Bottcher forms new powerhouse curling team with former Olympians
Edmonton skip Brendan Bottcher has put together a new curling team of Olympic proportions.
Bottcher announced Monday he is joining forces next season with third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert.
Kennedy and Hebert have captured just about everything there is to win in curling including Olympic gold medals in 2010 with skip Kevin Martin. The pair also represented Canada at the 2018 Winter Games with skip Kevin Koe and finished fourth. Kennedy made a third Olympic appearance this year as the alternate for Brad Gushue and earned a bronze medal.
The 40-year-old Kennedy has won two golds and one silver at the men’s worlds, three Brier titles and 15 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling championships. He also served as the alternate for Team Bottcher during their run at the men’s worlds last year. Kennedy has spent the past three seasons with Brad Jacobs’ team based in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Hebert, 39, has claimed two gold and two silver medals at the men’s worlds, four Brier titles and 12 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling championships. He has played the past eight seasons with Koe.
Gallant previously played second for Gushue and made his Olympic debut this year, winning bronze. The 32-year-old, originally from Charlottetown, is moving west as he’s getting married to Alberta curler Jocelyn Peterman. Gallant won a gold and two silver medals at the men’s worlds, four Brier titles plus 11 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling championships during his tenure on Team Gushue.
Bottcher captured his first Brier title one year ago and has won three Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling men’s titles.
Teams Bottcher, Gushue, Koe and Jacobs will also play their final event with their current lineups at the KIOTI Tractor Champions Cup, May 3-8, at the Olds Sportsplex in Olds, Alta.