Paying attention to detail has taken on a whole new meaning for curlers like Brier bubble-bound Reid Carruthers.
The third for West St. Paul’s Mike McEwen started preparing for the unique atmosphere awaiting him in Calgary quite some time ago. Like the Scotties Tournament of Hearts competitors who competed in the Bubble last week, Carruthers et al have been following the pandemic rules to avoid catching the Covid-19 virus that could ruin Brier week, which starts March 5.
“We’re definitely being cautious,” Carruthers said before driving to Calgary with McEwen, second Derek Samagalski, lead Colin Hodgson and coach Rob Meakin on Tuesday. “My wife (Jodi) works from home and we order our groceries in. Pretty much the only time I go anywhere is to the Granite (Curling Club) to practise.
“But I feel safe going into it after hearing from the ladies who were there and the Curling Canada protocols. But we have to keep our guard up.”
With the recent easing of restrictions, the Granite, Morris and Petersfield clubs have been open for limited use for about two weeks, Carruthers said. Both Manitoba rep Jason Gunnlaugson and McEwen, a wild-card team, have taken advantage to practise at the Granite.
“We sanitize the rocks and things like that before practice,” said Carruthers, who won both a Brier and world championship at second for Jeff Stoughton in 2011. “And there’s a reason we’re driving, not flying.”
That’s to avoid interaction with possible Covid carriers at airports.
Both the McEwen and Gunnlaugson teams were tested Monday and again Tuesday. Gunnlaugson’s squad was also planning to drive.
“We get tested again when we get there, and if we test negative after two more tests, we’ll be allowed to be around our teammates, but only with masks on,” Carruthers said. “But we’ll have to stay inside our hotel rooms on our own, except to go to the arena.”
Like the women at the Scotties, they will play in an empty arena because no fans will be allowed.
Despite all of that, Carruthers is anxious to get back to the Brier.
“I’m excited,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to be able to go play in any tournament, let alone one as big as the Brier. We’ve only played in one tournament since the last Brier.”
McEwen lost a tie-breaker to Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue, the eventual Brier champ, last year. Like the Scotties, two teams were added to the Brier and only three of those 18 will make the playoffs.
“Last year, I thought it was the toughest Brier field I’d ever seen,” Carruthers said. “Now, with 18 teams, the quality has gone up even higher. It was tough to make the playoffs before; now it’s even tougher. It’s exciting at the same time.”
The field includes such former Brier winners as Northern Ontario’s Olympic gold medallist Brad Jacobs, Alberta’s Kevin Koe and Ontario’s Glenn Howard.
BITERS – Krysten Karwacki, the fifth for Scotties champion Kerri Einarson of Manitoba, is Reid Carruthers’ sister-in-law and has advised him about what to expect in the bubble … Karwacki and Derek Samagalski will represent Manitoba at the Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship that will follow the Brier in the bubble … Carruthers will also compete in the Mixed Doubles with Selena Njegovan, third for Tracy Fleury.
Jim Bender writes on a variety of sports for the Selkirk Settler Times. Bender has more than 30 years of experiences as a journalist.
