Remembering the Jack MacDuff Brier triumph, 40 years later

In a win that's not yet been repeated, Jack MacDuff and his St. John's rink 40 years ago this month became the only curlers from Newfoundland and Labrador to win the coveted Brier.

Brad Gushue and the country's top men's curlers are in Ottawa for this year'sBrier, but the 1976bonspielwas held in Regina, whereMacDuffand his team were the underdogs.

They set their sights low with a goal of achievingfive wins, to beat the province's best record at the time, but they soon showed what they were made of.

"I haven't paid as much attention the last number of yearsbut at one time it was like I'd look at my wife and say, 'do you reallythink we won that?Can you believe we really did?'" MacDuff told CBC News.

"It was something you never really dreamt ofPeople win but we didn't think we could."

Curling wasn't a sport in the spotlight back then, butMacDuff and his teammates Toby McDonald, Doug Hudson and KenTempleton,put the game front and centre, and createda curling frenzy.

Throughoutthe final, the team made a series of spectacular shots, bringing thousands offans to their feet.

In the 12thend, second Doug Hudson threw the last rock,eliminating the powerhouse team fromOntario.

The team's odds of winning had beenput at1,000 to1, making the victory extraordinary and putting the team in the history books.

"We were were ahead 9-4 and Isaid to Toby, 'Don't let them miss a hit ... and when Doug got in the hack ... I just yelled on the ice, 'Make sure of it Doug', and he did," MacDuffsaid.

"It was quite emotional it was a great feeling."

Back home

Back at home there was an enormous sense of pride asthe MacDuff rinkarrived at the St. John's airport.

Premier Frank Moorestold a large crowd thathe had never been so proud in his life andthe young curlers were the epitome of cool on the ice.

"We figured we didn't have anything to lose because we had beatenNewfoundland'srecord early in the week, so we just went out there and went at them and it turned out OK," saidKenTempleton,after arriving home in 1976.

It was like a fairytale, complete with a motorcade in downtown St. John's.

"Fortyyears is a long timeI thought we were the best team to ever represent Newfoundland," said MacDuff.

'Happy to be here'

MacDuff's curling days are over, as multiplesclerosishas put an end to that.

From his home in Moncton, hekeeps busyraising money for MS research, and has brought in more than $200,000to date.

"It hasn't taken any of my spirit away.I still have a good time everyday get up and say, 'I'm happy to be here.'"

"He's been an inspiration at the curling rink and he's been an inspiration in life as well," saidKenTempleton, who played leadforMacDuffat that Brier.

"It's very hard to believe that it's been 40 years I guess we've all been busy with things going on to keep us occupied but even though it's been 40 years, it's like yesterday in many respects."

Feelslike yesterday

The memories are still vivid for Hudson and McDonald as well.

Ashrine to their epic wins sits attheRemaxCentre in St. John's and brings those moments back to life for the former teammates every time they see it.

"When I come in here today, you know, boomright back, I'mright back to Regina throwing the last rock," said Hudson.

"We were playing really well when it came to takeouts. We weren't missing much when it came to takeouts," said McDonald.

The two jokedabout MacDuff's uniqueness and the fact that he would wear golf shoes instead of curling shoes.

"When it came around to the summer again,he'd take the slider off, he'dput the cleats back in and they became his golf shoes again that was definitely unique to Jack . I don't think I've ever heard of anybodyelse do that," said MacDonald.

They both agreed thatMacDuffhad a great delivery and no doubt the sturdiness of the golf shoes were part of it.

Unofficial coach

Four-time Brier and world championSam Richardson was a volunteer driver for the teamand became the theirunofficial coach.

The team said he had awealth of experience that helpedthem secure the Brier title.

"He told us pretty early in the weeknot to be thinking about fourwins and we could probably do better than that ... He was telling us that repeatedly and we started believing it ourselves," said Templeton.

"He was that good a coach that we didn't even realize we were being coached," he said.

"He was a mentor right throughit all and didn't let us get too high or toolow."He just sort of assisted us through it in a remarkable way... one of the most important people of my life."

MacDuff echoed those sentiments.

"When we talk now, we appreciate Sam so much and appreciate what we did and know how hard it was to do and it was really an incredible event when you think about it.

Decades later

It was a once in a lifetime shared experience and athrill for all who were there and the bond between theMacDuffteam endures despite different paths taken since that magical time.

"When you actually won, it was like a dream came true, beyond even the dream that you had," said MacDonald.

"You want to win the Brier obviously, but to actually do it out of Newfoundland in that time in history was absolutely a remarkable thing."

The question now, said MacDuff, is this: canhistory repeat itself with the Gushue rink?

"I can'tthink of anything better than this year to win on the40thanniversary. It'd be great."