Success means Horgan rink adds fifth member to the team

Success breeds … lineup changes, at least in the case of Team Horgan, soon to be Team Fleury.

The change in team name has nothing to do with roster shuffles. The pending marriage of Tracy Horgan to Brent Fleury will, however, require the knowledgeable Canadian curling fans to take note.

More critical is the addition of Albertan Crystal Webster, creating a somewhat unique five-player rotation.

"We actually started talking about it after the curling season," said vice Jennifer Horgan.

"Since we had such a successful year, we moved up on the Canadian team ranking system, which means that we're going to be invited to Grand Slams across the country this year.

"Unfortunately, with Grand Slams, you need from two to four days off work for each event, versus just a day or so before, and we all have full-time jobs," said Horgan.
Enter Webster, a 40 year-old long-time skip who was curling out of Calgary.

"Crystal approached us," said Horgan.
"We're not bringing Crystal on as a fifth, we're making that clear. It's going to be a five-man rotation. Everyone is going to have equal play, except for Tracy. She will stay as skip."

To listen to Horgan explain it, the dynamics should prove interesting. There may be events where one member simply is unable to make it. At others, all five will be there, with all five likely playing through the round robin portion of the bonspiels.

"There are lots of different options that we'll be going through during the bonspiel season," said Horgan. "By playdowns, we expect to have a set roster."

For a team that has enjoyed success, the notion that a key contributor to that success may have to take a backseat, at times, to a newcomer to the team, might present a challenge or two.

But this particular collection of ladies is different from most.

"We're lucky in that we're all very easygoing," said Horgan. "Our team is known as having one of the best team dynamics. All of us, quite truthfully, want whatever is best for the team."

"Whatever four of the five who are playing best heading into the playoffs on a bonspiel will play," she added. "That will be a decision of the coach (Andrea Ronnebeck), in consultation with team members."

Horgan said there has been one high-end men's team that has run with a similar set-up, though this is the first of its kind on the ladies side.

One would think that others might follow suit, although Horgan suggests there is a caveat.

"A lot of the teams that we are playing are realistically full-time curlers," she said.

Within the community of elite curlers in the country, only a handful are facing the same predicament as the Horgan crew.

There are obviously talented women curlers who, having not reached the same level of national success, have simply opted to pursue their careers and live with a less high-end pursuit of curling excellence. Attempting to strike a balance in striving to be the best at both may be an untenable goal.

"I can't speak for the rest of the team, but for myself, I've gone to school way too long to give up on my professional career," said Horgan. "Curling, unfortunately, will always be a hobby for me. I'm a realist. I'm very fortunate that Vale has afforded me the flexibility to pursue my curling career, and have a great full-time job."