Fowler’s route to the Trials runs through Kitchener

It’s only a two-hour drive from Brandon to Winnipeg’s MTS Centre. But Rob Fowler’s hopes of being on the ice this December at the Canadian Curling Trials involves a significant detour… all the way to Kitchener for the 2013 Capital One Road to the Roar, presented by Monsanto. Finishing 15th in the Canadian Team Ranking System at the conclusion of last season’s play, the team from the Brandon Curling Club – including Allan Lyburn, Brendan Taylor and Derek Samagalski – earned one of the 12 men’s berths in the Pre-Trials event, Nov. 5-10 in the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex.
Rob Fowler (Photo JP Gaboury)

Rob Fowler (right) with teammates (left to right) Derek Samagalski, Brendan Taylor and Allan Lyburn (Photo JP Gaboury)

The Road to the Roar will decide the final four teams, two of each gender, that qualify to compete at the 2013 Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings, presented by Monsanto, for the right to represent our country next February at the Sochi Olympics. “We feel good about our chances of getting to Winnipeg in December,” said Fowler, who, ironically, was on the road to the Manitoba capital where the team would catch a flight to Ontario for the AMC Shorty Jenkins Classic in Brockville. “There’s really no additional pressure,” he said of the Kitchener Pre-Trials. “It’s just another step in the process. We’ve worked hard the past three years and feel confident going in.” Fowler is definitely no stranger to the pressure of competition, throwing second stones for Jeff Stoughton in three Briers, as well as the 2009 Roar of the Rings where they finished third, and skipping Team Manitoba to a bronze medal at the 2012 Tim Hortons Brier. The Brockville event, which includes another six of the men’s teams that will compete in the Road to the Roar, is Fowler’s first of the season. “We’ve scheduled five events prior to the Pre-Trials. We heard good things about the ice in Brockville, and that’s what you want to play on… quality ice like we’ll see in Kitchener.” “You Gotta Be There” for the drama of the Capital One Road to the Roar, when 24 teams take their best shots at keeping the dream alive. Get your tickets today just by clicking here.