WINNIPEG, March 16, 2008…Members of the Canadian Curling Reporters (CCR) selected the first and second all-star teams for the 2008 Tim Hortons Brier.
 
The results, announced at the Brier Closing Brunch by CCR Past President Brian McAndrew of the Toronto Star, were as follows:
 
                        FIRST TEAM                                              
                        ------------                                                       
 
SKIP            Kevin Martin, Alberta                                    
 
THIRD           John Morris, Alberta                                      
 
SECOND          Marc Kennedy, Alberta (unanimous)             
 
LEAD            Craig Savill, Ontario                                      
 
 
                        SECOND TEAM
                        ------------                                                       
 
SKIP            Glenn Howard, Ontario
 
THIRD           Bob Ursel, British Columbia (skip but throws third stones)
 
SECOND          Brent Laing, Ontario
 
LEAD            Rick Sawatsky, British Columbia
 
 
CCR President Jim Henderson and Canadian Curling Association Board member Jack Bowman presented The Canadian Curling Reporters All-Star Awards to the winners.
 
ROSS HARSTONE AWARD
 
The Ross Harstone Trophy is presented each year to the player chosen by his peers as the curler in the Tim Hortons Brier who best represents Ross G.L. Harstone’s high ideals of good sportsmanship, observance of the rules, exemplary conduct and curling ability.
 
Jack Bowman, CCA Board of Director member, announced the winner while CCA President Al Forsythe presented the Ross Harstone Award to Saskatchewan second Gerry Adam.
 
SCOTTY HARPER AWARD – Media Award ($500.00)
 
For the best curling story of 2007, as selected by the School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University, the Award is in memory of the late Scotty Harper of the Winnipeg Free Press, whose curling reports enlivened that journal for many years.
 
The award had not been presented for a number of years but with the help of the CCA, the award was re-introduced in 2005 and won by Paul Wiecek of the Winnipeg Free Press.   In 2006, the winner was Allen Cameron of the Calgary Herald. Last year, SWEEP Magazine’s Jim Henderson won for his ‘Torino 2006’ story.
 
This year’s winner, once again, is SWEEP Magazine’s Jim Henderson, for his story, ‘Decisions, Decisions, Decisions’ about the 2007 Tim Hortons Brier.   The presentation was made by CCA President Al Forsythe.
 
PAUL McLEAN AWARD 
(named in honour of the highly-respected TSN Producer of curling, football, world juniors hockey, etc., who died of cancer, at the age of 39, in December of 2005)
 
The Award was presented for the first time in 2007 by the CCR and TSN to a media person ‘behind the scenes’ who has made a significant contribution to the sport of curling.  The inaugural recipient was Richard Wells, TSN Director (Hockey, Baseball and Curling).
 
This year’s winner was Denis Lavoie, Associate Director for CBC-TV Sports.   The presentation was made by TSN’s long-time curling commentator Ray Turnbull.
 
CCA PRESIDENT’S AWARD -  For outstanding contribution to the growth and development of curling over the past 50 years
 
To CBC-TV: The Award was presented by CCA President Al Forsythe and accepted by Scott Moore, Executive Director, CBC-TV Network Sports.
 
SPECIAL MEDIA AWARDS – Presented by Host Committee chair Barry Greenberg and CCA President Al Forsythe to writer Jack Matheson and broadcaster Bob Picken for outstanding career coverage of the sport of curling.
 
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