Affectionately called ‘Obie,” the Growlers winger  is this year’s MVP and the team’s top scorer (78 points with three regular season games remaining as of press time).  The affable St. John’s raised hometown hockey hero opened by offering that this has been “one unique season.”

“We’ve been through a lot as a team with COVID and injuries and being in lockdown, but at the end of the day, I feel like it just brought us together as a team more. We’re like a family now and everyone plays for each other and wants each other to be successful,” he said. The team has the winning formula, he added. “It’s a really fun group of guys, a mix of young and old and I’m one of the old guys now. At 29 years old, I’m the old guy, but we have a really fun group and we’re really looking forward to playoffs,” he said. 

Not that things haven’t been tough, he admits, particularly the call up of goalie Keith Petruzzelli. “This year has been so crazy with call ups (to the Marlies/AHL) and injuries and everything but the guys (goaltenders Chase Perry and Angus ‘Beef’ Redmond) have been able to kind of step in and join our group. We try to make it as easy as possible for  them and just make them comfortable and they’ve been doing a great job so far.” 

There’s a contingent of Newfoundlanders on the team that have played together for years. Does being from ‘home’ and playing at home make a difference, we ask. “Growing up, when I moved away at 17 or 18, I never really thought I was going to be able to get the chance to play at home again. Now with players like (James) Melindy and Marcus Power, it just feels perfect. And I obviously love playing here. During the game I look into the stands and I’ll always find a friend or family member there watching every single night, which is pretty cool, and it’s definitely a blessing to be able to play professional hockey at home.” 

We ask about the come-from-away contingent of players, and O’Brien shared that “they’ve embraced this place.”

“Todd Skirving, whatever’s going on in the community, if it has to do with the Growlers, Todd is there. For him to do that, to take time out after being on a road trip for 10 days with eight games and he will come home the next day and Todd’s out doing something for the community, so he definitely deserves a shout out there, and a lot of guys follow his lead when it comes to that.”

The best part? It’s something Todd loves to do, he added.  “He’s a special person and he’s been having a great season on the ice as well. So I’m really happy for Todd and he’s a big part of this group.” 

Another big part of the team was Buddy the Puffin/Chris ‘Abbo” Abbott. “He was just always such a positive guy. Days where maybe you didn’t want to come to the rink, you’d see Abbo and hear him yelling and screaming something and you’d find a way to put a smile on your face. He was a massive part of hockey in Newfoundland, and you can see how many people he touched. He was an amazing person and he left a lot of great memories for everyone, and it’s very sad we lost him.” 

As for the games ahead (three left before the playoffs when we spoke) the team just tries “to get better every game,” he said. “Every game means a lot as we push for a playoff spot.  We got to start really dialing it in and just trying to get better every single day, whether it’s practice or a game. Do whatever it takes to win.”

This, he added, is “the best time of the year” for a player. 

“It seemed like such a long year with everything that’s gone on, so we’re just looking forward to playoffs.”

James Melindy is a mountain of a man and stands an imposing figure on a pair of skates. The Goulds native, however,  is all charm as he talks about the support he and the team have received from local fans. 

“It’s obviously super special to come home and be able to play in front of friends and family. Since I was 14 years old I was living away from home and the only time you played in front of family was once in a blue moon if they flew to catch some games. So to be able to come home and play in front of them is super special,”  he said. Especially his parents, he added.  “They are very proud of what I’ve become and the person I’ve become, so any time Mom gets the chance to get out on the concourse and brag a little bit, she doesn’t mind doing that.” But “it’s awesome,” he added. “You’re paying your parents back finally for everything they’ve done and for the sacrifices. Seeing the smiles on their faces during games and giving that little wave during warm up means a lot,” he said. 

Melindy says he feels the passion to give back to the community too.  “Obviously, any time you’re a professional athlete or somebody that’s a role model in the community, you try to get out as much as possible and interact with fans because a lot of times, you know, they only see you on the ice.” Being able to interact one-on-one with fans is a bonus of the profession, he said.  “That part is super special for all of us, especially for  some of the local guys. Todd (Skirving) also obviously takes big pride in giving back to the community. I know how important it was when I was a kid when the St. John’s Maple Leafs were coming around to schools and helping out with the Janeway and whatnot. So we just try to keep progressing in the community and giving back in any way we can.” 

At heart, he’s still just a fan of the game, he added. “Being a little boy and going down to Memorial Stadium and watching the ‘Baby Leafs’ was all good memories. Then the Fog Devils and the IceCaps, and to have an opportunity later to come back and play against the IceCaps and to now play for the hometown team is amazing. It’s such an honor and an opportunity not a lot of people get. And to be very fortunate to have good teams here with lots of success has been a bonus. We’re just trying to keep that running and hopefully come out with another trophy again this year.” 

On the loss of Chris Abbott, Melindy paused. “We had a tough spell there with the passing of Chris, who was just an amazing human gone way too early. The arena never really feels the same since he’s been gone. He’s one of those guys that you hear him before you see him and he always brought a smile to everybody’s face and made everybody’s day better.” ‘Buddy’ was more than a mascot, he added.  

“I’ve known the mascot side of him and what he brought to the community and coming down to the game as a kid, he put smiles on our faces and those are memories a lot of people cherish, but I was lucky enough to be able to meet him on a more personal level and to get to know him as a person. There’s not many humans as good as him around, and if there was, the world would  be a lot better place, for sure.” 

As for the fans, ‘thank you,’ Melindy said.  “We know, throughout this season, it’s been a little bit difficult just because of restrictions … but there’s no better place to play than here at home with the fans. We had a great season, so that’s something that’s easy to get behind and then with Newfoundlanders on the team, we’re hoping that we’re getting a lot of support here come playoff time because it really does make a difference for us.” 

And, he added, you simply can’t beat playing the game you love on home ice. “Our families supported us and put us in a situation to be able to chase our dreams. You’ll never be able to repay how much they’ve given to us, but to be able to play games here while living across the street from my parents, and to go over and have a chat with them after games means so much.”

So does playing with b’ys you grew up with, he said. “Myself, Zach (O’Brien)and Marcus (Power) all grew up playing against each other and playing with each other so the familiarity is there and that helps new players adjust a little bit easier too,” he said. 

Newfoundland, he added, is a “different place.”  “It’s a super special place and we’re very fortunate to get a chance to play here because we get treated exceptionally well. It’s a very unique place with amazing people.”

*First published January 30th, 2022

From small towns to curling’s biggest games, the power of teamwork, family, community and hard-work is undefeated, teases the set up for the YouTube series titled Sweeps and Stones: A Canadian Curling Story.

Kubota Canada, the genius behind farm equipment, construction equipment, mowers, and UTVs, has also been behind one of this country’s finest to ever pick up a broom; NL’s own Brad Gushue.

Olympic-worthy

Kubota teamed with Brad Gushue, Kerri Einarson, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant and Geoff Walker to proudly present Sweeps and Stones: A Canadian Curling Story, a behind the scenes look at what it takes to win as Team Gushue compete for curling glory on the world stage at the Olympics in Beijing. 

One of the things that quickly becomes apparent in this five part series is how much time investment it truly takes to hone any talent at an Olympic-worthy level. 

Team Canada curling is not a ‘hobby’ you can dabble with on weekends or in the evening hours.

Going for Gold

Going for gold requires time, energy and commitment, and that means everything else in life – from working to family events – are often put on the back burner as  the team members reach for the stars. Add a global pandemic to the mix and you have some wild times for Gushue and co.

“You hit the nail on the head. For us especially this time around, having the support of partners like Kubota made all the difference for us. When I look back at the success we had 16 years ago, we were in our young 20s. We didn’t have families, we didn’t have kids. We we were pretty well 100 per cent focused on the Olympics,” Gushue began.

As such, each and every resource went into that goal, he added.

“At our age, we have wives and kids and businesses and other endeavors so for us to still be competitive with all the other teams in the world, we have to take a considerable amount of time away from our workplaces and from our families.”

Priority one

Without support from sponsors like Kubota, such golden opportunities might not be as easily within reach, he added. 

“Having Kubota on board with us for the last four years made a significant difference to us, to be quite honest. We were able to travel essentially anywhere we wanted to compete and (the financing) allowed us access to the best trainers around, which made a huge impact on our performance. All that will hopefully allow us to perform at our ultimate level when we head over to Beijing,” he said.

With everything that’s happening in the world these days, is his head in the game, we ask. “I’m okay. I have a good perspective on everything. But to be honest, there’s anxiety. There’s nerves about catching the virus before we get there. At this point, if we do catch (COVID), the likelihood of us being able to go is very slim and you don’t want your Olympic dream being taken away by a virus.”

Priority one: avoid the virus like, well, the plague, he said with a chuckle. 

“We have to do everything we can to make sure that we can get to Beijing with negative test results. Then, everything shifts to we have to perform. It’s a balance. Isolate as much as humanly possible so our only trips out of the house is to practice. We ‘bubble’ as a team and hopefully that’ll kind of blend the priorities that we need to focus on, which is getting ready.” 

Sweeps & Stones

In Sweeps and Stones, Gushue shared how he fell in love with the game of curling at a young age. He reflected on that life-changing moment of switching from hockey to curling.

“I knew curling was the sport for me from day one. I loved watching it, but when I actually played it, I fell in love with it that much more. My first day of curling was the day after my last game of hockey.” 

His love for the game was instant, he added. “I went and tried curling and I’m like, ‘You know what? This is what I’m going to do. This is where I want to spend my time as a young teenager,’ and my family were very supportive. My dad had just bought new hockey equipment, but he got on board pretty quick when he saw how passionate I was about it.”

Gushue shared he’s “passionate” about Sweeps and Stones too and the stories it tells.

‘“I’m anxious for everybody to see all the episodes as it really tells our story. It tells how the team has evolved and there’s a bit about our time here in St. John’s and the bubble we had last year and in the spring where we spent three months away from family and friends to be in the arena getting ready for those big moments on the ice. It gives a behind the scenes look at what we’ve given up and gone through, so I’m excited for everybody to see it. I think it tells the true story of who we are and what we’ve always had to do as a team to get where we are.” 

Team Gushue

Say ‘Team Gushue’ and many across Canada can recall where they were when the Canadian curlers achieved Olympic Gold in 2006. In this province, locals can even take the Team Gushue Highway, we tease, in honour of the win. 

“I’m sure they are not cheering when they go over the potholes,” Gushue joked. 

We ask if he’s feeling the pressure this time around. “It is quite an honour to have the amount of support that we have across the country. I think early in my career (knowing all eyes were on the team) added a lot of pressure, but I think the fact that we’ve had the success that we’ve had, that helps.”

‘True to ourselves’

There’s no amount of success that can change who they are at this point, he added. “How we are treated within the community and whether we go to the Olympics and win or don’t win a game, I don’t know if it’s going to change too much when we come home. They can’t name another highway after us, can they? So that’s been done,” he joked.  

Gushue shared that it’s all about doing their best. “A win is not going to be the life changing moment we had 16 years ago. I think accepting that takes a lot of the pressure off or takes a lot of the edge off. We want to be true to ourselves, and do our best for our families and for our supporters.”

Don’t get him wrong, he added, he very much enjoyed being one of NL’s Golden B’ys.

“16 years ago, it was very much a provincial win. Our province was just coming out of some bad times and things were looking good. And then when we won, it felt like the whole province  jumped on board with us and the celebration was for a whole bunch of reasons.” 

Back to the Olympics

Today Gushue is a dad to two daughters, aged 10 and 14. They are into “typical teenage and preteen girl stuff,” Gushue shared. 

“They are into dance. They play soccer and volleyball. They both curl as well, which is exciting. They’re very, very excited to see us go to the Olympics and that was a big motivator for me over the last four years. Getting back to the Olympics when they were old enough to understand the magnitude of what we were doing is pretty awesome. I’d love for them to be over there, but that’s not possible, but they’re going to be watching every game here at home and supporting us as much as possible.”

Gushue’s mom, Maureen, had battled cancer and had to cheer her son on from home during the 2006 Olympics. How is she today? 

Mom’s Boy

“My mom is great. 16 years ago was a scary time for our family and she was going through cancer treatments and things didn’t look as good as we had hoped at the time. She’s in a really good place now and 16 years removed from it, she’s doing very well.”

Obviously family is very important, something that becomes very obvious throughout Sweeps and Stones. 

“Going back to the partnership with Kubota, that’s allowed us to balance things better. It’s allowed me more time to spend with family when I am home. Then you have the team, so that’s almost two families that I am able to be devoted to.”

In the fall and early winter, Gushue spent as much or more time with ‘the guys’ than with his actual family, he shared, and tight bonds were formed.  

“You develop ties to these four guys and I think that really shows up in episode three when we talk about being in that bubble for three months and living in a house together. You know, at the end of the day, that’s who I want to play for and what I’m trying to achieve; it’s for my family on and off the ice. It’s for  home. And, it’s to give my kids that little bit of inspiration that if they put their mind to something, they can achieve it.”

Family time

Gushue’s family have certainly seen his commitment, he added.

“They’ve seen me now over the last number of years trying to achieve this goal of getting to the Olympics and they know how much hard work has to be done to get there. I think that’s a bigger lesson, in my opinion, than they are ever going to get in school or anywhere else. They’ve been able to witness it firsthand. Now, if they had any dreams – whether it’s in sport or in academics or in the business world – they know how much effort has to go in to achieve it.” 

‘Accurate depiction’

Any last words?

“I just encourage everybody to watch (Sweeps and Stones). I think it’s a very accurate depiction of who we are as a team and it shows what we’ve had to go through and it shows how big having the support of a company behind us is to achieving our goal.”

The folks who “pay the bills” don’t always get the credit they deserve, he added. “One of the first things I did after we won the trials was thank them because at this stage in life, without the support that Kubota has given us as our biggest sponsor,  we couldn’t have done it.”

As for the Olympics? Watch that too, he encouraged. “Watch it. Enjoy it. Cheer. That’s all we can ask for.”

For more visit Kubota Canada’s YouTube channel.