EDMONTON – One of the best rinks in curling history has split up.
After a great seven-year run for the Kevin Martin four-some, John Morris has quit as the team’s third.
“It’s one of the toughest decisions I ever made,” said Morris.
After forming prior to the 2006-07 season, the foursome was one of the most dominant in curling history, capturing the Tim Hortons Brier in 2008 at Winnipeg and 2009 at Calgary, both with undefeated records.
The Martin rink also won the world men’s championship in 2008 at Grand Forks, N.D., and finished second a year later at the World Men’s Championship in Moncton, N.B.
The team also won a gold medal for Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
The Martin rink has already locked up a berth at this year’s trials for the Sochi Olympics, but they’ve also struggled in recent years which Morris says is the reason behind his decision.
“Unfortunately we have had a challenging past few seasons and have not lived up to our expectations of being the best curling team in the world,” says Morris.
“As much as we’ve all tried very hard to find a way to fight back and get better, in the end it was obvious that we needed a change.”
The Martin rink says it has no hard feelings towards Morris. During a Friday news conference, Martin and second Marc Kennedy called Morris’ decision “unselfish” and hope the change will be positive for both parties.
“Change usually gives new energy in both directions. It doesn’t matter if it’s our team or John,” says Martin.
“He felt a change was necessary, and he took the bull by the horns,” says kennedy.
Martin agrees with Morris, the past two years have been difficult for the team and a change may be what’s needed.
“When you expect to be the best and you’re not eventually something has to happen,” stated Martin.
The Martin rink’s focus now is to find a replacement for Morris as they prepare for the Sochi Olympic trials in December.
The team says the list of curlers who can step into the position is short.
With files from the Calgary Herald
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