By Mario Annicchiarico
The much anticipated victory finally arrived for Team BC on Tuesday at the , but the baby watch is still on for two members of Sean Geall害羞草研究所檚 Kelowna Curling Club team.
Lead Dave Harper returned to Regina late Monday night, missing out on the evening game at the Brandt Centre, but he was back in position for a 12-6 win over Newfoundland/Labrador害羞草研究所檚 Greg Smith in the afternoon on Tuesday.
Harper ventured back to B.C. on Saturday as his wife, Jessica, was experiencing labour pains. Baby No. 2 decided it wasn害羞草研究所檛 quite ready to enter the world and Harper was encouraged to head back to the Canadian men害羞草研究所檚 curling championship.
害羞草研究所淛ust not quite there yet, everything seems to be good. My wife said, 害羞草研究所楪o, you need to go back and play a game and live out your dream,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� Harper said after the team害羞草研究所檚 first win. 害羞草研究所淗onestly I thought I was heading home, but the curling gods were with me and I got to came out to live my dream here.害羞草研究所�
His flight back was re-routed to Saskatoon on Monday due to brutal snow conditions Regina is experiencing.
Harper 害羞草研究所� who left after four ends on Saturday 害羞草研究所� re-joined skip Geall, third Jeff Richard and second Andrew Nerpin, replacing fifth man Brad Wood, who has filled in throughout the competition.
Richard害羞草研究所檚 wife, Brooklyn Leitch, was also due this past Sunday, but their first child has held off for dad, who is back to his first Brier since 2010.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e got such good family support at home that once we get on the ice, we害羞草研究所檙e able to focus well. We know our wives are in good hands. My mom and Brooklyn害羞草研究所檚 mom, and Dave害羞草研究所檚 mom and his wife害羞草研究所檚 mom are all there. They害羞草研究所檝e had more babies than we have,害羞草研究所� Richard said with a chuckle. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e got a really good support group.害羞草研究所�
So Richard was glad to have Harper back in the fold as the team improved to 1-4 to remain in contention, with a slim hope to carry on to the championships round. They needed wins over the Northwest Territories and Nova Scotia on Wednesday to stay alive.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a vital part of the team. It害羞草研究所檚 amazing what one player brings to the team,害羞草研究所� Richard said of Harper. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 our motivator and our rah-rah guy. He probably has one of the most positive attitudes in a curler that I害羞草研究所檝e ever played with, so it害羞草研究所檚 nice to have him back.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 nice to get the monkey off the back and hopefully we can get a couple more,害羞草研究所� Richard said of the win. 害羞草研究所淚f we can win our last two we害羞草研究所檙e in some sort of a tiebreaker.害羞草研究所�
B.C. took the first step to a playoff spot Wednesday morning defeating the Northwest Territories 7-3. The Geall rink will take on Nova Scotia (3-3) for the Wednesday night for the final berth in pool B.
害羞草研究所淧laying in the Brier is something you dream of,害羞草研究所� Richard said of just having the chance to play at nationals. 害羞草研究所淭o be able to come back and play it again is absolutely awesome.
害羞草研究所淲e just have to have a good day (Wednesday) and we害羞草研究所檒l see what happens.害羞草研究所�
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