Korab expected to be back with Gushue rink next season

ST. JOHN'S - Brad Gushue and Mark Nichols will have a new front end next year and sources tell Transcontinental Media one of those curlers will be a familiar face.

Dave Noftall and Chris Schille, who threw lead and second stones for the Olympic gold medallists this season, won't be returning next year and will be replaced by Jamie Korab, who was a member of that 2006 Torino team, and Ryan Fry, who curled third for Winnipeg's Jeff Stoughton this year.

"No final decisions have been made on our team for next year," Gushue replied when asked to confirm or deny the speculation.

Korab was sacked just over a year ago in a very public and very messy split.

The Harbour Grace native was a long-time member of the Newfoundland team, curling junior with Gushue and Nichols and was fifth on the world junior championship team in 2001.

The foursome had just returned from Hamilton, Ont. and a runner-up showing at the Tim Horton Brier when Korab learned he was turfed.

Gushue cited "chemistry" issues as the reasoning for Korab's ouster. Korab later contended an on-ice spat between the two at the Strauss Canada Cup in Kamloops, B.C., led to his demise.

The move created a firestorm of criticism - some of it unwarranted and unjust - aimed at Gushue.

"I've never ruled it out," Gushue said when asked if he would play with Korab again. "I've always said in media interviews I'd be willing to play with him again.

"But there are certain conditions and certain things that would have to change for that to happen, and Mark and I are going to stand firm on those.

"If those conditions are met, and those changes are made, we'd be open to playing with Jamie again, next year or down the road."

Gushue would not elaborate, and Korab was unavailable for comment.

In Fry, Gushue would be getting a 29-year-old native of Winnipeg who curled with Stoughton in the 2007 Brier where he was named a second-team all-star.

Before joining Stoughton, Fry skipped his own teams and was runner-up Northern Ontario's Jeff Currie in the 1996 Canadian junior championship.

Fry, the source said, would make a full-time move to St. John's.

Schille is a native of Red Deer who found the travel between St. John's and Alberta increasingly difficult. In addition to that, his girlfriend lives in Winnipeg.

"Chris felt the travel was too hard on him, and it was mutually agreed among the three of us we go separate ways," Gushue said.

"He was disappointed and we were disappointed we weren't going to fulfill the four years. But life comes first and he wants to get his life in order. The last two years of not working and coming down here have taken a toll on him."

As for Noftall, he and his wife have two young children and Gushue said the strain of a very busy travel schedule may have impacted the veteran lead.

"I don't think he was comfortable with the travel, and maybe the situation that he was thrown into," he said of Noftall, who was pegged as Korab's replacement.

"It was a difficult position to be put into, for anybody," Gushue said. "But we have the utmost respect for Dave, and he did a wonderful job. He was understanding of the decision. Everything is on good terms."

The moves mark the sixth straight year there's been at least one change on the team.
In 2004, Mark Ward joined Gushue, Nichols and Korab. In '05, Ward was replaced by Keith Ryan, who was supplanted by Mike Adam in '06. Adam was later relegated to fifth in favour of Russ Howard for the Olympic Trials and Torino Games. In 2007, Schille came aboard in place of Adam/Howard, this year it was Noftall and next season there'll be two new faces.

"Not at all," Gushue replied when asked if he's concerned with the potential of another round of condemnation. "I got criticized last year when people didn't know the situation, so if they want to criticize me now, they can go right ahead.

"Last year, I was unfairly criticized for a situation people knew very little about. I've been wide open about this, so if they want to criticize me, then go right ahead."