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Canada, Germany men lead
By Julie Dockstader Heaps
Deseret News Olympic specialist
OGDEN — He's president of the World Curling Players' Association. Canada's National Coaching Certification Program conducts a curling academy named for him. He's been competing for 28 years and even sells curling supplies.
And while Kevin Martin has never won an international competition, his fortune may change this year.
Team Canada's skip at the Olympic curling competition has thus far has led his rink to a 4-1 record in round-robin draws at The Ice Sheet. With half the competition yet to go, the Canadians share the lead in standings with Germany.
Both teams played extra-end heart-stoppers Thursday afternoon, with Germany edging Denmark 7-6 and Canada falling to Sweden, 6-5. In the latter, the final two rocks came down to a measurement by officials, with Sweden's a hair closer. Martin is finding interesting ways to score. Against Sweden, he delighted the crowd when he fell on his last delivery in the first end. Still on his knees, he simply shoved his rock and gave his team two points to start the draw over Sweden.
With the crowd laughing and clapping, he raised his hands in the air and smiled.
"Wasn't that a dandy," he said, laughing with media after the game. "I hit my heel coming around the hack. That was hilarious."
The loss "puts us back to work again," said Martin, adding that his team hadn't played a tight game since early in competition. "We have to refocus and have at it."
Canada's goal is to finish round-robin play with at least a 7-2 record; then Martin will "have at it" in the semifinals and perhaps earn his first gold medal.
Also Thursday, Team USA came away with a much-needed victory to stay in the hunt for play-offs. Picking up a 2-0 lead early and never trailing, the Americans beat Switzerland 6-2 to bring their record to 2-3. The Swiss dropped to 3-2. "We obviously needed that win," said U.S. coach Bud Somerville, father of skip Tim Somerville. "It was a big one for us."
Bud Somerville said the team competed with more focus and unity. "There's always ruffles with these guys," he said. "They bite at each other. It's something they expect from each other. They're thick-skinned."
Added Tim Somerville: "We need to get red hot real fast. Today, we responded well and beat a real good Swiss team. Our style is back."
The American women need to "put the wheels back on the bus," as described by U.S. women's team member Ann Swisshelm.
After going 2-0 in early play, skip Kari Erickson's rink have now lost three straight. The United States lost to Denmark Thursday afternoon 9-4 and 7-6 to Switzerland in the evening. Down 6-4 in the ninth end, Erickson threw an intended take-out to score three. But her shot went just wide and slipped through the house, giving Denmark a four-point lead.
"Now we just have to win some," Erickson said. "We can't afford to lose many more."
In other men's play Thursday, Finland defeated France 6-5.
In other women's games Thursday morning, Norway upset Germany 10-5, Great Britain beat Russia 8-5, and Switzerland defeated Japan 8-7.
In other evening women's competition, Russia downed Denmark 7-5, Sweden clobbered Norway 10-3, and Canada beat Great Britain 9-4.
E-mail: julied@desnews.com
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February 15, 2002
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