Albertan Kevin Park, a successful competitor with Kevin Martin in the 1990's, is the new third for Jeff Stoughton's Manitoba team.

Stoughton, 2nd Rob Fowler and lead Steve Gould made the announcement April 28 at a news event at Huron Windows, one of the Stoughton team sponsors.

Stoughton said the threesome considered many options but that Park was their mutual first choice as the best possibility of helping the team make the step from the Pre-Trials to the Olympic Trials.

Stoughton said the team is thinking in terms of having a good enough year next year to establish Olympic Trials eligibility.

He suggested it is unlikely both Randy Ferbey and Kevin Koe will win two events next season, meaning that that at least one of the four Olympic Trials spots will be open.

In a prepared statement, Park said "it truly is an honour to come and play for Team Stoughton."

Park's statement went on to say "when they asked me to play, there really wasn't much to ponder. I jumped at the chance. By joining them, I join one of the top teams in the world. I am already looking forward to next season and all of the great possibilities that it might bring."

Park was the third on the Kevin Martin team that won Canada and played in the 1991 Winnipeg World Championship as well as at the 1992 Albertville Olympics when curling was a demonstration sport.

Stoughton says the team will plan to compete in Manitoba's Safeway Championship in 2008. He pointed to Georgina Wheatcroft's participation as a member of the Jennifer Jones team as an example and said the team will be consulting with the Manitoba Curling Association about residency requirements for Park.