] The 2012 Brier saw his brother Glenn Howard tying his record for Brier appearances and breaking his record for most career games played at the Brier.[9]
Personal life
His grand-aunt, Jean Thompson, was an Olympic runner. His brother, Glenn Howard, is also a well known curler.
Outside of curling, Howard worked as a real estate agent for Royal LePage Atlantic, as a part-time commentator with The Sports Network (since 2001), and as a curling coach in Switzerland. In 2006 he was inducted to the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame.[1]
Teams
Publications
His autobiography is: Howard, Russ; Bob Weeks (2007). Hurry Hard: the Russ Howard Story. Toronto: Wiley. ISBN 978-0-470-83955-3.
References
- ^ a b c d Russ Howard. sports-reference.com
- ^ a b Jones, Terry (2006-02-25). "Rockin' the house". Slam! Sports.
- ^ "Russ Howard". http://oshof.ca/. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
{{cite web}}: External link in|website= - ^ "Pressure On Canada's Curlers". The Sports Network. Canadian Press. 2005-12-12. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
- ^ a b "Canadian men claim gold in Olympic curling". CTV Television Network. 2006-02-24. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
- ^ "TSN's Howard inducted to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame". TSN Curling. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- ^ "Four Nova Scotians among Order of Canada honourees". The Chronicle-Herald, July 1, 2015.
- ^ TIM HORTONS, NOKIA AND LABATT BRIER TOP CAREER GAMES PLAYED 1980–2012. cassidys.ca
- ^ "Howard sets record in Ontario's win over Saskatchewan". TSN Curling. 6 March 2012.
External links
Russ Howard on the World Curling database Russ Howard on the World Curling Tour database (archived)
| Demonstration events | |
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| Official events |
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| National | |
- 1956 births
- Curlers from Ontario
- Sportspeople from Moncton
- People from Midland, Ontario
- Curlers at the 2006 Winter Olympics
- Curlers from New Brunswick
- Canadian Curling Hall of Fame inductees
- Olympic gold medalists for Canada
- Living people
- Members of the Order of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Members of the Order of Canada
- World curling champions
- Curling broadcasters
- Brier champions
- Olympic curlers of Canada
- Olympic medalists in curling
- Medalists at the 2006 Winter Olympics
- Canada's Sports Hall of Fame inductees
- Curling coaches
- Male curlers