In the heart of Regina, as the air bristled with suspense, Team Saskatchewan seemed poised to author an epic comeback. Sources of inspiration often come unannounced, but for Brad Gushue, it was in the form of a flawless takeout, conjuring a double score from the slimmest of opportunities, as his triumphant “Yeah! Come on!” resonated through the Brandt Centre.
That pivotal move unfolded on a fateful Sunday night, where Gushue, the seasoned skipper from Newfoundland, shepherded his Team Canada toward the coveted Brier title for the third consecutive year—an astonishing sixth victory in a span of eight for him and his steadfast companions, Mark Nichols and Geoff Walker, complemented by a third accolade for their second, E.J. Harnden.
A victorious Gushue lavished in the moment, the weight of a 9-5 win in nine ends accentuated as Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” echoed triumphantly across the arena. “This moment is what it’s all about,” he expressed, a grin of pure satisfaction lighting his features. “This is why I play. This is why I love the game. And I love this moment, to witness the fruits of our strenuous toil this week materialize. It’s so cool. And it isn’t about the number of wins—it’s about this moment right here.”
Yet, take a moment we must, to marvel at the achievement: six Brier titles in total, a figure that entwines Gushue’s legacy with that of the legendary Randy Ferbey.
Nichols credits the win to Gushue’s mesmerizing play in the seventh end, as Saskatchewan teetered on the edge of leveling the score. “It’s one of the better ones—I mean, I’ve been spoiled for 20 years watching his genius at work—he makes them routinely, and you find yourself thinking, ‘oh, another miracle,'” Nichols remarked. “And he delivered. He was our savior in the seventh.”
Thus, Gushue disrupted the narrative scripted for a local hero’s triumph, thwarting Saskatchewan’s prospects of hoisting their first Brier championship in 44 years on their own turf, casting instead his own golden chronicle.
Despite Saskatchewan’s valiant warriors—Mike McEwen, Colton Flasch, and the Marsh twins Dan and Kevin—their fierce resolve was manifest before a home crowd of 5,734, whose cheers carried the timbre of ringing cowbells, the sway of Roughriders green, and a sea of yellow and green flags.
The homestead contenders, however, faced tribulations early on, grappling with capricious ice conditions that differed from those in their earlier semi-final. “We kind of came out a little bit flat,” admitted Saskatchewan’s second, Kevin Marsh.
A crestfallen McEwen lamented, “It’s tough to acknowledge we weren’t at our best. Tricky conditions. You could discern that both sides were grappling with the ice, but Brad, he was stellar in the initial fourth ends.”
Gushue, with the deft touch of an artisan, executed a split in the fourth end so precise, it bordered on the realm of the effortless. It was a demonstration of prowess from the 43-year-old St. John’s native that embodied the essence of simplicity.
By the midpoint, Canada had secured a 5-1 advantage—the scene called for a dash of magic, and it was Saskatchewan that answered the call.
The dazzling crowd descended into a frenzy as Flasch, Saskatchewan’s third, laid the foundation for a steal. Sitting two, McEwen’s flawless draw made it three. The resultant din of applause and jubilant cowbells was deafening.
As the measure came, the crowds chanted, hopeful for a tie—”Three! Three! Three!” But fate deemed it a steal of just two, and the seventh end loomed with Saskatchewan trailing by a single point.
In the turnabout that was the seventh, Gushue’s takeout maneuver unfurled, seizing a 7-4 lead that drew the curtains on any anticipation of a fairytale conclusion for Saskatchewan.
Walker, Team Canada’s lead, was swift to sing praises for his skip’s knack for performing under pressure. “He’s clutch,” he said, the smile unsuppressed. Gushue’s composure in high-stakes moments stood testament to this, cementing his status in the annals of curling lore.
As the final stones were cast, the atmosphere in the arena was alight with raw emotion, and Team Canada’s skip gestured a valiant victor’s salute amidst the roar of the spectators.
While silver-medalist McEwen joined his squad on the ice, the outpouring of appreciation from the fans was palpable. The experience, as McEwen saw it, wasn’t so much about pressure as it was an “honour.”
The finale was ripped straight from a storybook—a perennial contender, Team Canada, vying for a continuation of their reign, stood opposite the host team, ranked sixth nationwide, brimming with dreams of quenching a long-standing thirst for victory.
McEwen, having recently rekindled his love affair with curling, was greeted with an outburst of warmth and admiration from the crowd. Their support was a vivid illustration of the unbreakable bond between the sport and its followers.
Even as the newly-formed Team Saskatchewan contended valiantly and forged an indelible memory, their skip heralded their performance, “We have everything to be proud of, what we’ve achieved in six months. This is a formidable team, and our journey doesn’t end here.”
Gushue and his champions now cast their sights on the World Championships in Switzerland later in March—an opportunity to grace their country with pride yet again.
With their sixth Brier victory, Gushue, Nichols, and Walker now share the pedestal with Ferbey at the pinnacle of the sport’s history. Nichols, having observed Gushue’s wizardry for two decades, extolled his extraordinary composure and acumen in moments of severity.
Standing upon the blue-hued podium, Gushue reflected on the rocky start at the round robins, the faltering confidence, and the cinematic redemption in the seventh end that ultimately turned the tide. It was the synchronization of the strategic and the emotional—a display designed to invigorate his team and it had indeed served its purpose.
In the aftermath, as the echo of applause settled, Gushue’s sentiment captured the essence of their victory—”It feels awesome. Just awesome.”
