Gushue enjoying road trip Defending Brier champion was trying for impossible a year ago on home ice
REGINA — If Brad Gushue doesn’t seem like he’s feeling pressure at the Canadian men’s curling championship, that’s because he isn’t. Not compared to a year ago, anyway. The skip was under a relentless spotlight in his hometown of St. John’s, N.L., as he tried to win his first national title after 13 tries and a pair of runner-up finishes. Gushue, third Mark Nichols and front end Brett Gallant and Geoff Walker produced the storybook ending by winning the Tim Hortons Brier at Mile One Centre.
Gushue and Nichols won Olympic gold in 2006, but the 37year-old Gushue says nothing in his curling career felt as stressful as trying to win that breakthrough Brier at home.
“As much as I loved the experience, if someone asked me if I want to do it again, I’d have to think long and hard,” he said Friday. “Unless they told me we’d win, I wouldn’t do it again.”
So wearing the red and white as defending champion this year in Regina, and attempting to become the first repeat winner since Kevin Martin in 2009, hasn’t felt like a heavy assignment.
“A lot less stressed, a lot less nervous. Eating better, sleeping better, everything’s better,” he said.
The challenge round of the top eight teams from pool play concluded Friday with a pair of what turned out to be playoff preview games.
Gushue (10-1) beat Ontario’s John Epping (9-2) 5-4. They meet again in tonight’s Page playoff. Alberta’s Brendan Bottcher downed Northern Ontario’s Brad Jacobs 9-3. Those 8-3 teams have a rematch this afternoon with the victor advancing to the semifinal.
— The Canadian Press