‘Surreal’ experience as Iqaluit curler debuts at Brier

Competing against Olympic gold medallists and representing Nunavut on a national stage has been a “surreal” experience for Iqaluit curler David Aglukark.

Aglukark, 25, has thrown his first rocks and swept his first sweeps for skip Derek Samagalski’s Team Nunavut, which is currently part-way through competing at Montana’s Bier, the men’s national curling tournament.

A first-time Brier competitor, Aglukark joined Team Nunavut — which also includes Sheldon Wettig, Christian Smitheram and Justin McDonell — after Samagalski invited him to be their alternate fifth player at the event underway in St. John’s, N.L.

“I think that’s a pretty hard thing to turn down,” Aglukark said in a phone interview Monday.

“[Samagalski] saying that he wanted me to be his fifth out of anyone else he could have picked from the territory is pretty rewarding.”

With a decade of curling under his belt, Aglukark is familiar with the national stage. He has represented Nunavut at Canadian under-21 and mixed-doubles championship events in the past.

At this event, he and his team have faced challenging matches against Canadian curling royalty.

Team Nunavut, from left: coach Geordie Hargreaves, skip Derek Samagalski, Sheldon Wettig, Christian Smitheram, Justin McDonell and David Aglukark. (Photo courtesy of David Aglukark)

After losing to Nathan Young’s Team Newfoundland and Labrador 8-4 Friday night in their opening match, the Nunavut squad had a Saturday night battle with Team Brad Gushue, also from Newfoundland and Labrador.

Gushue — a six-time Brier winner, five-time world champion and 2006 Olympic gold medalist — defeated Nunavut 10-2.

With it being Gushue’s final Brier, fans have been coming out in droves to cheer on their hometown skip.

“No matter what game you’re at, you’re always hearing the roar of the crowd,” Aglukark said.

On Sunday, Nunavut faced Brad Jacobs’ Team Canada, who are hot off winning gold at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

Team Jacobs defeated Nunavut 11-2.

Aglukark is embracing the opportunity to play against these heavy hitters as well as to watch and learn from them.

“It’s just kind of crazy to go from watching on TV to being there, stay on the sidelines, watching them throw,” Aglukark said.

“You’re getting to interact with them, everyone’s so friendly here, and you can talk to them and kind of just give your congratulations and how much you have looked up to them.”

Nunavut remains winless after losing 10-5 to Prince Edward Island on Monday morning.

Aglukark is hopeful for a win as the tournament’s round-robin action continues through Thursday

Overall, he said he’s proud of the opportunity to represent his territory — and especially Inuit — on the national stage.

All the fans and family showing up in person and the comments he has read online have made being at the Brier even more “heartwarming,” he said.

“It just kind of elevates the experience a little bit more, knowing you have that support behind you,” Aglukark said.