Gushue dials up intensity and it pays off
Vocal skip lays down the law as team nabs afternoon win but struggles in evening draw
OTTAWA— A team meeting in the middle of the Tim Hortons Brier kick-started Brad Gushue’s run to national and world titles earlier this year.
Another sit-down session was needed after an early loss at the Olympic Trials, and it appears to be paying dividends. Gushue picked up his second straight win Monday morning with an 8-6 victory over John Morris at Canadian Tire Centre. It was an intense, rollicking affair that turned when Gushue delivered a tap for four points in the eighth end.
The St. John’s, N.L., skip — who jawed with teammates and opponents alike during the game — pumped his fist and held his stare after delivering the clutch throw.
“We’re doing a lot of things right, we just haven’t gained any traction yet,” Gushue said. “It certainly felt like we were starting to gain it. It would have been a sin for me not to finish it off.”
Gushue gave up three in the third end after ticking a guard, but pulled even in the fourth with a deuce. He chirped at Morris at one point in the fifth, picked up a steal, and gave second Brett Gallant an earful during the midgame break.
Gushue seemed determined to will his team to victory.
“Sometimes I walk a fine line because I can get a little bit too intense for the guys,” Gushue said. “But they know what I’m like.” Reigning Olympic champion Brad Jacobs of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., beat Gushue 7-4 in the evening draw.
Gushue, who fell to 2-2, couldn’t recover after giving up three points in the third end due to a picked stone.
The team appears to be on the rebound after a 6-4 loss to Toronto’s John Epping over the weekend.
A post-game talk from the skipper — just like at the Brier nine months ago — soon followed.
“A very similar chat,” said fifth Tom Sallows. “Everybody supports everybody, so that’s the main thing. Just getting back to remembering what got you here and what makes them one of the best in the world.”
“Brad will give them a lecture but it’s meaningful,” added coach Jules Owchar.
Gushue shot 80 per cent against Morris while his team was at 81 per cent. Perhaps more importantly, they played better with the hammer and gave themselves opportunities.
Ottawa’s Rachel Homan defeated Krista McCarville of Thunder Bay, Ont., 4-2 in the other early game.
Homan, the reigning world women’s champion, had hammer in the 10th end and used it to score a single. She improved to 2-1.
Calgary’s Chelsea Carey beat Casey Scheidegger of Lethbridge, Alta., in an afternoon battle of undefeated skips. Carey scored one in an extra end for an 8-7 victory.
Carey joined Winnipeg’s Jennifer Jones at 3-0. Scheidegger fell to 2-1.
In other afternoon games, Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen topped Toronto’s John Epping 8-5, Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers downed Saskatoon’s Steve Laycock 9-5 and Edmonton’s Val Sweeting doubled Toronto’s Allison Flaxey 10-5.
Homan beat Winnipeg’s Michelle Englot 11-7 in the evening draw while reigning Olympic champ Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg dumped Julie Tippin of Woodstock, Ont., 12-6.
Jones (4-0) and Carey (3-0) remained unbeaten after eight draws. Homan was next at 3-1, followed by Scheidegger (2-1), Tippin and McCarville (1-2).
Calgary’s Kevin Koe scored a pair in the 10th end for a 7-6 win over Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher. Koe led the men’s standings at 4-0, followed by McEwen (3-0), Jacobs (2-1) and Gushue (2-2).