Glenn Howard enjoying a very different kind of Brier experience

Down the line, from Calgary, Glenn Howard's voice sounds like his throat is made of sandpaper. Not the fine grade, either. The kind you'd use to pull varnish from a floor. But, it's familiar in a couple of ways; It sounds enough like the voice of the man I've interviewed often. It also sounds like pretty much anyone you would talk to after they've spent a few long, yet satisfying days and nights at The Brier as a fan, not as a player. Raspy, weary, happy.

“You can probably tell from my voice that I’ve had the full fan experience," says Howard, who did have to clear his throat a few times or so during a five minute conversation. We all know that feeling.

"I discovered this really big building across the parking lot... I think its called “The Patch,” he says, voice cracking as well as wise cracking. "There’s a lot of fun to be had in there.”

The 2015 Brier is giving the four-time champion a very different kind of experience. Free of the shackles of the responsibilities of a player, the 52 year old skip is taking things in as a fan. “I’ve had the time of my life," he says, enthusiastically. "I’ve had an absolute ball.”

As a player, Howard has made more appearances at The Brier (15) and played more games (196) than anyone in the event's history. He'd skipped Ontario at eight straight national championships, from 2006 to 2013. He missed last year's Brier after losing in the Ontario final, and his team failed to even make the provincial Tankard at all, this season. Last year, Howard watched the Brier from his couch at home. This, then, is Glenn Howard's first live go as a spectator at nationals in at least a decade. Mostly, he knows it from ice level, as a player. To arrive as something other than that was a little jarring at first.

“When I first walked into the Saddledome, I kinda went ‘oh, wow. This is really weird,’ he explains. "Because I knew... I’m going in the front door as opposed to the players’ entrance. I really thought that was bizarre. And I’m thinking ‘oh, man, how am I gonna feel? Am I gonna be envious?’”

You'd forgive as much from Howard who, despite his easy going nature, is as competitive as they come. Doesn't seem that would be an easy thing to do, considering you wanted to be out there yourself. However, he says those competitive fires were quickly doused when he arrived at his seat and the pride of a father took over. His son, Scott, is playing in his first Brier (outside of previously appearing as an alternate for his dad).

“Quickly, I saw the four young guys (Team Ontario) out there on the ice and I saw my son, particularly, and that had all gone away," Howard says of the trepidation he'd felt. "I was just very proud and super, super excited to watch the kids. Just wanted to be a fan and a father."

From that point on, Howard says, he's been able to see and feel The Brier through the same eyes as a fan, enjoying the action on the ice and, ahem, off. As a player, Howard has always found a little bit of time to greet fans in the patch. However, faced with a gruelling game schedule, not many players are able to really appreciate the ancillary gifts that a Brier provides.

But, now? Full force patching?

“Full force patching," he repeats, when asked if he's found high gear. "As a fan, I've ventured over there a few more times," he continues, chuckling. "Which is part of the experience. You want to get the full experience and it really has been outstanding. It really has been a lot of fun.”

We've seen the photographic evidence of that. On Sunday, Howard was pulled into the wonderfully goofy spirit of 'The Sociables,' a Calgary group that has been attending Briers since 2009. Known for showing up each day in a different set of themed costumes, The Sociables paid tribute to NHL great Lanny McDonald and Howard was happy to oblige them by wearing a very furry fake moustache.

“I had a blast putting on that Lanny moustache. I was a big Lanny McDonald fan growing up, so that was kind of cool. Just a hoot. They (The Sociables) are just a great bunch of people who are having a blast. To me they’re a staple at The Brier. They’re just a riot.”

When not in The Patch, Howard has been ensconced in the seats at The Saddledome, feeling like a proud papa. “They’ve actually played really darn well," he says of Team Ontario. "One shot here or there, in every game, they could easily have a much better record."

Sitting in a sea of curling lovers, in one of the sport's hotbeds, Howard has lots of company and says he feels just like one of them. "I'm a fan of the game, " he says.

Not just any fan, of course. He gets noticed. Lots. There has been fairly steady stream of people stopping by to say hello and get a shot. “I’ll never turn a picture down. I’ll never turn an autograph down," he says, grateful for the attention his seat neighbours have given him.

“A lot of terrific, terrific comments and it makes you feel good that people appreciate what you’ve done over the years," he says. "For them to come up and say a few kind words, it’s really special.”

As the week winds down and with his son's team fading from the playoff picture, there's still time to drink in - so to speak - this very different Brier experience. Then, Howard heads home for a playoff game in the Penetanguishene Curling Club Major League and then to Ottawa, where he'll have another proud parental moment; pairing up with daughter Carly in the Canadian Mixed Doubles Trials.

“Do I want to be on the ice? Absolutely," Howard clarifies, so there will be no mistaking him. This view from the stands, while a blast, hasn't diminished his desire to return to a Brier, as a combatant. "But," he continues, "we didn’t earn the right to go, so the next best thing is having my 23 year old son and the young bucks from Ontario out there playing.”

Glenn Howard's strange, yet wonderful Brier experience has provided him with lots of fun, lots of socializing, lots of patch. As well, maybe something he couldn't have predicted back in January, when his team was eliminated, so early, on the road to Calgary.

“One of the most rewarding and proud experiences that I’ve ever had in my life,” he said.