When the New Zealand men’s curling team moved to Canada to train, word went out for accommodation – and turns out, a retirement village ticked all the boxes.
Colonel Belcher Retirement Residence in Calgary has adopted the Team Hood athletes – and the unlikely alliance is proving a win-win.
Team member Brett Sargon says the residents like to chip in with curling advice.
"Just the knowledge base of curling here is absolutely crazy. Even people here who haven't curled before – they know what curling is, for a start," Sargon told Seven Sharp.
"A lot of time, back home, we have to explain what curling is when we talk about it."
Asked why the team travelled there, captain Anton Hood explained, "Canada is the hub of curling in the world. It has got the most athletes, the most facilities and some of the biggest tour events possible globally so for us, it made sense."
But they’ve certainly got a home away from home with the seniors. Sargon was excited about the breakfast area at Colonel Belcher – which boasts a small bar for Friday night happy hour.
It can take a while to get down the hall as everyone wants to stop and have a chat to them.
Along with the curling tips, the residents have other gems for the lads.
"Have fun, do what you love. If you’re not enjoying what you do – don’t do it," Sargon said. There’s also a lot of advice around finding "the person that you want to spend your life with".
And Hood says there were a couple of concerns about loud and rowdy music – but they soon disappeared when the team reassured residents that if there were any parties, they’d be getting an invite.
"I think at the start they were a bit dubious about a bunch of young lads from New Zealand running around their halls but they really warmed up to us," he said.
Team Hood is aiming to qualify for the 2024 Curling World Championships. They also have their hopes on qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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