Throwing a Wrench back into curling

November 11, 2003

Ed Werenich comes out of retirement to play with his son

Adam Daifallah

National Post

Ed Werenich is back on the curling ice, and in a big way.

The man known affectionately as The Wrench retired from competitive curling three years ago. But Werenich has returned to the ice, to the delight of his many fans and to the dismay of competitors.

Werenich, a 56-year-old Toronto-area firefighter, is likely the most recognizable curler in the country, his ball cap askew and an ever-present toothpick dangling from the corner of his mouth. The gruff legend has represented Ontario at the national championships 10 times -- the last being in 1997 -- and he won the Canadian and world titles twice each, in 1983 and 1990. Now he is back for more, playing out of Toronto's Avonlea Curling Club with a pair of 52-year-olds, long-time friend Neil Harrison at vice and curling entrepreneur Lino Di Iori at lead, and his 25-year-old son, Ryan Werenich.

"It's a slow process getting back into things. I was gone for almost three years," Werenich said Sunday, after losing in the semi-finals of the Tim Horton's Cashpiel in Brantford, Ont.

"I'm basically trying to get the legs back, get comfortable throwing the big pressure shots again."

It doesn't look like he is having much trouble. The Werenich rink has reached the semi-finals in three out of the four events they've entered so far. The team wasn't sure how much they would play this year, Werenich said, but after the early results, the group will likely play at least three more bonspiels, plus the provincial playdowns.

Why the comeback? Werenich says he got the bug again after curling in an event at Toronto's Royal Canadian Curling Club last March, a venue where he figures he won about 10 cashpiels. He had so much fun, the decision to dust off the broom was easy, especially because of the chance to compete with his son.

"I played so well and enjoyed it so much, that got the ball rolling," said Werenich. "Neil said, 'I don't have a team, let's play.' Ryan had just graduated from McMaster. Everything just sort of fell together. It took about five days to make the decision."

A modest Werenich acknowledges that the response to his return has been "tremendous" all over the country. During the Don Bartlett Classic in Gander, Nfld., in October, fans travelled long distances just to see him slide in person again.

"Gander was just incredible. We played in an arena like The Brier. Some people travelled three or four hours just to watch me play.

Numerous people have come up to me and wished me well again," Werenich said.

And why wouldn't they? Werenich is one of the most beloved personalities in curling from coast-to-coast. Even former teammates are excited about his return.

"Eddie's success on the tour this year provides hope for others his age, although there aren't too many curlers in this world who have figured out how to win as consistently as The Wrench," said Paul Savage, who has curled on and off with Werenich for years, playing vice on the 1983 world championship team.

"After missing a couple of seasons and not really being into regular practising anymore [Werenich admits he hasn't trown a practice rock this year], it's hard to explain how he does it."

The Werenich rink team will head to Yorkton, Sask., later this month for the Painted Hand Casino Classic, a World Curling Tour event. Then it's the zone playdowns on the road to the Ontario championships. Werenich said the team's goal for the year is to make the Player's Championship in St. John's, Nfld., the season-ending event on the World Curling Tour.

"Now that we've been playing, we feel that we can be competitive," said Werenich, who, despite a sore back, appears to be relaxed and confident. "We're really close to playing well ... We're just about ready to break through."

adaifallah@nationalpost.com

[Back to articles]