Curling world rallies around Craig Savill in light of his cancer diagnosis

He is one of the most charismatic players in the sport, so it is no surprise that the curling world is rallying around Craig Savill after the announcement that the 37-year-old is fighting cancer.

In a story posted by TSN's Bob Weeks, Savill says that he is stepping away from the game as he gets ready for the treatments that will aim to rid him of Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

With this battle ahead of him, Savill has had to leave his Nova Scotia team, skipped by Shawn Adams. It's a rink he joined just this season, after Savill and longtime skip Glenn Howard parted company last spring, when Howard decided to bring in his son, Scott, to play lead.

Howard and Savill remain close, of course, after being teammates for a decade and a half, winning eight provincial championships and a couple of world titles together.

“I was shocked," said Howard, of the day Savill told him of the likelihood of a cancer diagnosis, a few weeks ago. "You hear it every day, it’s true. But, when it hits home and one of your best buddies gets diagnosed, it’s hard.”

“He’s super-positive," Howard said of Savill's attitude, "and he was looking forward to ‘let’s get on with it.’ Let’s find out what’s going on and let’s get the treatments and let’s move forward.”

“He’s a strong character," Howard continued. "If anybody can beat this thing, it’s gonna be Craig. It’s not gonna slow him down. Craig’s a tough S.O.B. and he’s gonna fight this tooth and nail.”

Howard, like most everyone who's ever met Savill, has an appreciation for the wit and warmth usually on display whenever the Ottawa native is around. Even though he's a keen-eyed shooter and superb front-end sweeper, Savill might still be better known for his charisma and friendliness; a man who stands out even in a sport that is filled with people of those kinds of qualities.

“He’s one of the funniest guys I’ve ever known and just a great, great person," said Howard. "He’s gonna do well. He’s gonna get through this.”

“All his buddies and all his family and friends are there for him.”

That was clearly in evidence as there was an immediate reaction to the news on social media, where well-wishers from the curling world and beyond have been sending out their messages to Savill: