Curler Shoots Buckets at Canada Games

ST. JOHN’S — Sydney Galusha, from Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, is shooting baskets at the other end of the continent.

 The young two-sport star competed at her first Scotties Tournament of Hearts Canadian curling championship back in February – at just age 15, which set a record – and did it with veteran skip and supermom Kerry Galusha, who then retired after decades on the ice.

Now young Sydney is ballin’ for the Territories at the 30th edition of the Canada Games.

We spoke with both Sydney and Kerry after NT battled Nova Scotia in their third game in St. John’s.

TCN: So, of course, The Curling News audience needs to know which sport you prefer… curling or basketball?

SYDNEY: Um, it depends on, like, the day. Right now I’m not curling so it’s probably basketball at the moment. But when I’m curling, it’s curling, so…

TCN: Your mom said you play both sports all the time. Do the seasons mix and match pretty well?

KERRY: Yeah. Their seasons are the same exact time throughout the year.

TCN: So you get summertime off, right? Apart from these Canada Games?

KERRY: Usually she’ll have the summers off unless there’s an event. Last year they went to basketball nationals in Newfoundland, and now they’re here again. She hasn’t had a summer off for a couple of years… but maybe next summer.

TCN: Is mom really retired now, or do you think she’s going to come back? What are your thoughts?

SYDNEY: She’s really retired, because I have my own team, a women’s team now. And she’s not on it.

TCN: Is she the alternate?

SYDNEY: No.

TCN: Is she the coach?

SYDNEY: We don’t have a coach yet, so she might be, but she is coaching my U20 junior team.

KERRY: I’ll be officially coaching them. And, yeah, I’m officially retired because Megan Kohler asked if I would consider being their fifth and I said absolutely not. If it means I have to step on the Scotties ice, no. But I would consider coaching, so we’ll see what the year brings.

TCN: I’m ignorant about basketball; what position do you play on this team?

SYDNEY: Shooting guard.

TCN: Okay. Shooting guard. That sounds to me like the job is to score buckets.

SYDNEY: Yeah, they shoot a lot of three pointers.

TCN: I was watching, and you seem to be the one who starts a play – if the ball comes back to you or the ref gives you the ball in the corner.

SYDNEY: Yeah, ’cause we run plays and it’s usually for a three-point shot, and when I’m on the court, it’s usually for me because I’m a good three-point shooter.

TCN: How long have you been playing basketball?

SYDNEY: A long time, since I was, like, four.

KERRY: She started curling when she was five, so, she started both sports really young.

TCN: Oh my God.

KERRY: Yeah, I know.

TCN: And you’re here playing ball with your Scotties teammate, Ella Skauge?

SYDNEY: Yes. She’s one of my teammates. She’s played basketball and curling with me since we were four or five.

TCN: Your new curling career… it starts, I guess, kind of fresh, with you as the only Galusha on the team?

SYDNEY: Yes.

TCN: Are you excited about that?

SYDNEY: Yes.

TCN: How many Scotties do you have to compete in to beat mom’s record?

SYDNEY: Like, 20.

TCN: Wow.

KERRY: I think it’s like 18 or something, because they don’t count relegation years. So only 18. And (to Sydney) you’ve already got one, and you’re only 16 years old.

TCN: Congratulations on your 16th birthday.

SYDNEY: Thank you.

TCN: Did anything else happen when you turned 16?

SYDNEY: I got my driver’s license.

TCN: Get out.

SYDNEY: Yeah. Three days before I left for Canada Games.

TCN: Is that almost more exciting than Canada Games basketball?

SYDNEY: Yes.

TCN: What?!

SYDNEY: It’s exciting. It’s freedom for me, no more 10 p.m. pickups from basketball practice.

TCN: Well, what is she going to drive, mama? A big pickup truck or are you giving her the little Miata…?

KERRY: No, she has her own car thanks to Grandma Koe; she helped her buy a car. She’s got a Ford Escape.