By Devin Heroux
Korey Dropkin finally feels at home in his own skin.
Maybe it’s because he’s finally qualified — in mixed doubles — for the Olympics.
Or maybe it’s a byproduct of being 30 years old and having a few more life experiences behind him. Perhaps it’s because he’s recently engaged.
Whatever it is, the American curler is more at peace with who he is in life and on the ice than any other time in his life.
“I kind of know who I am a little bit more now than I ever really have. I'm definitely someone that feels like I've had to be more adaptive than anything in the past. And now I feel like I know who Korey wants to be and appreciate life a little bit more,” Dropkin said.
In a nearly 40-minute winding conversation with John Cullen on a recent Broom Brothers podcast, Dropkin was reflective, candid, and contemplative, opening up about his journey in curling, what he wants for his life and his career — and what an Olympic berth in the four-person game would mean to him.
Dropkin was deeply introspective about who he is and who he’s continually trying to become.
“I want to be someone that people around me can lean on. I want to be someone that's known for putting his best effort in everything he does. The way you do one thing is the way you do everything,” he said.
“I want to be a family man, and I want to be just as good of a human being as I can — in the curling world, in my personal life, in my family life, and in the business world.”
He talked about there being a direct correlation between how he’s navigated his personal life and curling — and that he’s freer than ever before and excited about what that’s going to mean for the upcoming season.
“I don't really care as much about what others think and just appreciate me for who I am and the people around me. And I want to see the best out of the people around me as well,” he said.
All this wisdom and sharing could only come from someone like Dropkin — who has had his share of winning and also has endured some crushing defeats.
In two previous trips to the U.S. Olympic trial championships — one as a second in 2017 and the other as a skip in 2021 — Dropkin lost to Team Shuster in the finals. The most recent defeat probably should have never happened.
He’s had more than enough learning lessons. But that’s curling. It’ll humble even the best.
That includes this past World Men's Curling Championship in Moose Jaw, Sask., where Dropkin had the chance to qualify the United States for the Olympics.
“There's a lot of pressure when you're not only just playing for yourself, but you're playing for your whole country and you have the Olympic dream that's now on your back,” Dropkin said.
“At the men's, we got off to a hot start and then we kind of fell apart and didn't play our best curling. I think when you get tense and tight in those moments, and you overthink things, that's when you start falling apart. And I've definitely done that in the past. Look at the results.”
The team unravelled in Moose Jaw, going 4-8 for an 11th-place finish, and now the U.S. will have to qualify at a last-chance qualifier in Kelowna, B.C., this upcoming December. The pressure couldn’t be greater.
Dropkin will have to win the U.S. Olympic curling trials to have one final chance to qualify the men’s team.
He was, however, part of the United States mixed doubles team and was able to do just enough alongside Cory Thiesse at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship this past April to qualify for the Olympics.
It was the silver-lining for American curling in what was an otherwise turbulent and trying last season.
“I've been so close in the past and just haven't quite made that last shot or turned the corner to success. And I feel like last season was really that, you know, getting that monkey off my back, winning mixed doubles trials,” Dropkin said.
“Of course, before that, you know, winning the national championship. It was a big season for us.”
In many respects, Dropkin represents the now and future for American men’s curling. That wasn’t lost on The Curling Group brass, as they have made Dropkin the captain for the American franchise.
“It means everything to me. Super honoured to be asked to be the captain of the U.S. franchise. I'm stoked to really see how this league is built in and how it grows and develops,” Dropkin said.
“It's an honour to be the captain. There are plenty of U.S. legends out there that are still curling that could have been chosen, and I’m just thrilled to be the captain and be able to lead the franchise.”
Dropkin is especially thrilled to be part of what will be a mixed-gender professional league, something he says will undoubtedly spark curling dreams across America and around the world.
“The upcoming boys and girls in our sport and in the U.S., it's a pretty sweet privilege that we have an opportunity that hopefully will continue to build and create a whole bunch of dreams for those kids growing up,” Dropkin said.
“I would love to be in a position where I can be an inspiration to the next generation, the kids that are growing up and, and seeing that, you know, U.S. curlers can actually, you know, make a living financially.”
Dropkin, alongside teammates Tom Howell, Andrew Stopera and Mark Fenner are already on the ice training for the upcoming season. They’ll be flying to Scotland for a Euro series event in the coming week or so.
It’s full steam ahead for a team that has lofty goals and is facing immense pressure.
But there’s an ease in which Dropkin talks about all of it now. It has the battle scars of games won and lost and seems fearless as he stares down this next daunting chapter of his curling career.
And in a lot of ways, it’s come full circle. During the podcast, Dropkin waxed poetic about remembering the 2006 Olympics in Italy — how he was watching Pete Fenson, Shawn Rojeski, Joe Polo, and John Shuster win a first curling Olympic medal for the United States.
That foursome would capture bronze and, amid that medal run, would also capture the imagination of a then 11-year-old Korey Dropkin.
“That was like the coolest moment of my life. And that's when the dream started,” Dropkin said.
“And so, 20 years later, having that opportunity to go back to Italy, that's a dream coming true right there and that's why we curl.”
Before kicking off the tour campaign, Team Dropkin will compete in the USA Curling Pan Continental Qualifier this weekend in Chaska, Minn.
The double round-robin tournament features Dropkin, Team Casper and Team Shuster on the men's side, plus Team Cousins, Team Peterson and Team Strouse on the women's side.
The winners of the event will represent the U.S. on home ice at the Pan Continental Curling Championships, Oct. 19-26, in Virginia, Minn.
