There was a definite Laurier connection in the celebration after Canada’s win last weekend at the World Men’s Curling Championship in Basel, Switzerland.

Alumnus Brent Laing, Class of 2002, plays second for skip Glenn Howard’s winning team, which needed an extra end to defeat Scotland 8-7. Laing and third Wayne Middaugh both took out rocks to set up Howard’s winning throw to settle the title.

Another alumnus, Paul Webster, Class of 1998, was on the sidelines as National Development Coach for the Canadian Curling Association’s Calgary-based National Training Centre. The centre instructs curlers, develops coaches and oversees Canada’s elite curlers.

Meanwhile, in Waterloo, Howard’s daughter, Carly, is a first-year student and also a curler at Laurier.

Laing was the lead for Laurier grad and Olympic gold-medalist John Morris before starting to play second for Howard in 2004. The team, which also won the world championship in 2007, is based at the Coldwater & District Curling Club in Simcoe County. Laing has competed in eight Briers.

This season, Howard’s team was undefeated in provincial play, lost just one game in the Tim Hortons Brier and was defeated just once in Basel.