Sydney Galusha is 16. Brynn Chorostkowski is 16. Ella Skauge is 17. They are three of Team Kaufman’s five members representing the NWT at curling’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts, which starts on Friday.
No other team at this year’s women’s national championship comes close in terms of average age, despite skip Nicky Kaufman and Megan Koehler – a veteran by NWT standards, at her 11th Scotties – being a little older.
“They just bring so much life, and we laugh often,” said Koehler of her younger teammates.
“We ended up forming this team to help the junior program and improve their skills. They’re the next generation.”
Competing on a national stage is definitely one way to improve.
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Galusha was only 15 when she competed at Scotties for the first time last year.
“We’re playing really big teams but you’re just playing against the rocks,” she told Cabin Radio on Friday, hours before the NWT rink’s opening game against Ontario, pointing out that last year the NWT defeated Manitoba’s Kerri Einarson – who ultimately went on to win the whole event.
“We’re pretty aggressive against teams,” said Galusha. “We think if we go after them, we can have a good game, so that’s what we’ve been doing all season.”
Galusha’s mom is Kerry, a participant in more than 20 Scotties who has been the face of women’s curling in the NWT for decades.
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Last year was her final appearance before stepping back from playing the sport at this level – “I haven’t thrown one rock this year,” she said on Friday – but Galusha senior is still heavily involved as the team’s coach.
“I’m very content with my new role and I’m hoping to try to have fun,” she said.
“Like, it’s going to be a bit stressful. I’m managing five girls and three of them are teenagers. It’s fun but at the same time it has its challenges, and we’re just working through it as a team. And I’m a new coach, so I’m not going to get everything right either.
“It’s a good thing I have lots of experience coming here, though, so I kind-of know what works and what doesn’t. I’m definitely trying to embrace this new role.”
‘Half of our team is, like, kids’
Having the team be led by a veteran skip is important, the elder Galusha said, even if it’s not her.
Kaufman is the team’s one entrant allowed from outside the territory. She is from Edmonton and responded to an online appeal from the NWT contingent last year, asking for potential Alberta-based skips to get in touch.
“And I’m like, ‘Oh, what an amazing opportunity. Pick me! Pick me!’ We had some initial phone calls and things clicked,” Kaufman said.
This will be her Scotties debut.
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“It’s been something I’ve been dreaming about for a long, long time. So to be here,” she said, “it feels pretty special.”
Skauge arrives having competed in basketball for Team NT at last year’s Canada Games in St John’s, Newfoundland. She has also competed at a high level in softball and took part in archery for the NWT at the 2024 Arctic Winter Games.
The atmosphere at Scotties is completely different, she said. Whereas Arctic Winter Games and Canada Games are “all about the hype,” at Scotties in Mississauga she feels like “one unit” with the other curlers.
“We have such small teams, we all depend on each other so much and it’s just our tight-knit group,” said Skauge.
“It’s just a different atmosphere on the competing ice, too. It’s all very serious and it’s all a little bit nerve-wracking, being the youngest ones here. Half of our team is, like, kids, and then the rest of everyone else is grown adults.”
Chorostkowski said it “feels great at such a young age to go to a big tournament you’ve grown up watching.”
More: Team Kaufman’s Scotties round-robin schedule
More: Calgary Herald team-by-team preview
“It’s absolutely insane,” added Skauge.
“We’re so lucky and so grateful to be in this event at this age. Some people play their whole lives and could never come to this event – and are amazing curlers.
“From the North, we have advantages and disadvantages, for sure, but this is one that we get the chance to do this.”
