Jules Owchar

Last updated
Jules Owchar
Curler
Born (1944-10-12) October 12, 1944 (age 80)
Lac La Biche, Alberta
Curling career Curling pictogram.svg
Brier appearances5 (1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997)
World Championship
appearances		2 (1991, 1997)
Medal record
Men's curling
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
World Curling Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1991 Winnipeg
Representing Flag of Alberta.svg  Alberta
Tim Hortons Brier
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1991 Hamilton
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1997 Calgary
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 1996 Kamloops
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1992 Regina
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 1995 Halifax

Jules Owchar (born October 12, 1944, [1] in Lac La Biche, Alberta) is a Canadian curler, curling coach, and golf coach from Edmonton, Alberta. Owchar is best known as the longtime coach of Kevin Martin, a retired Olympic champion, world champion, and Canadian champion. Owchar is also the curling coach of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology curling teams. He is also currently coaching Brad Gushue's Newfoundland and Labrador team. Teams coached by Owchar have won eight Briers, one Olympic gold, two silvers, and one bronze; two world championships, 24 Slam titles and 34 conference championship gold medals, as of March 2019 when he was named to Curling Canada's Hall of Fame. [2]

Contents

Career

Playing career

Owchar was officially listed as the alternate for the Kevin Martin team, which he coached, at the 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, and 1997 Briers. As the alternate, he won various medals with the team, including two Brier titles and a silver medal at the 1991 World Men's Curling Championship.

Coaching career

Owchar is a Level 3 certified curling coach by the National Coaching Certification Program.

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

Owchar began his career at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) as a physical education instructor in 1969. Throughout his career, he has coached NAIT curling teams to 33 college championships. [3] Along with the golf championships he has also coached his students to, he has over 40 provincial and national championships as a coach. [4] Most recently, he coached the NAIT men's curling team to their first national college championship. [5]

Coaching Kevin Martin

Owchar began coaching Kevin Martin when he enrolled at NAIT in 1984. [6] Martin had enrolled at NAIT specifically to curl under Owchar, [3] and he and Martin were together for thirty years. [2] In their first few years together, Owchar coached Martin to a Canadian junior title and a silver medal at the World Junior Curling Championships. As they continued, Martin and Owchar made their first Brier appearance in 1991 representing Alberta, and won their first Brier title. Martin then lost the championship game in the world championship later that year. In the next six years, Martin and Owchar returned to the Brier four times, and finished within the top three all four times. However, Martin came up short at the world level, losing the semifinal at the world championship in 1997 and the gold medal game at the 2002 Winter Olympics, which had come down to a draw for the win. [6] Martin also missed another opportunity to represent Canada at the Olympics in 2005.

Martin returned to the Brier in 2006, but failed to advance in the playoffs. However, with a new team and with Owchar continuing to coach, Martin made the playoffs at the 2007 Tim Hortons Brier, won the 2008 and 2009 Briers, and won a gold and silver medal at the 2008 and 2009 world championships, respectively. [6] Then, the next year, Martin won the 2009 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials and the right to represent Canada at his third Olympics, and won his first gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics. [7] More recently, Owchar coached Martin to a bronze medal finish at the 2011 Tim Hortons Brier.

Overall, Owchar has coached Martin to a total of ten provincial championships and four Canadian championships. As Martin's coach, he has also coached at three Winter Olympics and four world championships. [8]

Heading East

After Martin's retirement at the end of the 2014 season, Owchar was recruited by 2006 Olympic gold medalist Brad Gushue to coach his Newfoundland and Labrador team. [2] Since coming on board, the team has achieved much success under Owcher's tutelage, culminating in an emphatic win at the 2017 Tim Hortons Brier on home ground in St. John's and going undefeated to win the 2017 world championship in Edmonton. They repeated as Brier champions in 2018.

Owchar was named to Curling Canada's Hall of Fame at the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier. [2]

Awards and honours

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Ferbey</span> Canadian curler

Randy S. Ferbey is a Canadian retired curler from Sherwood Park, Alberta. Ferbey is a six-time Canadian champion and a four-time World Champion. He recently coached the Rachel Homan women's team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Martin (curler)</span> Canadian curler and Olympic champion

Kevin Martin, nicknamed "The Old Bear" and "K-Mart", is a Canadian retired curler originally from Lougheed, Alberta and residing in Edmonton. He is an Olympic, World and four-time Canadian champion and a member of the World Curling Hall of Fame. He is considered by many commentators and former and current curlers to be the greatest curler of all time. He is also known for his rivalries with Randy Ferbey/David Nedohin, the best Alberta provincial rivalry ever as the two teams were generally regarded the best in the world from 2002 to 2006; his rivalry with Jeff Stoughton, perhaps the most famous all prairies rivalry ever which spanned over 2 decades from 1991 to 2014; with Glenn Howard from 2007 to 2014, perhaps the best two team rivalry in Canadian curling history, and his rivalry with Sweden's Peja Lindholm from 1997 to 2006, perhaps the best ever men's Canada-Europe rivalry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Stoughton</span> Canadian curler

Jeffrey R. "Jeff" Stoughton is a Canadian retired curler. He is a three-time Brier champion and two-time World champion as skip. Stoughton retired from competitive curling in 2015. He is currently the National Men's Coach and Program Manager for Curling Canada, as well as being the head coach of the Canadian Mixed Doubles National Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Gushue</span> Canadian curler (born 1980)

Bradley Raymond Gushue, ONL is a Canadian curler from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Gushue, along with teammates Russ Howard, Mark Nichols, Jamie Korab and Mike Adam, represented Canada in curling at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where they won the gold medal by defeating Finland 10–4. He also represented Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where he won a bronze medal. In addition to the Olympics, Gushue won the 2017 World Men's Curling Championship with teammates Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, and Geoff Walker. He is a record six-time Brier champion skip, having won in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 all with Nichols, Gallant and Walker, except for 2023 and 2024 with E. J. Harnden replacing Gallant. Their win in 2017 was Newfoundland and Labrador's first Brier title in 41 years. At the 2018 Tim Hortons Brier, Gushue set a new record for Brier game wins as a skip, breaking a three-way tie with previous record-holders Russ Howard and Kevin Martin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Morris (curler)</span> Canadian curler and Olympic gold medallist

John C. Morris is a Canadian curler, and two-time Olympic gold medallist from Canmore, Alberta. Morris played third for the Kevin Martin team until April 24, 2013. Morris, author of the book Fit to Curl, is the son of Maureen and Earle Morris, inventor of the "Stabilizer" curling broom. Morris grew up in Gloucester, Ontario and at the age of five began curling at the Navy Curling Club.

Mark Nichols, ONL is a Canadian curler from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. He currently plays third for the Brad Gushue rink. Nichols is a former Olympic champion curler, having played third for Team Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where the team won a gold medal. He also won a World Championship with Gushue in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brent Laing</span> Canadian curler

Brent George Laing is a Canadian curler from Barrie, Ontario. He grew up in Meaford, Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marc Kennedy</span> Canadian curler and Olympic gold medallist

Marc Kennedy is a Canadian curler, and Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic gold medallist from St. Albert, Alberta. He currently plays third on Team Brad Jacobs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Fry</span> Canadian curler

Ryan Bennett Fry is a retired Canadian curler currently living in Pickering, Ontario. He most recently played third on the Mike McEwen team and coached the Rachel Homan team. He currently coaches the Joël Retornaz rink. He previously played third for Team Brad Jacobs, and the team represented Canada and won the gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics. The team also won the 2013 Tim Hortons Brier. Fry won a silver medal at the 2013 World Men's Curling Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Koe</span> Canadian curler (born 1975)

Kevin Koe is a Canadian curler. Koe is a two-time World champion and four-time Canadian champion. He was the skip of the Canadian men's team at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Hebert</span> Canadian curler (born 1983)

Benjamin "Ben" Hebert is a Canadian curler, a Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic gold medallist, 2008 World Champion and four time Brier Champion from Chestermere, Alberta. He currently plays lead on Team Brad Jacobs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Gallant</span> Canadian curler (born 1990)

Brett Philip Gallant is a Canadian curler from Chestermere, Alberta. He currently plays second on Team Brad Jacobs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brendan Bottcher</span> Canadian curler

Brendan Michael Bottcher is a Canadian curler from Spruce Grove, Alberta. Bottcher is a three-time provincial men's champion, and was the skip of the 2021 Canadian men's championship team, having led Alberta to victory at the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B. J. Neufeld</span> Canadian curler

Brendan "B. J." Neufeld is a Canadian curler from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He started curling around the age of ten and, like older brother Denni Neufeld, cites the achievements of his father as leading his interest into the game of curling. His father is Chris Neufeld who was a three-time Manitoba curling champion and one time Labatt Brier champion in 1992 as part of the Vic Peters team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Tim Hortons Brier</span> National championship

The 2013 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's national curling championship, was held from March 2 to 10 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta. This edition of the Brier marked the thirteenth time that Alberta has hosted the Brier, and the sixth time that Edmonton has hosted the Brier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geoff Walker (curler)</span> Canadian curler

Geoff Walker is a Canadian curler, currently living in Edmonton, Alberta. He currently plays lead for the Brad Gushue rink. He was the Men's World Champion in 2017 and won silver the following year in 2018. A six-time national champion, he won the Brier in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Walker was a two-time World Junior Champion when he won gold in 2006 and 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. J. Harnden</span> Canadian curler

Eric Christopher "E. J." Harnden, Jr. is a Canadian curler. He currently plays second on Team Matt Dunstone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Tim Hortons Brier</span> Curling competition at St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador

The 2017 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship, was held from March 4–12, 2017 at the Mile One Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Bradley Thiessen is a Canadian curler. He was a long-time member of the Brendan Bottcher rink, throwing second stones for the team until 2022. With Bottcher, he won the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier and represented Canada at the 2021 World Men's Curling Championship.

Karrick Martin is a Canadian curler. He currently plays lead on Team Kevin Koe. He is the son of 2010 Olympic champion skip Kevin Martin.

References

  1. ↑ "Jules Owchar". Vancouver Sun. 21 January 2010. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Heroux, Devin (5 March 2019). "Jules Owchar is curling's rock-whisperer and all he does is win". CBC Sports. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 "Jules Owchar". Coaching Association of Canada. Retrieved 10 June 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. 1 2 "NAIT's Top 50 Alumni – Jules Owchar". Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  5. ↑ Griwkowsky, Con (23 March 2013). "Brown makes NAIT curling history". Edmonton Sun . Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 "Player-coach relationship: Kevin Martin & Jules Owchar". Techlife Magazine, NAIT . Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Coaching Profile: Jules Owchar". Canadian Curling Association. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  8. ↑ "Jules Owchar". Vancouver Sun . Retrieved 10 June 2013.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ "Curling Canada | Curling Canada honours 2019 Hall of Fame inductees, annual award-winners".
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.