Kevin Martin gets call to Canadian Curling Hall of Fame

File this under the category heading of: "Well, Duh." Or: "This Will Come As A Shock To No One."

In about the easiest decision made by a committee for a hall of fame anywhere, the Canadian Curling Association has announced that there is no need to wait on adding legendary skip Kevin Martin's name to it's hall roster.

Martin, who retired after capping his incomparable career with a win at last month's Players' Championship in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, will be enshrined this August, at the CCA's first ever curling summit, being held in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

It's like the decision to add Wayne Gretzky to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Doug Flutie to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. Ted Williams to Cooperstown. Joe Montana to Canton.

Martin is curling's version of all of them, one of the - if not the - greatest skips of all-time.

18 Grand Slam wins. 12 Alberta Championships. 4 Brier titles. Olympic gold and silver. A World Championship.

Martin's retirement was easily the top story of the 2013-2014 Canadian curling season.

Hs on-ice resume in and of itself is enough to make his passage to the hall a no-brainer. When you factor in the mark he's left when it comes to the marketing of the game, more lucrative purses and just, generally, changes to the way teams are assembled and managed, you could easily argue he ought to be enshrined twice - once as a player and once as a builder.

Martin's impending induction this August makes it a double for Alberta curling, as last month it was announced that another four-time Brier champ - and traditional rival of Martin's - Randy Ferbey, is being inducted into the World Curling Hall of Fame. Only a matter of time (like, next year, shall we say?) before Martin's name is added alongside Ferbey's in that hall as well.

“It really is a thrill to be named to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame and be mentioned with some of my curling heroes,” said Martin, in a CCA media release. “The sport of curling has taken me around the world and I’ve met some truly wonderful people and had some amazing experiences, while also being blessed with gifted teammates over the years who helped me achieve this. Being named to the Hall of Fame is a great way to cap a career, and I’m grateful for the honour.”

As well as Martin, the CCA announced that George Cooke, former CEO of Dominion Insurance, will be inducted in August. Cooke was a driving force behind the creation of the Dominion Curling Club Championship, now known as The Travelers Curling Club Championship.