Episode 3 - Art Lobel

Art Lobel was born near Virden, Manitoba, then started curling as a teenager in Winnipeg...except he wasn't very good.  He was actually more skilled at target shooting.  Eventually Art made his way to Quebec and his curling improved. Quite a bit in fact.  Art qualified for the Canadian Mixed, then appeared in 5 Briers for Quebec, first with Bill Kent (originally from Virden) and later with Jim Ursel, who hailed from the same Winnipeg high school Art had attended.  Along with their front end of Don Aitken and Brain Ross, they would win the Brier in 1977, held in the Velodrome in Montreal.  Soon after, Art made his way to Ontario, where he would go on to appear in six Canadian Senior Championships, winning three.  He tacked on a couple of Canadian Masters (60+) to boot, winning one of them.  Art shares some of the early days of sliding rules, tales of curling in rural Quebec, the first push broom brought to a Brier, timing an "iron" rock and the discovery of "drag".

 

You can read more about Curling Legend Art Lobel and the Ursel rink of 1977 in "The Brier" by Bob Weeks.  The 1972 Brier where Art, playing third for Bill Kent, placed second, can be found here: https://youtu.be/6x2B_1ShAZo?t=10m9s.

You can find information on the Ontario Grandmasters here: http://grandmasterscurling.com/ and another useful curling link Art mentions is: http://www.ottawacurling.com/

 

Next Week:  Ernie Richardson

Check out the latest episode of Curling Legends Podcast

Episode 2 - Terry Braunstein

Terry Braunstein has the unique distinction of a rule being named after him.  Until recently (2015), the "Braunstein Rule" prohibited junior teams of high school ages from competing in mens and womens Tankard playdowns.  Terry, along with brother Ron, Ray Turnbull and Jack Van Hellemond surprised the Manitoba and Canadian curling elite by qualifying for the Brier and then making it into a final game playoff against Matt Baldwin in 1958.  In 1965 Terry would return with Ron, Ray and Don Duguid as vice and win the Brier but fall short in the World Championship (then known as the Scotch Cup). 

 

Terry shares stories of his early days throwing irregular sized stones on natural ice, to his Brier experiences and his thoughts on the modern game.

 

For more information on Curling Legend Terry Braunstein, find a copy of Sean Grassie's "King of the Rings" , "The Stone Age" by Vera Pezer and "The Brier" by Bob Weeks.  You can also catch highlights from the 1958 and 1965 Brier on YouTube.

 

Next week: Art Lobel

Check out the latest episode of Curling Legends Podcast

Episode 1 - Pat Ryan

Pat Ryan grew up curling in Winnipeg, where he perfected his tuck slide delivery, but found his greatest success in Alberta.  Following his heartbreaking loss to Al Hackner in the 1985 Brier, Pat would go on to build a team with Randy Ferbey, Don Walchuk and Don McKenzie.  The "Ryan Express" won back-to-back Briers in 1988 and '89 with advanced hitting abilities that transformed the game and helped lead to the adoption of the free guard zone in the 1990s. 

After moving to British Columbia, Pat joined forces as third for Rick Folk. Along with Bert Gretzinger and Gerry Richard, they would reach back-to-back Brier finals, winning in 1994 over Ontario's Russ Howard.  The 1994 Brier included a little known controversy with rock choices heading into the playoffs.  Pat will share his version of that experience in Red Deer along with his thoughts on sweeping controversies going back to 1970s.

For more information on Curling Legend Pat Ryan, locate a copy of Jean Sonmor's "Burned by the Rock" or "The Brier" by Bob Weeks.  The famous 1985 Brier final can be found in its entirety on YouTube.  You can also find several of Pat's musical performances on Youtube as well.

Next week: Terry Braunstein

Check out the latest episode of Curling Legends Podcast