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10 takeaways from the 2014 Canadian Open

The third stop on the 2014-15 Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling season has come and gone but all the exciting action at the Canadian Open in Yorkton, Sask., has left a lot on our minds.

It was tough to nail it down to just 10 but here are our takeaways from the Canadian Open.

1. Team Brad Gushue had another grinding run to win their second Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling title this season. Two titles through the first three Grand Slam events is quite a feat for Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant and Geoff Walker, especially when they’ve beaten the best-of-the-best including the reigning world champions (Team Ulsrud), the hottest team in curling (Team McEwen), the future Team Canada at the Brier (Team Morris) and the reigning Olympic gold medallists (Team Jacobs) over the course of the Masters and the Canadian Open.

The unbelievable part is the team hasn’t even hit “beast mode” yet. Gushue didn’t hold the lead in all three playoff games at the Canadian Open until the final ends and Nichols admitted they’re “probably not playing as well as we can as a team, as a total four-man unit.” Just imagine what this team is capable of once they do reach that point.

2. How about that winning shot by Gushue? Usually it’s Gushue’s opponent who has to throw the “circus shot” to try and beat him but this time the tables were turned.

3. You have to feel for Saskatoon’s Team Steve Laycock as the home province heroes — Laycock, Kirk Muyres, Colton Flasch and Dallan Muyres — came up short despite a valiant effort controlling most of the game and forcing Gushue to make a Hail Mary throw to win. Playing in the birthplace of their skip Laycock, Yorkton holds a special place in the hearts of the team and the feeling has been reciprocated. A banner hangs above the curling club at the Gallagher Centre with Laycock’s name among the 1998 Sask juvenile champs and the lounge above features a wall of fame that includes a framed picture of Laycock’s 2003 world junior championship rink (with Team Koe’s Ben Hebert as the alternate).

It would have been something if Laycock’s first Grand Slam victory on home ice joined those two achievements but it wasn’t meant to be. Still, it was a career best for the young team to make it to the final and fans should definitely keep an eye out for them (plus those who can’t get enough curling will like that Team Laycock stream their games online).

4. The crowd at the Gallagher Centre was simply something else and filled the building from the first draw to the last end of the final with “standing room only” in the middle sections during some games. Not to mention superfan Hans customizing his spectacular beard for each and every draw. On top of that, the Pinty’s Pub & Grill located behind the sheet at ice level was packed with patrons, including one Mr. Gushue during a break in the action of the quarterfinals. The fans weren’t just there for local hero Laycock either as they cheered for good shots by everyone, including Gushue’s winner in the finale.

5. Scotland’s Team Eve Muirhead didn’t seem like themselves at the Masters tournament where they missed the playoffs, but they bounced back to win the inaugural Canadian Open women’s championship. Applying pressure and controlling their key games regardless of whether they owned the hammer or not seemed to be the name of the game for Muirhead, Anna Sloan, Vicki Adams and Sarah Reid with wins over Olympic gold medallist Team Jones (twice), Masters winner Team Sweeting and two-time defending Canadian champ Team Homan en route to the title. Like Team Gushue, they can still improve and already look forward to taking the Players’ Championship in April 2015 home as well.

6. Team Val Sweeting fell short in the semifinals to Muirhead, but what a season the Edmonton rink has had so far. Sweeting, Dana Ferguson and Rachel Brown won the Masters despite a last-minute roster adjustment with Cathy Overton-Clapham filling in at third and then took home the Canada Cup with new vice-skip Lori Olson-Johns in place. In Yorkton together at their first Grand Slam as a proper unit (and not just the “tripod” with a super spare), Sweeting slid through the A-side with a 3-0 record to qualify and held off Team Middaugh to win 5-4 in the quarterfinals. Sweeting is originally from Saskatchewan and the “Sweeting Nation” of friends, family and fans were out in full force cheering her team on.

7. Edmonton’s Team Brendan Bottcher went on another remarkable run to the semifinals, matching their Grand Slam career best they set at the National last month. Bottcher, Tom Appelman, Bradley Thiessen and Karrick Martin weren’t ranked high enough on the World Curling Tour’s order of merit to receive an invitation to the Canadian Open but they were awarded the sponsor’s exemption spot after the team’s fine performance in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Bottcher stunned the crowd again, this time by upsetting Team McEwen with a 6-3 victory in the quarterfinals, McEwen’s earliest exit in a tournament so far this season. Bottcher’s impressive run ended in the semifinals against Laycock but the team showed the National was no fluke and they are serious contenders.

What’s even more mind-boggling: Bottcher is a chemical engineering student at the University of Alberta and is knee-deep studying for final exams. Talk about a high-pressure situation being turned up a notch.

8. Speaking of up-and-coming men’s teams, Reid Carruthers’ rink from Winnipeg qualified for the second consecutive time at a Grand Slam event, proving they weren’t one-hit wonders either. Also of note: the whole unit of Carruthers, Braeden Moskowy, Derek Samagalski and Colin Hodgson were intact during this tournament and they didn’t need any assistance from undefeated spare Pete Steski again.

9. Over on the women’s side, the all-new Team Chelsea Carey from Edmonton qualified in just their second Grand Slam event together (and after reading Carey’s blog posted prior to the Canadian Open, was anyone surprised her team reached the playoffs through the B-side?). Carey’s team up front featuring third Laura Crocker, second Taylor McDonald and lead Jen Gates were all standouts on the junior curling circuit and the rink is built for the future, but they might be getting there faster than anyone anticipated.

10. Finally, it was nice to see Team Jill Thurston’s rookie front-end of lead Krysten Karwacki and second Briane Meilleur enjoying every minute of their first Grand Slam tournament, a reminder of how much players look forward to playing in these events. They gained valuable experience too not only playing under the bright TV lights and big arena stage for the first time but they also came within one win from qualifying.