Mead, Savill joining new teams for 2015-16
Former Team Glenn Howard teammates Jon Mead and Craig Savill have announced their plans for next season.
Mead has linked up with Team Mike McEwen in a role that could see the five-time Grand Slam champion coach and/or play.
“We’re actually looking for good suggestions on his title,” McEwen told Curling Canada. “We’ve talked about it — mentor, manager, coach, fifth man, all wrapped up into one.”
Mead captured a career Grand Slam playing third for Jeff Stoughton and earned an additional National title with Wayne Middaugh. He also won two Brier titles and one world championship on Stoughton’s Winnipeg-based rink.
Teams Tracker: Curling changes for 2015-16
Meanwhile, Savill has joined the team of Shawn Adams, Mark Dacey, and Andrew Gibson. Curling Canada recently changed their residency rules, teams can now have one player who resides in another province, allowing the Ottawa native Savill to look beyond Ontario and towards Nova Scotia as he aims to compete in the 2016 Tim Hortons Brier in his hometown.
“I was a flag bearer at the 1993 Ottawa Brier, since that moment I have dreamed of playing in a Brier in my hometown,” Savill wrote in a Facebook post. “My motivation to accomplish this dream and the allure of playing with these experienced curlers in helping Nova Scotia get back into the Brier made this an easy decision.
“Shawn, Mark, and Andrew all have great curling resumes that include a Canadian Men’s Championship (Brier), a Canadian Junior Championship, a bronze medal at the World Championships and numerous wins on the World Curling Tour. Combined with the experience I have gained as a Brier and World Champion I know we will be a team with great potential.”
Savill captured 12 Grand Slam titles, including a career Grand Slam, two Brier and two world championships during his 11 seasons playing lead for Team Howard.
Mead and Savill were left off Howard’s lineup for the upcoming season. The new Team Howard sees Middaugh returns to the rink at third, Glenn’s son Scott Howard throw lead stones and Richard Hart shift over from third to play second.