THUNDER BAY – Not even an airplane crash can slow Rick Lang down – at least not for long.
The former two-time world curling champion was supposed to head to the Tim Hortons Brier in Kingston, Ont. on Thursday, where he’ll coach the10-time Northern Ontario champion Brad Jacobs rink in search of a second Canadian national championship.
But Lang, who also coaches Krista McCarville’s foursome, who just returned home from a playoff appearance at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Moose Jaw, Sask., on Monday was injured in a Bearskin Airline plane crash in Dryden on the journey back to Thunder Bay and had to put his trip to the Brier on hold for a few days while he recovered from a hand injury.
McCarville and teammate Ashley Sippala were also aboard the flight, which crashed on takeoff and hit a snow bank, pieces of the propeller piercing the fuselage and carving into Lang’s right hand.
Lang is also using the added time to get to know his twin grandsons, who were born while the McCarville rink was battling their way into the championship round at last week’s Scottie’s.
“I knew this was going to be an eventful month, at the beginning of February with the Brier and Scottie’s and all the excitement that would go with those events and only being home three days in between. But as the world knows, a few things have happened in between,” Lang said.
His daughter Sarah, who normally plays lead for McCarville, and her husband Jordan, had their twins a little earlier than expected, and caught everyone by surprise.
“I was just sad not to be there for it. And then coming home, of course, very anxious to see them all and the mishap happened with the plane accident,” Lang said.
“We’re well. I want everyone to know we’re OK. The girls are doing well and we’re getting over our injuries.”
Lang’s squad in Kingston will be in tough in a star-studded field that also includes reigning champion Kevin Koe of Alberta, provincial rival Brendan Bottcher and former two-time champion Brad Gushue. Team Jacobs, which retooled and added Mark Kennedy at third in place of Ryan Fry, will be seeking its first title since 2013, a year before they captured Olympic gold in Sochi.
Lang said they’ve been banging on the door for years, reaching the playoffs every year since 2015, but just haven’t been able to break through again.
“Getting through the Brier playoffs and finals is something I think that was a goal of theirs from the beginning. They’ve made changes this year. They have Mark Kennedy on board and he is an absolutely unbelievable player and been phenomenal,” Lang said.
“It’s been a pleasure working with him and the whole team. I hope I’ve supported them and been able to help with what they’ve been doing this year. They’re doing a lot of things right. They’ve got a lot of great habits. They’ve been open to new learning this year.”
It seems to be working. After losing out in the quarterfinals at the Masters, the Jacobs rink has rolled off three straight Grand Slam of Curling titles, capturing the Tour Challenge, a title they won in Thunder Bay a year earlier, the National and the Canadian Open.
“I think if they just continue what they did all year, they don’t have to change a thing. They just have to perform the way they have all year and they have a great chance of winning.”
