Brier ties run deep in Moskowy family
REGINA — Qualifying for the Canadian men’s curling championship was more than a goal for Regina’s Braeden Moskowy.
The Brier marks the starting point for Moskowy’s run as a competitive curler. In 2002, Moskowy watched his father, Kelly, represent Saskatchewan at the national men’s championship as a lead with Regina’s Scott Bitz. That event, held in Calgary, sparked Braeden’s interest in the roaring game.
“Mainly I was just getting dragged down to the rink to watch Dad more than anything before that,’’ Braeden said. “I was a hockey player. (The Brier) was at the Saddledome. I remember walking out and seeing that and how many people were there.
“Just the feeling there got me instantly hooked. I started going down to the rink with (Kelly) and instead of being forced to go, I began to look forward to it. One or two years later, I quit hockey and I focused on curling.’’
Fast forward to 2013 and the Moskowys are celebrating another Brier berth. This time it’s Braeden, who plays third on Brock Virtue’s Saskatchewan men’s championship team. Virtue, Moskowy, Chris Schille and DJ Kidby begin play Saturday at the Tim Hortons Brier in Edmonton.
“A lot of people have congratulated me since they won the province,’’ Kelly said. “I tell them, ‘Thanks, but I didn’t have anything to do with it.’
“They say sure I did because without me, he wouldn’t have been down at the rink.’ ’’
Braeden’s exposure to curling wasn’t limited to Kelly. Braeden’s mom, Wenda, curled competitively. Braeden’s grandfather, Dean Bryant, was a longtime manager of the Highland Curling Club.
“(Kelly) was instrumental in getting me into the sport, but mom’s side of the family also helped,’’ Braeden said. “I remember that my grandpa would pick me up after school and we would go down to the Highland. He would have me throw until my Mom or Dad got off work to pick me up. They had a big part in my curling, but seeing my Dad play in the Brier really got me going.’’
Kelly finally qualified for the Brier at age 38, after a number of near-misses. Braeden is off to his first Brier at 22.
“I thought it would be a few more years before I would have to book off time from work to watch the Brier,’’ said Kelly, 49. “I thought he would be 25 or 26 years old before it would happen.’’
Braeden is aware of how long it took Kelly to land his only Purple Heart, emblematic of a provincial men’s championship. That awareness has helped shape Braeden’s perspective on reaching the Brier just two years after winning the Canadian junior men’s curling championship and finishing fourth at the world junior championship.
“I know back when Dad played there were so many more teams, so just to get out of the city and to the southern playdowns was a big deal,’’ Braeden said. “My Dad went to eight or nine Tankards and there weren’t a lot of guys who did that back then. For me to have gone to two Tankards and be fortunate enough to win one … I understand the magnitude of it and how fortunate I am.’’
Kelly followed a traditional route to the playdowns by hooking up with players from Regina. Braeden and Kidby recognized there weren’t any players in the province willing to commit to the game like they were. So, they looked outside Saskatchewan and found partners in Virtue and Schille. They both moved to Saskatchewan to meet the residency requirements.
“Some people like it and some people don’t,’’ Braeden said.
“Still, Saskatchewan has lost a ton of great players over the years. It’s the way the game has gone and it has changed a lot. If you want to be at the top level of the sport now, you have to be willing to put everything else aside and there aren’t a lot of people who want to do that. That’s what led to people moving around and to different provinces. It’s also hard to find four people willing to commit to that.’’
Kelly and Braeden are the second father-son duo from Saskatchewan to qualify for a Brier. Lyle and Dallan Muyres were the first to accomplish the feat. Lyle won the 1986 Saskatchewan men’s championship while curling out of Humboldt. Dallan shared in the 2011 provincial men’s champion as a lead with Pat Simmons.
“It’s pretty cool because I have a lot of respect for the game,’’ Braeden said. “I understand there is no guarantee that I’ll get back to another Brier. I’m extremely fortunate and I’m really looking forward to it.’’