Brad Gushue kicked off his last Montana’s Brier in St. John’s with a strong start on Friday evening. The St. John’s native secured a commanding 10-2 win against Quebec’s Jean-Michel Menard in the initial match. Gushue, aged 45 and set to retire from curling after this season, is competing in the Brier in his hometown for the first time since his 2017 championship victory.
Unsurprisingly, Gushue was met with enthusiastic applause from the local crowd, which deeply touched him. Reflecting on the overwhelming support, Gushue expressed, “I actually got a little emotional there. To witness, feel, and hear that reception definitely got my adrenaline pumping. Even during the warm-up, I haven’t felt this nervous in a long time. Receiving such a loud cheer was truly special, and I hope we experience more moments like that throughout the week.”
With a remarkable record of six national championships, Gushue recognizes the importance of managing his emotions while also drawing strength from them. He emphasized the need to strike a balance, stating, “It’s crucial for me and our team to avoid getting overly hyped up, as it might not work in our favor. We must maintain motivation, engage with the crowd, and yet remain composed and focused.”
Although Gushue initially scored two points in the opening end, Menard fought back, leveling the score with a single point in the sixth end. However, Gushue, a world champion and Olympic medalist, sealed the victory by scoring four points in both the seventh and eighth ends.
Reflecting on his performance, Gushue remarked, “Considering how nervous and shaky I felt at the start, I think we did quite well. There was one draw in the sixth end that I wish I could redo, but apart from that, I executed all the shots.”
Meanwhile, Canada’s Brad Jacobs, fresh off his gold medal win at the Milan Cortina Olympics, triumphed with an 8-3 win over Tyler Smith from Prince Edward Island. Jacobs, like Gushue, received a warm welcome from the spectators. Jacobs expressed his surprise and gratitude, stating, “The crowd here is unmatched. I didn’t expect such a warm reception from St. John’s when we arrived. It was truly touching.”
Despite a slow start, Jacobs and his team rallied after conceding two points in the first end. Jacobs acknowledged the challenging beginning, saying, “It was a bit of a rough start. They had the advantage and scored early, so we had to fight back.”
The Olympic gold medalists quickly turned the tide, scoring consistently throughout the game to secure a convincing victory. The action at the Brier continues with more matches scheduled for Saturday afternoon and evening.
