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Adam Spencer watches a shot during draw 3 of the Tour Challenge in Cranbrook, BC.

Stu Sells Notes: Super spare Spencer gets the call for Gushue

OAKVILLE, Ont. — When you’re down a player, who better than Adam Spencer to help fill in?

That was the thought for Team Gushue when it was announced Thursday they would be pressing forward with their tour dates without skip Brad Gushue, who will miss the start of the season due to a hip/groin injury.

Spencer subbed admirably on Glenn Howard’s team last season when Wayne Middaugh was sidelined due to a broken leg. The Guelph, Ont., native Spencer helped power Team Howard through the Ontario Tankard, winning the provincial title, and into the Tim Hortons Brier.

“We said, ‘who better to get?’ He spared his way all the way to the Brier,” Team Gushue’s Mark Nichols said. “The number of times that we played him last year he played unbelievable so we knew we were getting a great player when we asked him. It was just a matter of convincing him to play with us so we’re very fortunate to have him filling in.”

Spencer got the call this week to play third at the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard with Nichols moving up to skip. Second Brett Gallant and lead Geoff Walker continue to play their respective front-end roles.

Calgary skip Charley Thomas joins them next week for the Shorty Jenkins Classic although the team has yet to discuss what position he’ll play in the back end.

Stu Sells Oakville Tankard notes:

– Pat Simmons made his debut with Edmonton’s Team Brendan Bottcher on Thursday. Simmons, a two-time Brier champ, joined the team during the off-season after his crew parted ways with third John Morris moving on to skip Team Cotter and second Carter Rycroft and lead Nolan Thiessen stepping back from the game.

No, that’s not Bottcher sweeping. The skip and second Bradley Thiessen apparently had a jersey mixup when their new threads arrived in the wrong sizes. Also, as Nolan Thiessen pointed out on Instagram, lead Karrick Martin will have to remember to tip toe over Simmons’ sliding brush and avoid a wipeout like Rycroft had to for many years.

Team Bottcher are in the B-side of the triple knockout tournament with a 2-1 record. Meanwhile, the newly named Team Morris are at 1-2 sitting in the C-side and needing four consecutive wins to qualify.

– The Team Kyle Smith train continues to roll. Smith posted a 7-0 record en route to the Oakville OCT Fall Classic men’s championship last week and has picked up where he left off at the club scoring three wins Thursday. The Scottish team is one win away from qualifying for the playoffs and takes on Niklas Edin of Sweden in the A-qualifier Friday night.

– Team Smith’s third game of the day was a battle of the Muirheads. Thomas Muirhead plays third on Team Smith while his older brother Glen is the vice skip on Tom Brewster’s team.

“Glen and I are so competitive,” Thomas said with a smile. “We work together at home but that all changes when we’re out there on the ice.”

The younger Muirhead prevailed this time with a 4-2 victory. Meanwhile, their sister Eve Muirhead is off to a 2-0 start with her team playing in the HDF Insurance Shoot-Out in Edmonton.

– Speaking of Oakville OCT Fall Classic winners, Anna Hasselborg is also on a tear despite her Swedish team feeling a little bit under the weather. Hasselborg scored a big 8-4 win Thursday afternoon over compatriot Margaretha Sigfridsson. The two teams are in a heated points race already as they look to represent their country at the upcoming European Championships in November.

– Another week, another different lineup for Team Tracy Fleury. The Sudbury, Ont., rink was a player short last weekend for their season debut at the Oakville OCT Fall Classic with just Fleury, third Jennifer Wylie and second Jenna Walsh. Team Middaugh’s Leigh Armstrong filled in at lead.

Team Fleury made the trip back down to the Oakville Curling Club without Walsh, but have regular lead Amanda Gates and fifth Crystal Webster on board. Fleury admitted the rotation can make it hard to establish chemistry, however, the flexibility allows them to compete in high-profile events like this one in the first place.