Peter Gallant and Pat Quilty are the finalists in this season’s “Coach of the Year” category at the ADL/Sport PEI curling awards, being held in conjunction with Curl PEI’s Annual General Meeting on May 29 at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside.
Peter Gallant (right) with the Christopher Gallant rink at the 2013 Pepsi Juniors
Peter Gallant coached the Suzanne Birt rink to a first place finish at the 2013 PEI Scotties Tournament of Hearts women’s championship, going on to coach them at the nationals, were they finished just out of the playoffs, and also coached the Christopher Gallant team to a second place finish at the provincial Pepsi Juniors this season. With Peter’s help, the Birt rink qualified for the championship round in all the cashspiels, except one, that they entered this season, finishing as runners-up twice, while the Gallant team won the Fall Fling junior bonspiel in Summerside. Peter also served as the coach of the Brad Gushue rink of St. John’s NL, which includes his son Brett, at the Brier, where they finished fourth, and in other events.
The teams he coaches give him high praise, mentioning his positive energy and attitude, his motivational skills, and also saying that he makes himself available for day to day practices, and noting that he is very knowledgeable, technically and strategically, about the game.
Pat Quilty (left), with David O’Connor of sponsor O’Connor Glass, winning the Girl’s Division coaching award at the provincial Under 16 championships
Pat Quilty has coached Cornwall’s Rachel O’Connor rink for three years, helping them with their goal of representing PEI in the 2015 Canada Winter Games. Although they are in the Under 16 age group, he also encouraged them to participate in the Under 21 and Under 18 provincials, teaching them that they could be competitive in the older age categories, and helping them to achieve their goal of winning the Under 16 event, a goal which they achieved, going undefeated in the competition. He also coached the winning Under 16 Junior Mixed team, which included two members of the O’Connor rink, this season.
Quilty was awarded the Asham Coaching award, which is voted on by all the coaches in the event, in both the Under 18 and Under 16 provincials. The O’Connor rink was very encouraged by the results they attained this year with his assistance, and are looking forward to next season and the upcoming Canada Games trials.
The team noted that Quilty looks for the positive in each player, and is always willing to take the time needed during weekday practices and weekend competitions. When the team participated in the Whitecap curling camp in Halifax this past summer, he went too, signing on as an instructor to work with young curlers at the camp.