(by Jonathan Brazeau)
Curling legend Kevin Martin will retire following the season-ending Players’ Championship tournament.
Martin, 47, made the announcement during Sportsnet’s broadcast of the Grand Slam of Curling event on Friday night.
Martin’s rink is still in the mix for the Players’ title and finished round-robin play with a 3-2 record and advanced to the quarterfinals.
Watch the Players’ Championship quarterfinals live on Sportsnet and online at sportsnet.ca at 5 p.m. AT / 1 p.m. PT on Saturday.
The Edmonton skip is a four-time Brier champion and won the world championship in 2008. Martin retires as the all-time Grand Slam wins leader with 17 titles, including a record seven Players’ championships. He represented Canada twice at the Olympics winning gold in the 2010 Vancouver Games and silver in the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.
Upon his retirement from the sport, Martin will join the Grand Slam of Curling as a broadcast analyst and official spokesperson.
“It has been an amazing run. I am closing the chapter on my playing career in the sport of curling that has been so good to me,” Martin said in a press release. “I can’t wait for what lies ahead in my new role with Sportsnet as we work together to elevate the sport to new heights, inspiring our curling youth.”
Sportsnet also announced a fifth Grand Slam event, the Elite 10, will be added to the schedule for the 2014-15 season. The total prize money will rise to a minimum of $700,000 and the $1 million bonus will still be up for grabs if any team can capture all five Slams in a single season.