Russ Howard

Russell W. "Russ" Howard, CM, ONL (born February 19, 1956 in Midland, Ontario) is a Canadian curler and Olympic champion, based in Regina, Saskatchewan, but originally from Midland, Ontario. He lived in Moncton, New Brunswick from 2000 to 2019. 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.[2][3] He has also won three TSN Skins Games in 1991, 1992, and 1993, and participated in two Canadian Mixed Curling Championships in 2000 and 2001. He won gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics and two Canadian Senior Curling Championships in 2008 and 2009 finishing with a silver medal both of those years. Russ Howard was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.[4] He is currently a curling analyst and commentator for TSN’s Season of Champions curling coverage.[5]

For similarly named people, see Russell Howard (disambiguation).
Russ Howard
CM, ONL
Curler
Born (1956-02-19) February 19, 1956
Midland, Ontario, Canada
Career
Member Association Ontario (1979-2000)
 New Brunswick (2000-2010)
 Saskatchewan (2020)[1]
Brier appearances14 (1980, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009)
Top CTRS ranking12th (2004–05)
Grand Slam victories0
Medal record
Men's curling
Representing  Canada
Winter Olympics
2006 Turin
World Curling Championships
1987 Vancouver
1993 Geneva
Representing  Newfoundland and Labrador
Canadian Olympic Curling Trials
2005 Halifax
Representing  Ontario
Labatt Brier
1987 Edmonton
1993 Ottawa
1986 Kitchener
1992 Regina
1994 Red Deer
1989 Saskatoon
Representing  New Brunswick
Labatt/Nokia Brier
2000 Saskatoon
2002 Calgary

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,[6] where they won the gold medal, defeating Finland 10–4 in the final match.[7] It was the first time that a Canadian team had won the gold medal for men's curling.[3] Howard, who turned 50 during the Olympics, is also the oldest Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal.[2][7] 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 three previous trials (in 1987, 1997, and 2001), 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.[2] 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.[8]

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.[9] He was named a Member of the Order of Canada in 2015.[10]

Brier records

At 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).[11] 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.[12] As of 2017, Russ had appeared in the second most Brier games ever, behind his brother Glenn.

Broadcasting career

Howard stepped into the broadcast booth for the first time in 2001, serving as an analyst for TSN’s coverage of the Tim Horton's Brier.[13] Since 2008, he has been a mainstay analyst on the network, also providing colour commentary for TSN’s Season of Champions curling.[14]

Howard handled colour commentating duties for Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.[15]

Personal life

Howard's grand-aunt, Jean Thompson, was an Olympic runner. His brother, Glenn Howard, is also a well known curler. Howard's daughter, Ashley Howard, is a competitive curler and the executive director of CurlSask, the governing body of curling in Saskatchewan.[16]

Outside of curling, Howard worked as a real estate agent for Royal LePage Atlantic, in addition to his commentator work with TSN, and as a curling coach in Switzerland. He moved to Regina, Saskatchewan in 2019 to be closer to his children.[17]

Teams
Season Skip Third Second Lead
1979–80 Russ HowardLarry MerkleyRobert RushtonKent Carstairs
1985–86 Russ HowardGlenn HowardTim BelcourtKent Carstairs
1986–87 Russ HowardGlenn HowardTim BelcourtKent Carstairs
1988–89 Russ HowardGlenn HowardTim BelcourtKent Carstairs
1989–90[18] Russ HowardGlenn HowardWayne MiddaughPeter Corner
1990–91 Russ HowardGlenn HowardWayne MiddaughPeter Corner
1991–92 Russ HowardGlenn HowardWayne MiddaughPeter Corner
1992–93 Russ HowardGlenn HowardWayne MiddaughPeter Corner
1993–94 Russ HowardGlenn HowardWayne MiddaughPeter Corner
1994–95 Russ HowardGlenn HowardPeter CornerKen McDermot
1995–96[19] Russ HowardGlenn HowardPeter CornerNoel Herron
1996–97 Russ HowardGlenn HowardScott PattersonPhil Loevenmark
1997–98 Russ HowardGlenn HowardNoel HerronSteve Small
1998–99 Russ HowardGlenn HowardPeter CornerNeil Harrison
1999–00 Russ HowardGlenn HowardPeter CornerNeil Harrison
2000–01 Russ HowardJames GrattanRick PerronGrant Odishaw
2001–02 Russ HowardJames GrattanMarc LeCocqGrant Odishaw
2002–03 Russ HowardJames GrattanMarc LeCocqGrant Odishaw
2003–04 Russ HowardJames GrattanMarc LeCocqGrant Odishaw
2004–05 Russ HowardJames GrattanGrant OdishawMarc LeCocq
2005 Russ HowardMark DobsonSteven HowardGrant Odishaw
2005–06 Brad Gushue (fourth)Mark NicholsRuss Howard (skip)Jamie Korab
2006–07 Russ HowardGrant OdishawMark DobsonSteven Howard
2007–08 Russ HowardGrant OdishawMark DobsonSteven Howard
2008–09 Russ HowardJames GrattanJason VaughanPeter Case
2009–10 Russ HowardJames GrattanJason VaughanPeter Case

Publications

Howard has released two books: Hurry Hard: The Russ Howard Story (2007), an autobiography that vividly describes his journey to becoming an Olympic gold medallist, and Curl to Win (2008).[20]

References
  1. https://curlsask.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2020-SaskTel-Mens-Provincial-Team-List.pdf
  2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Russ Howard". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-18.
  3. Jones, Terry (2006-02-25). "Rockin' the house". Slam! Sports.
  4. "Russ Howard". oshof.ca. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  5. https://www.tsn.ca/talent/russ-howard-1.57223
  6. "Pressure On Canada's Curlers". The Sports Network. Canadian Press. 2005-12-12. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  7. "Canadian men claim gold in Olympic curling". CTV Television Network. 2006-02-24. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  8. "History of Curling". Curling Canada. Retrieved 2017-01-27.
  9. "TSN's Howard inducted to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame". TSN Curling. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  10. "Four Nova Scotians among Order of Canada honourees". The Chronicle-Herald, July 1, 2015.
  11. TIM HORTONS, NOKIA AND LABATT BRIER TOP CAREER GAMES PLAYED 1980–2012. cassidys.ca
  12. "Howard sets record in Ontario's win over Saskatchewan". TSN Curling. 6 March 2012.
  13. https://www.tsn.ca/talent/russ-howard-1.57223
  14. https://www.tsn.ca/talent/russ-howard-1.57223
  15. https://www.tsn.ca/talent/russ-howard-1.57223
  16. https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/curling/howard-clan-carries-big-name-into-sask-scotties
  17. https://leaderpost.com/sports/curling/curling-legend-russ-howard-feels-at-home-in-regina
  18. Windsor Star, February 7, 1990, pg D3, Werenich overcomes bad omens"
  19. National Post, December 14, 1995, pg 53, "Howard bolts Penetang in move of convenience"
  20. https://www.harpercollins.ca/author/cr-172591/russ-howard/
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