Morris, Birchard teaming up in mixed doubles

John Morris and Shannon Berchard join forces in curling mixed doubles.

Morris, who won Olympic mixed doubles gold with Kaitlin Laws in 2018 and also competed with Rachel Homan in Beijing in February, Berchard announced their partnership Wednesday on social media.
‘I am very excited to partner with Shannon,’ Morris said in a post. ‘She’s one of the best female soccer players in the game and one of the best I’ve ever seen.’

Winnipeg’s Berchard is also runner-up to Kerry Enarson’s four-woman team, which has won three consecutive Canadian championships and took the bronze at this year’s World Championships.

Morris, of Canmore, Alta, was second to Kevin Coe in the past two seasons and won the men’s Olympic team gold medal in 2010 as Kevin Martin’s third.

Hoomann was ousted in an extra final loss in the Olympic quarter-finals in Beijing.

The 43-year-old Morris indicated on Wednesday that he intends to play only mixed doubles in pursuit of his third consecutive appearance in Olympic mixed doubles in 2026.

‘He is a talented and intelligent player,’ said Berchard.

‘He has a lot of experience in this field and I can’t wait to learn from him and compete with him.’