Gowsell hit the men's competitive curling world by storm in the late 1970s with his unorthodox antics.

Gowsell to date has not returned to the Brier, but has played some competitive events since, most recently at the Alberta provincial seniors curling championship in 2010.

He teamed up with former Junior Alberta Provincial Champion, Mike Sali, his son, Sam Gowsell, and young up and coming lead Jamie Cochrane.

In those days, he sported long hair and a beard; Hec Gervais once commented about Gowsell that, "with a shave and two haircuts, he'd be alright."

His teams revolutionized sweeping techniques in the sport, taking advantage of the chaff left on the ice by most of their competitors who had been using the "Blackjack" style of corn brooms prior to the Gowsell successes at the championship levels.