Marc Kennedy to join Team Gushue as alternate in Beijing

Olympian Marc Kennedy will join Team Brad Gushue as alternate during the team’s quest for gold in Beijing.

Kennedy joins Gushue, vice-skip Mark Nichols, second Brett Gallant and lead Geoff Walker for the upcoming event and provides the team with a wealth of international experience.

“I am honoured and humbled to be invited to join Team Gushue on their Olympic journey. They are an incredible team, and I look forward to supporting them in any way that I possibly can,” said Kennedy.

The 39-year-old from St. Albert, Alta., is no stranger to competing with the Maple Leaf on his back. Kennedy won the 2010 Olympic gold medal in men’s curling with Kevin Martin. In 2018, he aided Kevin Koe’s team to a fourth overall finish. In addition to that, Kennedy has represented Canada at three world men’s curling championships, winning gold with Martin in 2008 and silver in 2009. In 2016, Kennedy returned to the international competition with Koe and earned gold for Canada.

“We are thrilled to add Marc as our fifth man and we can’t wait to work with him. His experience, skill, versatility, and overall fit will benefit our team,” said Gushue.

Kennedy has proven to be one of the most versatile players in men’s Canadian curling, with all of his major curling accolades coming at the second and vice-skip positions. Kennedy played in his first of 10 Tim Hortons Briers in 2007 as second for Kevin Martin. The team became one of the most dominant men’s teams to play the game, winning back-to-back Tim Hortons Brier titles in 2008 and 2009, followed by an undefeated run at Vancouver 2010 for a gold medal. 

In 2015, Kennedy joined Koe as vice-skip to form yet another formidable lineup among the best in Canadian men’s curling, winning the 2016 Tim Hortons Brier and 2017 Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials to earn the right to represent Canada at Pyeongchang 2018. 

Currently, Kennedy plays vice-skip for Team Brad Jacobs and was one game short of representing the Canadian men’s team at Beijing 2022. Team Gushue defeated Team Jacobs 4-3 in the final at the 2021 Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials, presented by AGI, to earn the right to represent Canada.

Kennedy will also keep his aspirations of representing Canada in Beijing in mixed doubles. He and partner Val Sweeting will compete at the 2022 Canad Inns Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Trials from Dec. 28-Jan. 2 in Portage la Prairie, Man.

Jeff Thomas, listed as the team’s alternate and served in a coaching role for Team Gushue at the 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Trials, will resume his coaching role in Beijing alongside Jules Owchar.