MacDuff makes unexpected appearance

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This article was published 04/03/2017 (3207 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Jack MacDuff wasn’t supposed to be here Saturday.

But he’s made a name for himself doing things he’s not expected to do.

Forty-one years ago, MacDuff skipped Newfoundland-Labrador to an improbable Brier championship in Regina, a feat yet to be repeated by curlers from the province.

MacDuff, flanked by Toby McDonald, Doug Hudson and Ken Templeton, racked up a 9-2 round-robin record (back then, there were no playoffs) to earn the right to hoist the 1976 Brier trophy.

And there they were Saturday at Mile One Centre, including MacDuff, who suffers from multiple sclerosis that has him in a wheelchair. He shocked just about everyone, including his teammates, when he changed his tune and decided to travel from his home in Moncton, N.B., to St. John’s to help in the 2017 Brier celebrations.

They were front and centre during Saturday’s opening ceremonies, much to the delight of nearly 6,000 fans who gave their curling heroes a lengthy standing ovation.

“It was very emotional. But I remained calm pretty well… I did very well. I did my Donald Trump, with my thumbs pointing,” MacDuff said.

“I don’t travel much, it’s too hard. My son came home to Moncton Thursday night and said, ‘Dad, we’re going.’”

They packed their bags, drove to Halifax and flew to St. John’s on Friday. “I don’t feel great, but I feel good enough to be here. I look better than I am. But it’s absolutely worthwhile, wonderful to be here, to be part of it.”

McDonald said he didn’t get the official word his old skipper was coming until Saturday morning.

“It was brilliant. We were looking forward to being a part of it even without Jack, but when my phone rang this morning at 9:20 and it was Jack here, it made it all the more special,” he said. “We’d heard rumours (Friday). Seriously, we did not know anything about it until he called.

“We got a couple of our jackets out of my place, but Jack wanted to wear his old sweater, complete with the moth holes.”

The MacDuff team came out ahead of some tremendous teams that year, including Manitoba’s Clare DeBlonde, Jim Ursel of Quebec and Bernie Sparkes of British Columbia.

Their volunteer driver in Regina was legendary curler Sam Richardson, a four-time Brier champion who quickly became the MacDuff foursome’s unofficial coach.

McDonald said 41 years is long enough — he and his old mates are pulling harder than just about anyone for Brad Gushue’s team to capture its first Canadian title on home ice.

“I would never have thought it was going to be 41 years that a Newfoundland team hasn’t gone on to repeat what we did,” he said.

“People come and say, ‘In the back of your mind, you must wish that they don’t win so that you can be the only champion.’ And I’m like, ‘Are you joking me? We’ve been rooting for Newfoundland for 41 years hoping for someone else to win.’

“Brad puts himself in a position every time by making the playoffs, and he’ll do it again this time. We want Brad to take this responsibility off our shoulders.”

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