News Players' Championship

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Team Stoughton band has played its final encore.

Jeff Stoughton bid farewell to his teammates heading their separate ways following their elimination at the season-ending Players’ Championship tournament. The Winnipeg-based foursome fell 7-4 in their final round-robin match to Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., to finish with a 2-3 round-robin record and miss the playoffs in the Grand Slam of Curling season finale.

Stoughton, third Jon Mead and the front-end duo of Mark Nichols and Reid Carruthers gave one final round of high-fives before they left the ice. The team was disappointed they didn’t end things off on a high note though.

“Of course you want to finish on top but it’s tough just because everyone is moving on,” Stoughton said. “You want to finish off and win the whole event and pat each other on the back.”

Carruthers was the first to make his future plans official announcing this past Sunday he will skip a new team featuring Braeden Moskowy, Derek Samagalski and Colin Hodgson. Later that same day saw Glenn Howard name Mead to his team for next season.

“Our time kind of ran its course and everyone going in their own direction,” Carruthers said. “I’m excited for the future, it’s just a little disappointing we ended on this note.” 

The genesis of the team came together in 2010 when Mead returned to Stoughton’s rink after four seasons away and Carruthers hopped on board that year as well. The trio, along with Steve Gould, captured the Brier and world championships in 2011. Nichols replaced Gould in 2012 and the group won the Grand Slam of Curling’s National title in 2013.

There wasn’t any hesitation when Stoughton was asked what his favourite moment was with his teammates.

“There’s no doubt the highlight is winning the 2011 world championship with Reid and Jon,” Stoughton said. “Then we won the Canada Cup, a Slam and a couple of provincials with Mark. We lost a Brier final so we’ve had some great events and pretty damn good few years with Reid and Jon and the last two with Mark, it’s been good.”

Carruthers said it was an unbelievable run over the past five seasons.

“Getting to play with Jeff and learn from some of the best guys on the tour was an amazing learning experience,” Carruthers said. “A lot of ups and downs, obviously, but overall I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.” 

Stoughton hasn’t announced his plans for next season yet but stay tuned.

“I’d love to curl. I’m not going to curl with a team that I don’t think has a shot to win,” Stoughton said. “We’ll see what happens over the next few days. I’m sure something will open up and there’s been lots of talks with lots of people so either we’ll go and play as much as we can or we’ll see what happens in the next couple weeks.”

Carruthers now looks forward to skipping his own team playing in Manitoba.

“It’ll be a learning experience,” Carruthers said. “I skipped in the Grand Slams before but didn’t have amazing success. … It’ll be something new for sure and I’m excited for what next year brings.”