Moskowy’s curling roots definitely green

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/03/2018 (3061 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA — Braeden Moskowy used to imagine thrilling crowds at Brandt Centre — not making shots, but blocking them.

As a Regina Pats goaltender.

Years later, the hometown boy drew a boisterous reception from the thousands in attendance Saturday at the 2018 Brier national men’s curling championship — a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” the 27-year-old says.

Moskowy’s definitely one of them, a guy with Rider Pride, even though his yellow-and-white curling jersey says otherwise. While he was born and raised in Regina, and still lives and works in the Saskatchewan capital, he plays third for Team Manitoba, skipped by Reid Carruthers.

Curling Canada residency rules allow for one import on a competitive team. Look around these days… it seems like just about everyone’s doing it.

And though it’s just Day 1 of the week-long championship, Moskowy’s already having the time of his life.

“That felt pretty sweet. I’ve been dreaming about that for 15 years or so,” Moskowy said, describing the moment he emerged for the opening ceremonies to a chorus of cheers from the crowd, including about five dozen friends and family members.

Manitoba upended Prince Edward Island 12-7 in the Brier’s opening draw. Moskowy made 92 per cent of his shots to lead all players.

“Definitely some nerves at the start, seeing people here — good friends and family… close to 50 or so here, and getting tickets for them is a nightmare. I need an agent or something to handle this because the phone is going off the hook,” he said, standing in the interview area at event level, not far from the Regina junior hockey team’s usual dressing room.

“I love the Pats and I’ve been to a ton of games. I’m in the rink a lot, so it’s pretty cool to be out there. Usually, I’m up there watching and having a couple of beers, and now people are having a couple of beers watching us.”

As a kid, competitive curling was not on his radar, as he immersed himself in hockey in the winter before switching to softball and football during the warmer months.

“Honestly, I wasn’t a curling fan at all. I thought it was boring. I was a hockey guy,” he recalled. “One hundred per cent, I wanted to be a Pat. They had these camps, and their coaches used to work with us, so that was the thing for me. I wanted to get drafted into the WHL, play for the Pats and maybe play for the Leafs.

“I fell quite a few steps short of that. I guess I was pretty good, I played Tier 1 for a few years and then I shut ’er down.”

The hockey dream didn’t die on its own. Moskowy hastened its demise — after watching his father, Kelly, compete in the 2002 Brier in Calgary.

That’s when his perception of curling changed for good.

“That’s where I saw the atmosphere. It was electric. There was 15,000 people (at the Saddledome) and I was like, ‘Holy smokes, I’ve been missing out,’” Moskowy said. “I went home and tried to quit hockey, but my parents said I had to finish out the year.”

Indeed, Kelly Moskowy had, at the seasoned age of 38 and with several near-misses at the provincials behind him, finally won the right to represent Saskatchewan at the ’02 Brier. He threw lead stones for Scott Bitz, and they made it all the way to the Page playoffs’ 3-vs.-4 game before losing to legendary Ontario skip Russ Howard.

The Bitz crew actually upset Howard in the round robin, bolstered by a jaw-dropping run-back triple takeout for a count of four by the skipper.

Braeden posted a video of the miraculous shot on YouTube after the fact, during a phase when, Kelly said, the teen was a bit of a curling video junkie.

“There was definitely a shift there after the Brier in Calgary. He had never really watched the game much before. I remember that summer, we had VHS tapes of our provincials and the Brier, and, all of a sudden he’s watching these old games and he’s talking about curling,” dad Kelly said.

“The Brier was the highlight of my curling career. I had knocked on the door so many times, played all over Canada and had success, but the Brier was the highlight. Braeden really didn’t want to come to Calgary, but I’m so glad he and my daughter (Brooklyn) were there.”

Braeden finished out his hockey season, and the next winter, he switched to playing on the pebbled surface.

“The next year, I was 13 and I started curling. I went into a Curl for Kids program, which was at the Highland (Curling Club). My grandpa (Dean Bryant) was the club manager,” he said. “He’d pick me up after school, I’d have my backpack with my sweats and gym shoes because I didn’t have curling shoes, yet. We’d go to the rink and I would practise until mom or dad picked me up at 5 or 5:30 (p.m.).”

That hard work and dedication to a new sport paid off nine years later, when he skipped a team to not only a Saskatchewan junior title but a Canadian crown as well to earn a trip to the worlds in Perth.

Two seasons later, his graduation to men’s competitive action was made official with a provincial victory and a spot in the 2013 Brier tossing third stones for Brock Virtue. They finished out of the playoffs in Edmonton.

He’s now an import, and his allegiance has definitely shifted since he joined the West St. Paul crew in 2015. The chemistry with Carruthers, second Derek Samagalski and lead Colin Hodgson was instantaneous, paying big dividends with a Manitoba title that year and a trip to the Brier in Calgary.

Now, they’re back as the No. 2 seed behind only defending-champion Brad Gushue (Team Canada), and one of the heavy favourites to stick around until championship Sunday.

As a former champion, Kelly Moskowy was invited to participate in the opening ceremonies. Standing near the boards, he couldn’t take his eyes off his 6-4, 240-pound son two sheets away.

“He was across from me, and I just kept thinking, ‘This is pretty cool.’ That’s a nice moment for a dad. I don’t care if it’s Manitoba colours or Saskatchewan colours, I was just proud to see him out there, proud to see him with his teammates,” Kelly said. “Being in your home city and curling in the premier event in Canada, that’s pretty exciting.

“I know he’s fallen in love with Manitoba and the team he’s on. It’s a good group, and I think they have a good chance of winning this whole thing.”

If it happens, expect Braeden to receive a hero’s welcome here — even from the curling diehards who bleed green.

jason.bell@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @WFPJasonBell