Dow rises to Tankard

Colin Dow’s plan worked.

The 21-year-old will be the youngest player at the Tankard, the Ontario men’s championship, in Napanee Feb. 1-7.

”At the end of last year, when I finished juniors, my plan was to make provincials in four years,” said Dow, the second for Bryan Cochrane’s Rideau Curling Club rink.

“As soon as I got on Team Cochrane this year, my goal was to make provincials.”

Not bad for a guy who didn’t even know if he would have a team this season.

The fourth-year University of Ottawa human kinetics student is a classmate of Canadian women’s junior champion Rachel Homan.

He’s also the assistant ice-maker at both the RCMP and Navan clubs, both renowned for their swing ice. Provincial-level ice is also swingy.

“We have two of the best shot-makers in the province (Cochrane and Rich Moffatt) on our back end,” said Dow, “so if John (Steski at lead) and I are doing our jobs, then we have a good chance of making the playoffs.”

Dow is also keeping a level head for his first Tankard.

“Hopefully, it won’t be a once in a lifetime experience, but it might be. I just hope to gain experience for the future.”

One of their televised games is against three-time world champ Glenn Howard. “Tune in early,” Dow quipped.

Rogers 22’s live coverage begins Monday. The games of Cochrane and the Arnprior Curling Club’s Chris Gardner will air Monday and Tuesday at 8 p.m. The full schedule is at rogerstv.com.