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Glenn Howard Announces Retirement from Competitive Curling
Glenn Howard, a four-time world and Canadian men’s curling champion, has made the decision to retire from men’s competitive curling at the age of 61. The announcement came after he missed the second half of the season due to an injury to his left knee.
Howard, hailing from Tiny, Ontario, passed the torch to his son Scott, who took over as skip in his absence. The team, which also includes David Mathers at second and Tim March at lead, went on to win the Ontario Tankard and represented the province at the Montana’s Brier. Mat Camm joined the squad as well, with the elder Howard providing guidance from the bench.
In a statement reflecting on his retirement, Howard shared, “I truly never thought this day would come as I was convinced I would play the game forever. Unfortunately, my knee is telling me I have gone past my expiry date. It is always difficult coming to this decision as my mind knows there is so much more fuel left in the tank, but my body cannot keep up. I know now that the time has come, and with wrapping up this season, I can confidently say that I will (finally) be retiring from men’s competitive curling.”
Expressing his pride in playing alongside his son, Howard stated, “I knew many years ago I wanted to finish my career playing with my son Scott. We have now played together for eight years, way more than I had ever anticipated and hoped for. It has been a wonderful journey watching Scott grow into the confident curler that he is today. Now it is the time to pass the baton off to him as he is ready to take on the skip position.”
Career Highlights
Glenn Howard’s illustrious career includes world and Brier titles won playing third alongside his older brother Russ in 1987 and 1993. He also secured Players’ Championship titles in 1993 and 1997. When Russ transitioned to New Brunswick, Glenn took on the role of skip and continued his success. He clinched additional world and Brier championships with a team comprised of Richard Hart at third, Brent Laing at second, and Craig Savill at lead in 2007 and 2012 with Wayne Middaugh at third.
Howard’s achievements extend to the Grand Slam of Curling, where he claimed 14 men’s titles as a skip, ranking third on the all-time list. In 2009, he completed a career Grand Slam. Additionally, Howard has shared his expertise as a coach for teams led by curling stars such as Eve Muirhead and Jennifer Jones.
Reflecting on his curling journey, Howard expressed optimism for the future, stating, “While I am sad that this journey and my curling story is coming to an end, I am hopeful that I will keep my hand in the best sport in the world in some way, shape, or form. I look forward to the future and what it will bring for both myself and the sport of curling.”
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