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Scott Howard to take over as skip from dad, Glenn, next season

The torch has been passed, with Scott Howard moving up to skip full-time next season, it was announced Tuesday.

The announcement comes a week after Scott’s father Glenn Howard retired from men’s curling due to a nagging knee injury following a legendary career winning four world championships and four Brier titles. Glenn Howard also captured 14 Grand Slam of Curling men’s titles as a skip, ranked third on the all-time list. 

Second David Mathers has also stepped back from competitive curling as Howard and lead Tim March are joined by brothers Mat and Jason Camm for next season.

Glenn Howard will stay on as their coach.

Scott Howard, from Tiny, Ont., joined his father’s team at lead in 2015 and switched to third in 2018. He skipped on occasion in recent years, including this season’s Ontario Tankard, winning the provincial title as a trio with Mathers and March. Mat Camm joined the team for the Brier with Glenn Howard on the bench. 

They finished the season ranked 32nd in the world, 12th among Canadian teams.

“I knew many years ago I wanted to finish my career playing with my son Scott,” Glenn Howard said in his retirement statement. “We have now played together for eight years, way more than I had ever anticipated and hoped for. It has been a wonderful journey watching Scott grow into the confident curler that he is today. Now, it is the time to pass the baton off to him as he is ready to take on the skip position.” 

Mat Camm skipped Ontario to a silver medal at the 2011 Canadian juniors with Scott Howard at third and Mathers at second. He has spent the past nine seasons playing with John Epping and won two Grand Slam of Curling titles. 

Epping’s team disbanded with the Toronto skip joining forces with Tanner Horgan, Jacob Horgan and Ian McMillan. 

Scott Howard and Mathers also played with Epping in the past and won the Players’ Championship in 2012.