Greg Ewasko, head ice technician for Curling Canada, has spent 34 years perfecting ice surfaces for curling competitions. He leads the effort to transform the rink at Mary Brown's Centre for the Montana's Brier, which runs until March 8. The process involves pebbling the ice to ensure rocks slide and curl properly.
Greg Ewasko became interested in ice making as a teenager while curling. At age 16, he watched rink workers adjust ice to control rock speed and curl, sparking his passion. In his early 20s, he took ice technician courses and gradually built expertise through community involvement.
Ewasko has served as an ice technician for 34 years and as Curling Canada's chief ice technician for the last seven. For the Montana's Brier at Mary Brown's Centre in St. John's, he works with two other technicians and 24 volunteers. The arena's standard hockey ice must be converted to pebbled curling ice, a process taking 36 to 48 hours.
The preparation starts with leveling the ice using a laser, followed by cutting and major hose floods if needed. The surface is then painted white, and circles, decals, lines, carpets, scoreboards, and lights are installed. Pebbling, the key step, uses water tank backpacks to apply droplets in two layers, which are lightly shaved. This allows rocks to achieve the right speed and curl, as Ewasko explained: "When you pebble and you have the right thickness of pebble on the ice it will allow the rock to curl and have the right speed."
Before each game, the ice is shaved smooth and repebbled. Ewasko arrived in St. John's after serving as deputy chief ice technician at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games. He anticipates a break starting March 9, before resuming in September. "St. John's is a very unique place to come and make ice and watch a curling event," Ewasko said, noting Brad Gushue as a headliner.
