Jay Merchant (born 16 May 1982) is an Australian curler and curling coach originally from Canada.

Jay Merchant
Born (1982-05-16) 16 May 1982 (age 42)
Team
SkipJay Merchant
FourthDean Hewitt
SecondTanner Davis
LeadJustin Grundy
Curling career
World Mixed Doubles Championship
appearances
1 (2013)
Pacific-Asia Championship
appearances
6 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
Pan Continental Championship
appearances
2 (2022, 2023)
Medal record
Men's curling
Representing  Australia

Personal life

edit

Merchant was born and grew up in Coronation, Alberta, Canada. His father, Archie[1] curled in national oilman's competitions and his mom and older brother curled as well.[citation needed]

After highschool, Merchant attended the University of Lethbridge where he studied for a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.[2] He spent the majority of his time working in oil and gas as a labourer and then became an executive with M&N Construction in between his studies.[citation needed]

He was a member of then Member of Parliament Rick Casson's steering committee and curled out of the Lethbridge Curling Club. He played juniors in Alberta[1] and made it to provincials a number of times. In 2003 he played for University of Lethbridge at the CIS/CCA Curling Championships; they were in the top five.[citation needed] Merchant continued to compete in men's and competed in provincials in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec in various levels of the sport.

In the 2000s, he curled on the World Curling Tour, and was a member of the Guy Hemmings'[1] team in 2008.[3]

In 2007 the Australian Winter Olympic Committee asked him to migrate to Australia on a distinguished talent visa.[1] In 2010 he moved to Australia to coach and play with the Australian National Team and pursue a law degree at Bond University, which he completed in 2012.[4][5]

Merchant studied a master's degree in business law at Bond University. He also completed his Juris Doctor and postgraduate diploma in legal practice.[6] Merchant currently is a sergeant of police and is also a barrister working predominantly in the Queensland Magistrates Courts.[7][1]

He is a law and government lecturer at universities in Australia and abroad and has a lecture series called 'The Prosecution Rests with Jay Merchant'. Merchant also colour commentates on television, radio and is a contributor to print media in areas of sport, law, and government.[citation needed]

Teams and events

edit

Men's

edit
Season Skip Third Second Lead Alternate Coach Events
2007–08 Guy Hemmings Pierre Charette Jay Merchant Jamie Korab Mark Homan
2014–15 Ian Palangio Jay Merchant Dean Hewitt Steve Johns Archie Merchant PACC 2014 (4th)
2015–16 Ian Palangio Jay Merchant Dean Hewitt Derek Smith Archie Merchant PACC 2015 (5th)
2016–17 Ian Palangio Jay Merchant Dean Hewitt Derek Smith Archie Merchant PACC 2016 (7th)
2017–18 Dean Hewitt (fourth) Ian Palangio Christopher Ordog Hugh Millikin (skip) Jay Merchant Archie Merchant PACC 2017 (4th)
2018–19 Dean Hewitt Jay Merchant Rupert Jones Ian Palangio Steve Johns AMCC 2018  
Dean Hewitt (fourth) Jay Merchant (skip) Dustin Armstrong Steve Johns Bob Armstrong PACC 2018 (7th)
2019–20 Dean Hewitt (fourth) Sean Hall (skip) Tanner Davis Jay Merchant Matthew Millikin Archie Merchant PACC 2019 (6th)
2022–23 Dean Hewitt (fourth) Jay Merchant (skip) Tanner Davis Justin Grundy Iain Grundy Chad Merchant,
Archie Merchant
PCCC 2022 (7th)

Mixed doubles

edit
Season Male Female Coach Events
2012–13 Jay Merchant Lynette Gill Archie Merchant WMDCC 2013 (22nd)

Record as a coach of national teams

edit
Year Tournament, event National team Place
2010 2010 Pacific Curling Championships   Australia (men)
 
2011 2011 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship   Australia (mixed doubles)
16
2017 2017 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship   Australia (mixed doubles)
18

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e "Merchant Wins Appeal To Curl For Worlds". 3 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Upholding the law in the land down under | UNews".
  3. ^ "Bringing curling to Australia". 17 July 2010.
  4. ^ Upholding the law in the land down under | UNews
  5. ^ "Bringing curling to Australia – Red Deer Advocate". 17 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Jay Merchant Set to Represent Australia in National Curling Team".
  7. ^ "The Bar Association of Queensland".
edit