Derek Samagalski and Reid Carruthers, longtime curling partners, will be inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame together this year. The 41-year-olds share a storied history of provincial successes and are set to be honored on May 2 at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg. Their induction highlights their contributions to the sport both on and off the ice.
On January 2, Derek Samagalski answered a call from Peter Nicholls of Curl Manitoba while coaching Team Kate Cameron at the Manitoba women’s curling championship in Rivers. Expecting trouble, he was instead thrilled to learn of his selection for the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame. "I thought our team did something wrong in provincials," Samagalski recalled. "To be inducted into the Hall of Fame with some of Manitoba’s greatest curlers of all time, it’s a pretty cool feeling."
The Winnipeg native, now living in Carberry, has won six Manitoba men’s championships, along with mixed and mixed doubles titles. A highlight was the 2019 provincial win in Virden as second on Mike McEwen’s team, featuring third Reid Carruthers and lead Colin Hodgson, which earned them a spot at the Brandon Brier. "That was pretty special for me because I lived in Brandon for three years," Samagalski said.
Samagalski and Carruthers, who teamed up at age 21 post-juniors, played over 13 years together, securing five provincial men’s titles. They join inductees including the 2008 and 2009 Teams Kaitlyn Lawes, 2013 and 2016 Teams Matt Dunstone, and 2009 Team Sean Grassie. "I wouldn’t have been inducted without Derek," Carruthers said. "He’s been a part of basically any of my curling accomplishments."
Carruthers, previously honored for Jeff Stoughton’s 2011 world championship team, has nine men’s titles, plus junior, mixed, and mixed doubles wins. He coaches Team Kerri Einarson to two Canadian golds and two world bronzes. "Manitoba is a very historic curling province," he noted. "To come out of Manitoba and to just be named as one of them, to be a Hall of Famer, I’m speechless."
Looking ahead, Samagalski will skip Nunavut at his 10th Brier, while Carruthers seeks his 14th via the Selkirk provincial, where his team is top seed among 24 entrants in a new triple-knockout format. Manitoba gets two Brier spots, with Matt Dunstone automatic. Samagalski hopes for a matchup: "It would be pretty cool... maybe him and I square off for the Brier one last time."
