The Scotties Tournament of Hearts has begun in Thunder Bay, Ont., and with a small sample size to examine, Kevin and Warren discuss if it’s just rust that has affected a few teams out of the gate or could this be the year we see some surprises in the field. The guys also reflect on their pre-event picks to win and how those teams are doing. 

In Hot Rock Topics, Brad Heidt suggests the Canadian championships should be structured like the League Cup in soccer with multiple stages and byes for the higher-ranked teams to ensure the best teams are in the final round. Could something similar work in curling? Also, holding the hammer is a huge advantage and our Mailbag segment asks what if you gave 0.5 points to the team without the hammer to start: Is it worth a shot or would it be too confusing for new fans?

Kevin shares a funny tale in Story Time from his college days when coach Jules Owchar enforced a curfew during an event and quite literally wouldn’t let him out of his hotel room to hang out with his future wife Shauna. 

Reid Carruthers, who is serving as the interim coach for Team Canada’s Kerri Einarson, joins the show to share how he came on board, what protocols are in place to make sure the Scotties Tournament of Hearts goes off without a hitch, his thoughts on the new playoff format and advice for people looking to get into coaching. Carruthers also talks about what’s going on with his provincial playdowns in Manitoba, why he was shocked but not surprised by Jason Gunnlaugson’s decision not to compete due to COVID concerns and other teams he’s looking out for. As one of a handful of curlers who have played all four different positions at the Brier, Carruthers also reveals which spot in the lineup is his favourite. 

This podcast is produced by Warren Hanse, recorded and mixed by Mike Rogerson, and hosted by Kevin Martin, Warren Hansen and Jim Jerome. Production support by Jonathan Brazeau and Amil Delic.

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

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