Monday, February 18, 2002
Finishing first matters for Martin
By TERRY JONES -- Edmonton Sun
SALT LAKE CITY -- Saturday, Kevin Martin, his wife and parents went to watch a Canadian women's hockey game. The rest of his rink took their families to tour the athletes village. All four stopped at the display downtown to see the Olympic medals and how they were made.
Today, Martin and his rink hope to get hammered.
Not in the old curling sense. Booze is not involved. OK, maybe a beer or two, but ...
Ten years ago when Martin came to the Albertville Olympics when curling was a demonstration sport, finishing first in the round-robin competition meant nothing.
"It didn't get you the hammer,'' he said of the last-rock advantage.
"It didn't get you choice of rocks. It didn't get you anything. It was a coin flip for everything. It was really screwed up that way. It's not like that anymore.''
After a bye situation left Canada with a day off Saturday, the Canadian rink returned to the ice to play a crucial game yesterday.
It was 6-1 Canada versus 6-1 Norway and the Canadians curled their best game of the Olympics so far to put that threat away and clinch their spot in the medal round in the process.
"We had to win that game to be able to finish in first place,'' said Martin. "If we'd lost that one, we couldn't get first place.''
Having stumbled against Sweden, which is 5-2 and through to the medal round, they weren't about to stumble again.
Don Walchuk, who curled 55 per cent against Sweden, shot the lights out in this one at 95 per cent to lead the way in the 9-4 win over Paal Trulsen and his Norwegians.
"I was a little uncomfortable with my play earlier in the week, so it was a concern for me,'' said the veteran third who was born in Melville, Sask., and resides in Sherwood Park.
"But it's now time to start getting it together. It's just like the Olympic trials.
"The hottest teams are the ones standing at the end. So we're down to the end now and it's time to kick it up.''
Carter Rycroft curled 91 per cent and Don Bartlett 88 per cent.
"All four guys were really strong,'' said Martin who had the lowest numbers of the day at 83 per cent.
As a team they shot 89 per cent.
"That's a pretty high shooting percentage. We didn't give them much of a chance,'' said Martin in the mixed zone.
"Overall, I feel good. I like the way the guys are coming on. That was a pretty strong game.''
When it comes to the numbers, it's the kid on the team, 24-year-old Grande Prairie native and Sherwood Park resident Rycroft who has been leading the way.
Rycroft has shot 87 per cent for the tournament, Martin 84, Walchuk 79 and lead Don Bartlett 77.
"I'm really comfortable with the ice,'' said Rycroft. "It's very similar to the ice Kevin's dad makes at the Avonair where Kevin and I practise. That's the biggest thing for me. It gives me a real comfort zone.''
There's only a week left in the Olympics and Rycroft is still walking around star-struck.
"There is so much going on it's easy to lose focus,'' he said.
"It's the Olympics.
"I keep walking around and saying 'Hey, I'm there.'
"It's not only curling. Normally it's the only show in town. But there is so much else going on.''
While nothing has beaten the opening ceremonies for Rycroft so far, seeing the medals has provided even more inspiration.
"We saw them on display and how they are made. It sent shivers up my spine just looking at them. Now that we're for sure in the medal round, I have a chance to win one of those. And that gold one looks a little nicer than the rest of them.''
Now all Martin must do is put away a protege to have the hammer through the medal round.
Ulrik Schmidt and his rink from Denmark stand in the way.
"They flew to Edmonton to attend the curling academy I run with Jules Owchar at the Avonair. We coached them for four days. Hopefully we didn't do such a good job that they beat us,'' he said of the rink which has managed to win three games here.
Yesterday Kelley Law and her Vancouver rink, unbeaten at 8-0 and having already won their hammer for the medal rounds, had a day off at the Olympics. They play 5-2 Switzerland in their final game of the regular round this morning.
2002 Games Curling Coverage
