Born and raised in Midland, Ont., Russ Howard grew up a relentless rink rat at the local curling club on the shores of Georgian Bay.
He played for fun back then, with little clue of the career he’d eventually carve for himself. From the Briers to World Championships and Olympic gold, Howard was one of the most dominant curlers in the country for two decades.
MORRY GASH / AP
Canada’s Russ Howard practices during the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Italy,
On Wednesday, Howard received his latest honour when he was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, alongside former NHLer and Canadian Olympian Joe Sakic, decorated Olympic cyclist Alison Sydor, five-time paralympian wheelchair racer André Viger, the 1992 Olympic women’s gold-medal-winning rowing team, former president of Hockey Canada Murray Costello and visionary sports administrator Dr. Jean-Guy Ouellet.
“I knew I was a decent curler, but you start thinking Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, you’re talking some big names,” a humbled Howard told The Star by phone from Moncton, N.B., where he now lives and works as a real-estate agent. “Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky and all the great Olympians that have gone through? Geez.”
Howard, who skipped one of the greatest teams in curling history alongside his younger brother Glenn, Peter Corner and Wayne Middaugh, won Canada’s first Olympic gold in men’s curling in 2006 as part of Brad Gushue’s Newfoundland rink — becoming, at 50, the oldest gold-medal winner in Canadian Olympic history.