Rene Comeau’s easy-going, talkative demeanor explains why he’s the skip of the New Brunswick men’s junior curling team and why he left St. Thomas University for the sport.
Comeau was skip of the New Brunswick curling team that went to junior nationals last year in Liverpool, N.S. Despite a crushing defeat, losing to Manitoba in the finals after a missed takeout that resulted in a steal of four, his spirits have remained high.
“It was definitely a surreal feeling, knowing I’d have hundreds of thousands of people watching me. Very nerve-wracking.”
Last week, he was back at nationals, where he finished the round robin in second place and a spot in the semi-finals. At press time….(need to update here)
“Most people don’t think of curling as an intense sport. It’s very intense because you can never know what the other team is going to do. You can only control what your team does.”
When the 20 year old describes curling strategy his eyes light up and he becomes even more animated than normal. His hands are constantly moving, explaining the complicated concepts that seem to come to him with ease. His tall frame makes him seem imposing and his winter jacket seems inappropriate for the warm weather on that day.
“I was absent for over 40 classes that year. I lost my scholarship. It was difficult to keep up with curling and school. So I figured I can focus on curling, and school can always come later.”
The draw of another shot at nationals means he hasn’t regretted leaving school.
“If I hadn’t left school, I would never have been able to tap into my full potential in curling. If you leave a stone unturned, there will always be a stone in the back of your mind wondering, ‘What if?’”
While describing the intense games, it’s hard not to feel the rollercoaster of emotions Comeau goes through on the ice.
“That’s my dream: to have the maple leaf on my back and represent the country. Some passions, if you put them on the backburner, then you may not have the chance ever again.”
He’s no stranger to taking on teams from more competitive curling provinces. Players from here move West for a better, more competitive game.
“They market it better over there. More money goes into the funding. All of the oil companies, especially in Alberta, really fund curling and put a lot of money into it.”
Despite the defeat last year, Comeau has never strayed from his New Brunswick team. He spends a large majority of his weekends training and playing matches.
He plans to return to school next year, but he’s not sure he’ll return to St. Thomas. What he is sure about, however, is his love for curling and his love for the province of New Brunswick.
“So to me, there’s nothing that compares to playing for New Brunswick and representing the people that I know in the province that I love. New Brunswick is where my heart lies.”
