Team Manitoba second a local rock star at Brier

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This article was published 03/03/2019 (2689 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — Derek Samagalski feels right at home at Westoba Place.

And well he should. The big Brier four-sheeter in the heart of Brandon is only about eight blocks from where he hangs his buffalo-emblazoned hat.

Samagalski, his fiancée, Selena, and the couple’s four-month-old daughter, Dekkar, drive past the Brandon Wheat Kings’ home arena almost daily.

Gazing at the facility the last few weeks has evoked plenty of emotions from the second on Team Manitoba, who is competing in the fourth Brier national men’s championship of his competitive curling career.

It’s the stuff dreams are made of, he said Sunday.

“As a kid you dream about playing in a Brier, never mind playing in a hometown Brier, which doesn’t come across very often. So to play now in front of family, friends and sponsors in my hometown, it’s very special,” said Samagalski. “It’s almost two years now since I moved here. This is home, and (Westoba) is close by, so it’s awesome.

“This building’s been very good to us. The last two major events we’ve played here, the provincials (2015) and the Canada Cup (Grand Slam in 2016), our team has won both times, so this has been a very successful building for us. Definitely, every time I drove by it lately was giving me goose bumps.”

He got his first taste of Westman hospitality about seven years ago playing second for Brandon’s Rob Fowler, who skipped the squad to a third-place finish at the 2012 Brier in Saskatoon.

The major decision to haul his broom bag to Brandon for good was an easy one, he said.

“Love,” explained Samagalski, with contented grin. “(Selena) lives out here, and with my work it’s easier for me to travel to Winnipeg (to practice with his teammates). She works in government and couldn’t leave her job so I decided to move to Brandon, and I love (it).

“I’m not a big-city guy. Winnipeg’s about the biggest I like to be in, but in Brandon — when I used to play with Fowler back in the day —I always said I wouldn’t mind living in Brandon. It has everything that I want and it’s big enough for me and we enjoy it out here.”

Samagalski works seasonally with the Wheat City Golf Course, a pretty track that runs alongside the Assiniboine River. When winter comes he’s a full-time curler. This season, he and longtime teammates Reid Carruthers and Colin Hodgson welcomed aboard Mike McEwen, another fellow with strong ties to the western Manitoba city.

Carruthers began as skip of the team in October, and after a few revisions, McEwen settled in as shot-caller and final thrower. In early February, the foursome had one slight stumble before cruising to a provincial title just 75 kilometres west down the Trans-Canada in Virden.

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The reaction in Brandon was overwhelming, he says.

“It’s been pretty cool. Even just going to buy groceries, out for dinner, people are coming up and wishing us luck. Everyone’s stopping and talking to us, which is awesome. The fans have been unreal and we’re hoping they’re going to stay behind us all week and we’re going to keep on grinding,” said Samagalski, just moments after Manitoba’s comfortable 8-3 victory over Quebec’s Martin Crête on Sunday morning.

“I love it. We’re pretty much rock stars for the week here, so I’ll definitely take it. It’s cool and we’re living up every experience, so I’m not complaining.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell