Wednesday, February 20, 2002
Peters warns Martin, Norwegians dangerous
By JIM BENDER -- Winnipeg Sun
Beware Norway, one of Manitoba's top curlers cautioned yesterday.
Like many other European teams, Norway's Pal Trulsen brushed up for the Winter Olympics in Winnipeg, specifically the Fort Garry Curling Club.
"They're dangerous," Vic Peters, who is also the club's icemaker, said. "We played against them in Ottawa and at Sault Ste. Marie this year and they're good."
SECRET WEAPON
And the Norwegians have a secret weapon.
"They used this laser beam that went across the sheet that registered a number so you could get the exact speed your rock is going so, it's great for getting your draw weight," Peters said. "It's a hell of a thing.
"And it's good for testing rocks, too. I believe (Manitoba icemaker Hans Wuthrich) has one, too."
Trulsen, who also played exhibition matches against both John Bubbs and Howie Restall while here, faces Switzerland's Andreas Schwaller in a semifinal at the Olympics today at 3 p.m.
The victor will play the winner of the other semifinal between Canada's Kevin Martin and Sweden's Peter Lindholm.
"Switzerland's dangerous, too, with Markus Eggler -- a guy who's won the worlds as a skip -- playing second," Peters said. "But, none of them are as good as Martin's team."
Martin, however, has been snakebitten by Lindholm over the past few years and the Swedes were the only team to beat him in Ogden, Utah, thus far.
"That's kind of weird," Peters admitted. "But two of Martin's guys shot 60% in that round-robin game and they still took it to last rock.
"(Lead) Don Bartlett played poorly in that one and, with the four-rock rule, you need the lead going to start things off. The start will be crucial. They're (Martin) great frontrunners but, if they get behind, they might get on each other."
And they may feel the hockey-like weight of Canada on their shoulders.
"There's a lot more heat on them at the Olympics than there would be at a world championship and more than at a Brier," Peters said. "It means a lot more."
2002 Games Curling Coverage
