Former Brier champ and longtime curling broadcaster Ray Turnbull dies at 78

Ray Turnbull, a member of the World Curling Hall of Fame and Manitoba’s 1965 Brier championship team, has died. He was 78.

Curling Canada said on its website that Turnbull died of leukemia at the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre.

Born in Huntsville, Ont., Turnbull rose to prominence as a curler in Manitoba. He served as the lead for Terry Braunstein’s squad that captured the ’65 Canadian championship and finished runner-up to the United States at the world men’s championship in Perth, Scotland, later that year. 

Turnbull became a successful analyst after his career and was part of TSN’s curling broadcast team from 1985-2010.

“He loved family..loved life..loved red wine..LOVED curling..my TSN partner for 25 years..Ray Turnbull has passed..heaven now has a lead RIP,” longtime TSN curling announcer Vic Rauter posted on Twitter.

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Turnbull was inducted into the World Curling Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

“It is with deep sadness that I convey the sincerest condolences from the World Curling Federation and the curling community worldwide to the family and friends of Ray,” World Curling Federation president Kate Caithness said in a statement. “He did so much throughout the years to grow the sport both on the ice and through his 25 years of TV commentary. He was justifiably rewarded when inducted into the World Curling Federation Hall of Fame. He will be sorely missed.”

The Canadian Press