It has been just a few years since Olympic Gold Medal winning netminder Curtis Joseph patrolled the cage at a professional level, but this past Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack, Joseph stated that he can foresee himself returning to the league in a slightly different role
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Joseph, a 44-year-old native of Keswick, Ont., was at the Campbellville, Ont. raceway this past weekend to take in the Maple Leaf Trot, which was captured by the Rod Hughes-trained and Randy Waples-driven San Pail for the third consecutive campaign.
While in discussion with the Woodbine Entertainment Group, Joseph stated that he hasn't spent a wealth of time on the ice since last hanging up the pads, but that could be something which could change if the right scenario presents itself.
He said that he's taught a couple of goalies and has passed on some tips to his three sons which currently play AAA hockey. Joseph's next venture will be a step up, though --- one which he is hopeful could possibly snowball into a shot at a high-level gig.
"I'm going to help Dougie Gilmour (Kingston Fontenacs Head Coach Doug Gilmour) with his Kingston Frontenacs goalies, so that will be enjoyable," Joseph explained.
Pondering his future beyond Gilmour's Ontario Hockey League squad, Joseph said that it would be logical for him to make the step back to the NHL via the mentoring of netminders.
"Well, it makes sense for me to help with goalies, I think somewhere down the line, hopefully at the highest level, at the NHL," Joseph said. "I do miss the game --- the people in the game. Hockey people are just tremendous people, and I could see myself getting back into the game."
One game Joseph did get into back in the mid 1990s was horse racing, thoroughbred racing, particularly --- introduced to 'The Sport of Kings' by a superstar player agent and a former 50-goal sniper.
"Gary Leeman and Donnie Meehan had a horse --- I think it was back in '95 --- and the horse's name was Ice Agent," he said. "They asked me to be a partner. I said, 'Sure, lets do it socially,' and ever since then I've been hooked."
Although he has owned and found success with runners for over a decade and a half now, Joseph's first exposure to harness racing, surprisingly enough, came during his Saturday visit to Mohawk Racetrack for the Maple Leaf Trot.
The big question is: Will Curtis Joseph make a splash into the standardbred ownership scene any time soon? He stated that it would've been very easy for a 'newbie' to get bit by the harness racing bug on Maple Leaf Trot Night, which he explained he had much admiration for.
"I met all the drivers, and they were all good guys. It was a lot of fun out there; it was electric. I had a great time," said Joseph, who went on to state, "I had never been to Mohawk before or out to see standardbred racing. It was exciting tonight. The hometown favourite won in the big race and it was a great story."
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