Duncan-grown professional football player Brock Gowanlock has officially retired from the game that, he says, gave him everything he could have ever asked for.
The six-foot-three, 240-pound defensive end and fullback said it was no longer worth putting his body on the line, especially after achieving the goals he had set for himself in the sport.
“What’s next for me is going to be enjoying living a regular life,” he said. “Putting my passion and effort into my new career and family. A lot of sacrifices are made to be a pro athlete; social life, stability, relationships, and many more things. Not to say those sacrifices aren’t worth it, but they were needed to get to where I was going. So for now I’m looking forward to enjoying the little things that I had to push off to the side.”
A graduate of Cowichan Secondary, Gowanlock got his start with the Cowichan Bulldogs, where he learned and developed the game's core skills. That foundation would ultimately propel him to the next level.
He went on to shine with the Canadian Junior Football League’s Langley Rams. Over two seasons, he improved dramatically, going from just 2.5 sacks in 2014 to 14.5 in 2015. His standout performance earned him a spot on the 2015 CJFL All-Canadian Team.
From there, Gowanlock joined the University of Manitoba Bisons in U Sports Canada football. Over 38 games as a Bison, he tallied 177 total tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, four pass knockdowns, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one touchdown.
He was selected 66th overall by the Montreal Alouettes in the eighth round of the 2020 CFL Draft. However, both the 2020 U Sports and CFL seasons were cancelled due to COVID-19.
After a brief stint with the Alouettes in early 2021, Gowanlock returned to Manitoba to finish his university eligibility. That season, he was named a Canada West all-star and a second-team U Sports All-Canadian.
Montreal signed him again in 2022. Gowanlock played in 10 regular-season and two playoff games. The following year, he appeared in another 10 games and was active for Montreal’s victory in the 110th Grey Cup over Winnipeg.
“I really had nothing left that I could ask from the game,” he said. “I always wanted to be a champion, to share an unforgettable moment, built by months and even years of preparation, with the people who were closest to me. My teammates, coaches, and our families would be bonded forever by that feat. I was lucky enough to get that in my second season with the Alouettes.”
Injuries sidelined him for most of the 2024 season, limiting him to just three games. He was not re-signed when his contract expired in February 2025. That same month, he signed a one-year deal with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers but retired in May after being released at the opening of training camp.
“I reflected on my career a lot and that’s what ultimately helped me decide to retire,” he said. “I look back on how far my journey took me and how thankful I am for every step along the way.”
Gowanlock's path through the ranks of Canadian football spanned more than two decades.
“I spent 10 or so years with the Cowichan Bulldogs, two years with the Langley Rams, and five years with the Manitoba Bisons wanting nothing more than to win it all,” he said. “I often question if I did win it back then would I have pushed myself as hard as I did to make it as far as I was able to go. I guess that was the road that was meant to be for me—years of heart-breaking losses led to the most fulfilling moment of mine and my family’s life.”
For Gowanlock, the game may be over, but the memories — and the triumph — will stay with him forever.
"It took 20 years to hit the ultimate goal of winning something bigger than anything personal, something that is shared by everyone and that no one can take away. That’s what sports are about and that’s what helped me tip my hat to the game and walk away. My body wasn’t worth sacrificing for something that had given me everything I could ever ask for.”
