Simmons squad can't make Canada Cup

A hectic Men’s curling schedule has claimed another victim: Saskatchewan’s Team Simmons has given up their spot at The Canada Cup.

 

“We weighed our options and our costs…a week of hotels, over two weeks in a row off from work…it’s too tough,” Simmons third Jeff Sharp said. “And Pat, with his clients, it’s really tough for him to go for two weeks.

 

“We’re hoping that the CCA gets the message that it is one of the worst times to put the Canada Cup.”

 

“This Canada Cup scheduling…it’s just ridiculous,” Pat Simmons said. “It’s just poor timing as far as I’m concerned.”

 

While one team must miss an opportunity at winning a direct berth to the 2010 Olympic Trails, another team will now get that chance. Who that may be, though, is still up in the air.

 

Wayne Middaugh is currently next on the CTRS list but has expressed some of the same concerns as Simmons, said Danny Lamoureux, manager of curling club development for the CCA. 

 

“I’m sure if Wayne wins a Purple Heart (denotes a provincial champion) on Sunday, he won’t go to the Canada Cup.”

 

If that occurs, the Joel Jordison squad from Saskatchewan would be the lucky beneficiaries. The CCA is using CTRS as of Dec. 19 as its criterion.

 

On Thursday Feb. 15, Jeff Stoughton revealed that he and his team would not attend the National Grand Slam from Port Hawkesbury, N.S.

 

Lamoureux recognizes that the Men’s curling schedule is pushing the limits when it comes to players being able to attend late-season events, especially the Brier/Canada Cup combo.

 

“Well, it’s more than two weeks, really, if you go right to the end of the Brier,” he said. “They leave Wednesday night or Thursday morning…so it’s 14, 17, or 18 straight days away from home.

 

“That’s a long time.”

 

As far as changing the schedule, Lamoureux said that The National Grand Slam is the most likely candidate to find a new date. 

 

“The Brier isn’t going to move...it’s all hinged on provincial playdowns,” Lamoureaux said. “The Canada Cup can move but it’s really difficult to find a place for it.”