Double backing
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Gallant will get plenty of support from his native P.E.I.
Brett Gallant may be carrying the hopes of two islands this week at the Tim Hortons Brier. The 27-year-old second on Brad Gushue’s Newfoundland and Labrador championship rink is a native of Charlottetown and with Prince Edward Island having been knocked out in the Brier’s pre-qualifying round, transference of loyalty to Gallant is natural. Granted, that reallocated support might be split since another Prince Edward Islander – former Gushue team member Adam Casey – is skipping Saskatchewan’s entry at this Brier. Even though Gallant has lived in St. John’s pretty much yearround for the last five years, Prince Edward Island will still make its claim to him. In fact, he was recently named that province’s 2016 male athlete of the year.
Good comparison
A good comparison would be Canadian women’s figure skating champion Kaetlyn Osmond of Marystown. She has lived and trained in Alberta for almost a dozen years, but don’t make the mistake – at least around these parts – of suggesting her Newfoundland citizenship has somehow lapsed in the interim. “I think we are going to have a lot of support from people in P.E.I., and I think that’s understandable,” said Gallant. “It would make things even more wonderful, if that’s possible. “You’ve already heard the kind of backing we’re getting from Newfoundlanders in and outside (Mile One Centre). The emotions are incredible, so for us to get some more from P.E.I., that would make it extra-special.”
All that emotion has strung out into a tightrope that Gallant, Gushue and teammates Geoff Walker and Mark Nichols will have to walk this week. Being overcome by all that’s at stake and all that surrounds them represents a fall to one side. On the other is a failure to take advantage of what is true home-ice advantage.
“We don’t get the opportunity to play at home very much, so we are trying to embrace the opportunity of playing here, but not to lose our focus in the process,” said Gallant. “It’s definitely exciting for us, although we may not always be showing it.”