and it was nice to play different positions last year and see things from a different perspective. I think that was helpful for everyone. And, you know, we also all put in a lot of hard work individually and in the past, too, with different teams but now we’re putting it all together and it’s going well. SoB : You mentioned past experiences just now. Can you tell me a bit about those past teams? What was it like to curl with your brother for the mixed championship? RH: Yeah, that was a lot of fun. It was special to be able to curl with my brother. You don’t get that opportunity very often in sports, especially at higher levels, to be able to play with your family. That’s something I will never forget. Mark is such a talented curler. We live far away from each other now so that probably won’t happen again but it’s a lot of fun to play with your family, if you’re lucky enough to get the chance. SoB: So, you said it was fun playing with your brother and it was so great to have that opportunity. What are some of the other events in your career that stand out and why? RH: I’d say the Olympic Trials in our hometown at an arena where we’d grown up watching everyone else – the Sens playing, concerts were there, comedy shows, everything – when you finally get the opportunity to play at ice level there, it’s something. And when we won, they sounded the goal foghorn, and our friends and family were just packed into the building – that’s something I will never forget. It’s the memories with your friends and family that become the things you cherish. And then, being able to go over to the Olympics with family is obviously something that not everyone gets to do. Those are definitely the memories that stick with me and it’s hard to pick certain memories, but it’s been so awesome to win 15 Slams. You kind of get lost sometimes in the events and the busyness but when you look back at how many Slams we’ve won. It’s cool to sit back and think about all the wins over the years and how the Grand Slam has grown and what it’s become today is pretty awesome. It’s amazing to think back on how it started. “Earl Morris had a huge impact on how we approach the game and taught us the mental piece along with the basics and work ethic that needed to go into the game if we wanted to be at the top level.”
I remember the first meetings about the Grand Slams with Sportsnet and they’ve followed through on their end and turned it into an amazing product to launch and just to be a part of that, I feel so fortunate. So, yeah, hard to pick just one memory because there’s so many good ones. SoB: You have a lot of great memories to reflect on. And, just to take it back a bit, you mentioned your grandparents and your parents both played. Did you have any mentors growing up, as far as the sport, or someone in the community who inspired you while you were playing then or now? RH: Yeah, I think Earl Morris had a huge impact on how we approach the game and taught us the mental piece along with the basics and work ethic that needed to go into the game if we wanted to be at the top level. He showed what was important to focus on,
“hard to pick just one memory because there’s so many good ones.”
which started us off on the right foot and on the right track to get us to this level of success. I’ve had a mental performance coach over the years that has helped me develop into the player that I am and I’m eternally grateful for that relationship and friendship and his ability to help me get the best out of my game. He helps me get the most out of the game and think about it differently.
2023 GSOC Masters Saskatoon SK - Photo by Anil Mungal
16 SPOTLIGHT MAGAZINE ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • VOL 24 ISSUE 1
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