This wasn’t how Brock Montgomery drew it up, but he is running with the opportunity. The local curler is headed to the Tim Hortons Brier, although not with his own team.
The local curler currently plays third for the Josh Heidt rink from Kerrobert. That team went to provincials in January, but fell short of winning the title.
“The team I played for had a good run at provincials, but we fell short…we lost all three finals,” explained Montgomery. “When I came home, the team that actually won the whole thing called and asked me to be their alternate at the Brier. That’s how I’m going.”
That rink was Brock Virtue from the Regina Callie Club. Virtue is a former Canadian and world junior champion. He was born in Lethbridge, Alta, but moved to Regina in 2012. His team of Chris Schille, Braeden Moskowy and D.J. Kidby will be headed to their first Brier in March as well.
“It was definitely a shock because I didn’t really know Brock or Chris that well or even Braeden. I knew D.J. pretty well off the team,” stated Montgomery. “I really didn’t see it coming because I didn’t know them. They could have picked anyone and they asked me, so I am definitely honoured.”
That shock still hasn’t entirely worn off yet for Montgomery. He has been working hard at getting back into the game after having to take some time off due to injury.
“I’ve been working hard the last two years to get to where I am in the game, so it was a good feeling knowing they noticed and they feel like I can help them in some way and that’s what I’m going to try and do,” he explained. “I curled on the World Curling Tour since the time I was 20 (years old). What happened was I broke my knee when I was 25 and I couldn’t curl for two years. I had to rehab it and take my time coming back so it didn’t cause problems in the future.”
For the last four years, he has been practicing a lot and working on technique and delivery. He feels that the time away from the game has allowed him to grow and become stronger on the technical and mental parts of the game.
“The time off from the game made me realize how much I missed it and how much I love it,” he said. “It made me want to work at it and this is maybe a sign that work that I’ve been putting in has been worth it.”
Montgomery will serve as an alternate for the Virtue rink when they head to Edmonton on Thursday. The action at the Brier runs from Mar. 2-10 featuring the best teams across the country.
For more on this story, read an upcoming edition of the Times-Herald.
