Curling legend Martin to retire after Players' Championship

Curling legend Martin to retire after Players’ Championship

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Curling legend Kevin Martin will retire after the season-ending Players’ Championship.

Martin made the announcement during Sportsnet’s broadcast of the Grand Slam of Curling event Friday night.

The 47-year-old from Edmonton skip has captured a record 17 Grand Slam titles with the opportunity to add one more to his total before closing the chapter on his career. Martin qualified for the Players’ Championship playoffs with a 3-2 record in pool play.

Upon his retirement from the sport, the 2010 Olympic gold medallist Martin will join the Grand Slam of Curling as a broadcast analyst and official spokesperson.

“It has been an amazing run. I am closing the chapter on my playing career in the sport of curling that has been so good to me,” Martin said in a press release. “I can’t wait for what lies ahead in my new role with Sportsnet as we work together to elevate the sport to new heights, inspiring our curling youth.”

Sportsnet also announced an all-new fifth event, the Elite 10, has been added to the schedule for the 2014-15 season. The total prize money will rise to a minimum of $700,000 CAD and the $1-million bonus will still be up for grabs if any team can capture all five Slam titles in a single season.