ERIC MCCARTHY
The Journal Pioneer
ALBERTON – He might be on the curling ice in Alberton, but Mark O’Rourke’s mind is in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
That’s where his wife, Kathy, and Team P.E.I. are competing in the playoffs of the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
“We’re certainly keeping a close eye on them, that’s for sure, and trying to do our job here, too,” said O’Rourke.
What he’s trying to do in Alberton is help the Rod MacDonald rink from the Charlottetown Curling Club win a fourth Labatt Tankard provincial men’s curling championship in five years. They are the defending champions.
If the MacDonald rink successfully defends, O’Rourke said it would be the third time that he and his wife have attended national curling events the same year. It has happened in 1991 and 1999. “It’s a pretty happy household when that happens,” said O’Rourke.
“It doesn’t happen very often, and this is maybe our last chance,” he added, suggesting age might soon start catching up on them.
MacDonald and Peter MacDonald, who doubles as the team’s spare and coach, are brothers of Kathy O’Rourke.