SURSEE, SWITZERLAND – During the final weekend of the 2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championships, the World Curling Federation paid homage to Canadian curling innovator Thomas "Rusty" Drew.

The inventor of the "Extender" delivery stick died at his home in Belleville, Ontario on February 4, after a lengthy illness.

The "Extender" is used widely by wheelchair curlers and other players suffering from physical injury or weakness. It has "extended" the curling life of advanced seniors and also re-introduced curlers to the sport following debilitating injury.

"Rusty's Extender Curling Stick is one of the major reasons why Wheelchair Curling is enjoying such explosive growth around the world," said Kate Caithness, Vice President of the World Curling Federation.

"We mourn his passing and offer our best wishes to his family. On behalf of his many friends within international curling, we salute his vision and his passion."