TSN congratulates Russ Howard, the network’s esteemed curling analyst, as well as longtime TSN analyst Ray Turnbull on their upcoming induction to the World Curling Hall of Fame. Howard and Turnbull will be honoured during ceremonies in Halifax at the FORD WORLD MEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP, which begins March 28 on TSN.
Howard is a familiar face to curling fans across Canada as a two-time BRIER champion, two-time world champion, Olympic gold medallist, and Canadian Sports Hall of Famer. Along with broadcast partner Vic Rauter, he is one of the faces of curling on TSN, providing colour commentary for the network’s highly acclaimed coverage of Season of Champions curling, including events such as the BRIER, SCOTTIES TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS, HOME HARDWARE CANADA CUP, and World Curling Championships.
Turnbull followed up his career as competitive curler by providing analysis on TSN’s Season of Champions curling coverage beginning when the network launched in 1984. As a player, Turnbull broke onto the Canadian curling scene in 1958 as a 17-year-old at the BRIER as a member of Terry Braunstein’s “Kid Rink.” A renowned curling instructor, Turnbull also coached and trained 11 world champions, including 1979 champion Kristian Soerum of Norway and 1975 Canadian women’s champion Lee Tobin.
“TSN has been very fortunate to work with Russ and Ray, both of whom are decorated competitors, pillars of Canada’s curling community, and among the best broadcasters in the business,” said Stewart Johnston, President of TSN. “We are thrilled to congratulate them on this very well-deserved honour that recognizes their numerous impressive accomplishments, both on the ice and in the broadcast booth.”
The always outspoken Howard stepped into the broadcast booth for the first time in 2001, serving as an analyst for TSN’s coverage of the BRIER, and has been a mainstay since 2008. He also handled colour commentating duties for Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The Midland, Ont. native has been credited with the invention of the ‘Free Guard Zone’ – a rule that revolutionized curling and has been adopted internationally.
Howard and Turnbull will be inducted at Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre alongside 2014 inductee Randy Ferbey.
