Gushue rink wins pair of games

Canada’s Brad Gushue rink continued their winning ways at the LGT World Men’s Curling Championship on Wednesday morning in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

The Gushue, rink, out of St. John’s, defeated Wouter Goesgens of the Netherlands and South Korea’s Jongduk Park by identical 7-4 scores to improve their record to 7-1.

Gushue, third Mark Nichols, second E.J. Harnden, lead Geoff Walker outplayed the Dutch at every position, but it wasn’t showing on the scoreboard for much of the game.

Gushue jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a pair in the first end a steal of one in the second agaibst the Netheralnds. They took the cautious route with the early lead said Gushue.

“It was more so the strategy that we took,” said Gushue. “Once we got that three-point lead, it was about not making any stupid mistakes or taking on more risk than we needed to.

“I think we did in the fifth end, and we got burned a little bit. We took a chance, and they got a steal.

“But I think once we got up three, and knowing full well the ice conditions were going to get tougher, it was about keeping it simple and making their shots tough.”

The patience paid off for the Canadians later in the game.

“It’s a massive key. This is a long week and it’s going to be gruelling so you don’t want to make it any more difficult than it has to be,” said Harnden. “That was a perfect example of patience today.”

The Canadians broke out late in the game thanks to a deuce in the eighth end. The Canadians made a runback to sit one, followed by a tap with the last stone to take the two and a three-point lead.

In the ninth, Gushue made a double, avoiding the jam and sticking the shooter in the house to force the Netherlands to one. Canada tacked on another point in the 10th end.

Against South Korea in the evening game, Gushue jumped out to a 6-3 lead after six ends and coasted home.

Sweden’s Team Niklas Edin defeated Italy’s Team Joel Retornaz 7-5 and Germany’s Marto Muskatewitz 8-5 to remain unbeaten at 8-0. Canada is in second at 7-1, followed by contenders Scotland and Switzerland at 6-2, Germany 6-3, Italy at 5-3 and Norway and the United States at 4-4.

Canada plays Norway and Sweden on Thursday.