Like most young curlers who show signs of early promise, Sandy MacEwan undoubtedly had dreams of competing at the Brier some day.

It is, however, highly unlikely that in those visions of future success, MacEwan pictured a now 40 year-old version of himself embracing that accomplishment for the very first time.

And yet here he is, with years of resilience and commitment to his craft behind him, leading the five-person team of Dustin Montpellier, Olivier Bonin-Ducharme, Luc Ouimet and Lee Toner into battle in St John’s (Newfoundland) from February 27th to March 8th.

Representing the Northern Credit Union Community Centre (NCUCC), the rink that upset the John Epping quartet to capture the NOCA banner in North Bay find themselves in a nine-team Pool B that also features the likes of Matt Dunstone (Manitoba), Mike McEwen (Saskatchewan) and Kevin Koe (Alberta).

This is easily the ultimate step to date in an on-ice journey that commenced at the age of nine, initiated as most in the sport are by family ties to the winter tradition. “I took to curling right away and always looked forward to playing with other kids and trying to get better,” recalled MacEwan, now a vice-principle at Princess Anne Public School.

“Some of my earliest memories include watching my dad curl in the Industrial League at the then Sudbury Curling Club and watching the big teams play on TV.”

Youth curling was booming in Sudbury at the time, with several of the biggest nickel city names ever in the sport cutting their teeth against opponents who would move on to national prominence. Occasionally, there might even lie the chance to compete together as teammates.

MacEwan took part in the Ontario Bantam Mixed Championships in 1999 with a foursome that also featured Mike Jakubo and siblings Jennifer and Tracy Horgan. “There was no national championship for that, but I remember feeling that if there was, we could have done well,” said MacEwan.

The transition to high-school only served to further the development of the talented rock thrower, who claimed gold at OFSAA quite early in his time with the Lasalle Lancers (2001), adding a bronze medal performance three years later. Climbing to the top of that mountain freshly removed from the elementary school ranks still sits as one of his most memorable highlights.

“Most of the competitive curlers played high-school curling back then,” noted MacEwan. “The (2001) event was also held in Sudbury, which made it that much more special, having our parents there, cheering us on.”

The ensuing years saw MacEwan remain a constant in local curling circles, donning the Laurentian University colours during his post-secondary era, honing his skills, occasionally, with the likes of Tyler Stewart, Ryan Lafraniere and Ian Dickie, all while easing his way into the men’s ranks at a time when Brad Jacobs and company from Sault Ste Marie begin to dominate the Northern Ontario men’s curling landscape.

Current teammates Lee Toner and Luc Ouimet were curling rivals for a stretch as MacEwan gained valuable experience through the second decade of the new millennium, garnering tutelage under skips Tim Phillips, Mike Jakubo and Jordan Chandler.

The 2019 season not only sees the edition of the current Team MacEwan, but also gives the man now at the helm the chance to throw last stones at nationals by way of the 2020 Canadian Mixed Curling Championships as Sandy MacEwan teams with Laura Johnston, Gavan Jamieson and Amanda Corkal to represent the NOCA in Sauguenay (Quebec).

“I’ve learned a lot from many of the skips that I have played for previously,” said MacEwan.

“The position itself seems to fit me well, for whatever reason(s). I feel like I am at my best throwing the last two rocks. My current teammates allow me to focus on being a shot maker and contribute a lot to my curling game.”

In the end, this may not have been the curling trajectory that a teenage Sandy MacEwan might have projected - but it endures as one which he truly appreciates.

“Perspective,” he stressed. “Curling is a game that we all love and all hold dear, but it is just a game at the end of the day. Now that I have lots of experience in curling, it has taught me that family comes first and the sacrifices they make to allow me to curl at the level we do is equally important to me as anything else.”

“I have probably had the most success in my curling career with that mindset.”