Robert (Bob) "Bobby" Ursel[1] (born February 12, 1965) is a Canadian curler and curling coach. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Ursel lives of Kelowna, British Columbia.

Bob Ursel
Born (1965-02-12) February 12, 1965 (age 59)
Team
Curling clubKelowna CC, Kelowna
Curling career
Brier appearances3 (1999, 2003, 2008)
Top CTRS ranking10th (2007-08, 2009-10)
Grand Slam victories0
Medal record
Curling
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1985 Perth
Nokia Brier
Bronze medal – third place 2003 Halifax

Curling career

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In 1984, Ursel skipped his native Manitoba to a Canadian Junior Curling Championship. The following year, he skipped the Canadian Junior Team to a World Junior Curling Championship title. That team was inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.[2]

It would be 15 years out of junior that Ursel would finally make it to the Brier. He played third for Bert Gretzinger's 1999 British Columbia team. They finished 5-6. In 2002 Ursel moved to play third for Pat Ryan where he made the 2003 Nokia Brier. At the 2003 Brier, the team lost in the semi-final to Nova Scotia (skipped by Mark Dacey).

After the 2003 Brier, Ursel left the Ryan team to form his own team. Ursel won his third and final BC provincial championship, and only one as skip in 2008, when he defeated former World Champion Greg McAulay 8–7 in the final an extra end.[3] He played in his third Brier in 2008 where he lost in the 3-4 game to Ontario's Glenn Howard.

Ursel sat out most of the 2010-11 season with a knee injury. His team continued to be referred to as "Team Ursel" on the World Curling Tour, but he was replaced by Ken Maskiewich at the third position while regular fourth Jim Cotter took over the reins as skip.

He is the coach of Japanese men's team, who won gold at the 2018 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships.

Personal life

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Ursel's father, Jim, won the 1977 Brier as skip of the Quebec team. Ursel is currently married,[4] and has four children. Prior to becoming the Japanese national team coach, he was employed as a police officer.[5]

Grand Slam record

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Key
C Champion
F Lost in Final
SF Lost in Semifinal
QF Lost in Quarterfinals
R16 Lost in the round of 16
Q Did not advance to playoffs
T2 Played in Tier 2 event
DNP Did not participate in event
N/A Not a Grand Slam event that season
Event 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10
Masters Q DNP Q DNP Q DNP
Canadian Open DNP DNP DNP Q Q QF
The National DNP DNP DNP DNP Q Q
Players' Championships DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP Q

References

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  1. ^ 2017 Brier Media Guide: Previous Rosters
  2. ^ "1985 Bob Ursel Team". Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame - Honoured members database. Sport Manitoba. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Ursel rink wins B.C. title, sets sights on Brier in Winnipeg". The Province. February 11, 2008. p. A38. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  4. ^ 2019 World Men's Curling Championship Media Guide: Team Japan
  5. ^ "2021 BKT Tires-OK Tires World Men's Curling Championship Media Guide" (PDF). Curling Canada. Retrieved March 30, 2021.[permanent dead link]
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