麻豆社区

Yukon curling coaching legend Gord Moffattt has been inducted into the Yukon Sports Hall of Fame.

According to a Sport Yukon press release, Moffatt moved to the Yukon in the early 90鈥檚 from Swan River, Manitoba.

He has coached many teams on the National stage, including Team Birnie at the 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Between 1991-2014, Moffatt coached teams at the Canadian Junior Curling Championships.

He鈥檚 coached at two Canada Winter Games, three Optimist International bonspiels, four Scotties and three Briars.

He coached three teams to medals 鈥� the 1993 Junior team to bronze, and in 2009-2010 teams to silver and gold medals at the Optimist International bonspiels.

Moffatt was honoured in a well-attended ceremony Wednesday evening at Sport Yukon.

Rose Heisz, a former Moffatt curling pupil and longtime friend and neighbour, spoke about Moffatt before the veteran coach took the podium and talked about what the honour meant to her.

鈥淚t means a lot to me. He is recognized for all the years he鈥檚 put in to the curling here in the North.

鈥淗e coached my team for a while, so that stood out. I curled with his daughter ... he was my neighbour and I remember when he started coaching the young junior team from Atlin and his dedication and calm demeanour on the ice with them.

鈥淚t鈥檚 satisfying. It鈥檚 good,鈥� she added.

Moffatt then entertained the crowd with comical pictures and colourful stories from his lengthy curling past. The Star spoke with him after the memorable acceptance speech and asked him how he was feeling.

鈥淥verwhelmed. It鈥檚 a tremendous honour and I鈥檓 overwhelmed and probably a little speechless. I鈥檝e had a long speech already,鈥� he joked.

Moffatt said that years ago, he wouldn鈥檛 have pictured this happening.

鈥淣o, not at all. Not even two weeks ago. It was a total surprise. A shock. And I think I鈥檓 still in shock.鈥�

As far as how it ranks among his accomplishments, 鈥渋t鈥檚 a good way to top it off,鈥� stated Moffatt.

鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of like the cherry on a sundae. It鈥檚 a wonderful event and it鈥檚 so deeply appreciated for the organizers, Sport Yukon, and everybody who helped and everybody who came. It鈥檚 been a neat, neat experience.鈥�

Moffatt was asked what stood out in his long coaching career.

鈥淧robably two things. One was the Atlin Boys team. I remember Bob coming to me in the first year and they were playin鈥� badminton a lot and I said 鈥榠f you guys want to become good curlers, you鈥檙e gonna have to quit badminton.鈥� And they did. And they devoted their full time. And they wanted me to devote more time with them. And I was able to do that, thank goodness. Maybe not from my wife鈥檚 point of view, but my point of view, it was a wonderful experience.

鈥淚 took them from juniors right up to the Brier and they showed Canada that Yukon could curl.鈥�

The Atlin Boys in 1993 consisted of Robert Smallwood (skip), Scott Odian (third), Alfred Feldman (second) and Allan Shaw (lead).

Clinton Abel was on the team in 1991 and 1992. He had aged out for the 93 event.

The team beat Kevin Koe three years in a row to represent Yukon/N.W.T. at the Junior Nationals in 鈥�91, 鈥�92, and 鈥�93.

鈥淭he other achievement that I鈥檓 pretty proud of is working with the Sarah Koltun team. From kids that were 11 years old, up to 21 year old young women that performed at an incredible level at the Scotties in 2014 and that鈥檚 probably the real cherry on the top for me. And to be there with my daughter as well. That really, really made a big, big difference in how I feel.鈥�

Moffatt added, 鈥淚 would just like to say thank you to everybody that came out tonight and listened to my long-winded speech and the folks that watched online. I don鈥檛 know how many there were. I鈥檓 sure there weren鈥檛 millions but there was probably a few, and I鈥檇 like to thank them as well.鈥�