Rycroft joins Team Bottcher as 5th player, consultant & coach
Don’t call it a comeback, Carter Rycroft has been here for years.
The 39-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alta., stepped back from competitive curling at the end of last season, but his stay away from the game turned out to be brief as an offer to join skip Brendan Bottcher, third Pat Simmons, second Bradley Thiessen and lead Karrick Martin was too good to refuse.
Rycroft, who will serve as Team Bottcher’s fifth player and consultant/coach, made his on-ice return last week at the Canad Inns Men’s Classic in Portage la Prairie, Man., as Thiessen is overseas representing Canada at the world mixed curling championship in Russia.
“I love the sport, and I love competing,” Rycroft said on Friday in a media release. “Curling with Brendan, Pat and Karrick last weekend in Portage la Prairie solidified my decision to accept their invitation to join them as much as my schedule permits.
“Brendan and I are both from Sherwood Park and I’ve watched him develop into one of the country’s best young skips on the curling tour. The role of fifth player and team consultant/coach offers me the right balance, and I’m looking forward to assisting in their future successes”
It’s a reunion for Rycroft and Simmons after the pair played together during the past five seasons winning a bronze medal at the worlds, two Brier titles and two Grand Slam championships. Simmons got a head start with Team Bottcher latching on with the crew shortly after his team parted ways in late April.
Rycroft also won an Olympic silver medal and five Grand Slam championships playing with Karrick’s father, Kevin Martin, plus Brier and world titles with Kevin Koe.
“Carter brings an elite level mindset, many years of high level experience, and a passion for the game,” Bottcher said in the media release. “Consulting/coaching is his primary role. The value of his support, guidance and insights — both on and off the ice – is unique.
“We couldn’t ask for a better teammate to add, and I am personally looking forward to learning from him.”
Team Bottcher is currently ranked 12th overall on the World Curling Tour’d Order of Merit and will compete next week in the WFG Masters in Okotoks, Alta.