Stoughton signs off at Players’ Championship
TORONTO — Jeff Stoughton’s legendary curling career came to a close Friday night at the Players’ Championship.
The Winnipeg skip fell 5-2 to Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock and was eliminated from playoff contention during the final round-robin draw of the season-ending Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event.
Stoughton, who announced earlier this season he was stepping back from competitive curling, performed not one but two spin-o-rama shots to the delight of the crowd before departing the ice.
Stoughton said it was a bittersweet feeling but it’s time to go.
“I would love to have played one more game, It was so close to make that double for three,” said Stoughton, who missed the playoffs with a 2-3 record. “There no doubt I’ll miss it and be grumpy come fall and want to play but it’s the right time. We knew it was coming and made the decision a while go but it’s still kind of like, ‘ugh.'”
Stoughton leaves with a trophy case full of memories including two world titles and three Briers. He is one of the Original 18 skips of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling and also only the fourth skip to have won all four majors in the series.
“It was an amazing night,” Team Stoughton third Rob Fowler said. “It was great to have a big crowd and obviously the tribute there at the end was special. It’s sad to see him go.”
Lead Connor “The Part” Njegovan grew out his hair for the event to create Stoughton’s middle part style circa 1996. Njegovan sported the flow during their “Throwback Thursday” game, where the team also wore vintage Manitoba team jackets during the warm-up.
“Words can’t really describe it,” Njegovan said after Thursday’s game. “I mean, to get the chance to play with him in the first place for the season is a dream come true and then to be with him when his time finally does come to step off the ice will be pretty special for sure.”
Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen faced Stoughton many times over the years and was appreciative of the opportunity to have a skip of his calibre not too far from home.
“To have a team like that in our own backyard to see right in front of us how good we have to be, that was the target to have, he and his team helped us be where we are today because we had that competition,” McEwen said. “Because we had a legend like that to play against on a regular basis, having that type of team in our backyard made us be better.”
“We do owe a lot to him even though he has really annoyed me in February and provincials,” McEwen added with a smile. “We do owe a lot to having that type of competition for our own growth. I’m very fortunate to have played against him multiple times.”
