Paul Gowsell
Encyclopedia
Paul Gowsell is a Canadian
curler from Calgary
, Alberta
. Gowsell hit the curling world by storm in the late 1970s with his unorthodox antics.
. He won his first World Junior championship in 1976, defeating Sweden's Jan Ullsten. He repeated in 1978 by defeating Sweden again, this time skipped by Thomas Håkansson. Gowsell was the third skip to win two Canadian Junior Men's Championships
which he did in 1975 and 1978. After juniors, Gowsell played in just one Brier. Only in his early 20s, Gowsell took his Alberta team to an 8-3 record at the 1980 Labatt Brier, and lost to Al Hackner
's Northern Ontario team in the semi-final. Gowsell would not return to the Brier. Gowsell has not returned to the Brier since, but has played some competitive events since, most recently at the Alberta provincial seniors curling championship in 2010.http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/othersports/2010/02/16/12894646-sun.html
, "in the '70s, he'd travel in a VW van, partying and drinking beer. And he always wore plaid pants. Rumour has it that he never washed them."
In a game against Saskatchewan's Larry McGrath, Gowsell was known to have ordered a pizza to the game. Gowsell's team ate the pizza on the ice, and according to legend, McGrath's last stone picked on an olive from the pizza, losing him the game.
Gowsell was also credited with introducing the "pushbroom" to the sport, revolutionizing sweeping in the sport, which had been using corn brooms. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Bender/2008/03/09/4953041-sun.html
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
curler from Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. Gowsell hit the curling world by storm in the late 1970s with his unorthodox antics.
Playing career
Gowsell was the first skip to win two World Junior Curling ChampionshipsWorld Junior Curling Championships
The World Junior Curling Championships is an annual curling tournament featuring the world's best curlers who are 21 years old or younger. The competition for both men and women occur at the same venue. The men's tournament has occurred since 1975 and the women's 1988...
. He won his first World Junior championship in 1976, defeating Sweden's Jan Ullsten. He repeated in 1978 by defeating Sweden again, this time skipped by Thomas Håkansson. Gowsell was the third skip to win two Canadian Junior Men's Championships
Canadian Junior Curling Championships
The Canadian Junior Curling Championships is an annual curling tournament held to determine the best junior-level curling team in Canada. Junior level curlers must be under the age of 20 as of December 31 in the year prior to the tournament....
which he did in 1975 and 1978. After juniors, Gowsell played in just one Brier. Only in his early 20s, Gowsell took his Alberta team to an 8-3 record at the 1980 Labatt Brier, and lost to Al Hackner
Al Hackner
Allan A. "Al" Hackner, nicknamed "the Iceman" is a Canadian Hall of Fame curler from Thunder Bay, Ontario. He was born and raised in Nipigon, Ontario. He is a two-time Brier and World Champion skip...
's Northern Ontario team in the semi-final. Gowsell would not return to the Brier. Gowsell has not returned to the Brier since, but has played some competitive events since, most recently at the Alberta provincial seniors curling championship in 2010.http://www.calgarysun.com/sports/othersports/2010/02/16/12894646-sun.html
Antics
Gowsell was considered the "rebel of the curling world" in the 1970s. According to curler Brent PierceBrent Pierce
Brent Pierce is a Canadian curler.Pierce is a 1987 provincial junior champion skip, and a four-time provincial champion, former national and world champion playing third for Greg McAulay. Pierce last represented BC at the Brier in 2009 with the Sean Geall team...
, "in the '70s, he'd travel in a VW van, partying and drinking beer. And he always wore plaid pants. Rumour has it that he never washed them."
In a game against Saskatchewan's Larry McGrath, Gowsell was known to have ordered a pizza to the game. Gowsell's team ate the pizza on the ice, and according to legend, McGrath's last stone picked on an olive from the pizza, losing him the game.
Gowsell was also credited with introducing the "pushbroom" to the sport, revolutionizing sweeping in the sport, which had been using corn brooms. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Bender/2008/03/09/4953041-sun.html