Say what you want, curling in Canada for many is second nature and it’s been a long tradition for many families for decades in various areas of the country.
Some perfect the sport and who to make a delivery, while others simply have a hard time even making a shot, but one that makes his deliveries count is Brad Gushue.
Now he’s back and managed to throw a perfect 100% in the Meridian Canadian Open Men’s final defeating Sweden’s Niklas Edin 8-3 capturing his 7th Pinty’s Grand Slam for curling.
The win allows him to put 2016 behind him which saw him miss eight events due to hip/groin issues and welcome 2017 with gusto.
Edin had an exceptional week with the play-offs through the A-side of the triple knockout with a 3-0, gathering wins over Brendan Bottcher in the quarters and John Morris in the semi-finals.
Gushue managed a record of 6-1 going through the B-side managing his only loss to Brad Jacobs in the A-semifinals.
The 2006 Olympic gold medalist managed to pitch a perfect game against Steve Laycock in the quarterfinals, avenging his loss to Jacobs in the semifinals with a 4-0 shutout in a match in which he never held the hammer.
Edin opened the final with the hammer, but was forced to draw to the button for just a single in the first frame with Gushue sitting two counters split outside the four-foot.
Edin managed a mistake in the second where he double jammed his last and killing his shooter.
This allowed Gushue to take control managing a double on his final rock to score four.
The third end saw Edin fall into more trouble as Gushue had two buried, but Edin avoided a steal with a raise getting into the four-foot circle.
Gushue matched with a single in four to reclaim the three-point advantage. Edin pulled off another game-saving shot in the fifth, facing a triangle of counters and hit off one and in to get shot rock by an inch.
Gushue had a draw with his last rock in six and narrowly missed his own guard managing to grab a piece of the button, scoring a three count.
Gushue is the 2006 Olympic gold medalist and earned his first Grand Slam Championship in 2010.
Having his third being Mark Nichols and the back-end twosome, they have managed to capture the other six over the past three seasons.
With the win it gives Gushue the confidence moving forward and heading into the Provincials as they have their sights set to represent Newfoundland and Labrador on home ice at the Brier.
