News National

OSHAWA, Ont. — Brad Gushue might not be 100 percent, but the St. John’s, N.L., skip is ready to roll at the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling National.

It was just a week-and-a-half ago that Gushue lost his footing during the fourth end of the Masters quarterfinals and the 2006 Olympic gold medallist fell face-first onto the ice. Gushue sustained a gash over his right eye and was taken to a nearby hospital for stitches while his three teammates continued their match against Saskatoon’s Team Steve Laycock. 

Gushue stunned the crowd and his fellow curlers by making an unbelievable comeback during the seventh end — sporting a black eye and still wearing his hospital bracelet — to finish the match, a 5-2 defeat as Laycock advanced to the semifinals.

A three-time Grand Slam champion, Gushue has been cleared to compete at the National and was taking it easy during his team’s Tuesday night practice at the General Motors Centre. 

“Good enough to be here I guess is the best way to describe it,” Gushue said with a smile. “I don’t feel 100 percent. My neck, head, and back are all still hurting a little bit but it’s a big event and something I want to be a part of and the doctor said I was okay to play so that’s the main thing.”

Gushue said he did not lose consciousness after the frightening fall but his memory of the incident is a little foggy.

He explained that the possibility of not being able to play in a major event like the National was a driving factor to return.

“We only have so many of these Slams every year and the opportunity to play on this quality of ice in front of big crowds, you don’t want to miss out on a chance to do that,” Gushue said. “I’ve spent the last 13 or 14 years of my career playing in these and I love it. The fact that I was going to miss one was hurting me pretty good so when the doctor said I was okay to play, I said, ‘Let’s do it.'”

Gushue is known for being extremely dedicated to practising his craft but he only took to the ice this past Saturday to throw a few rocks around after mostly resting during the week. 

“I haven’t prepared for this event like I would have liked, having just rested up and made sure the head was okay and the neck and back,” Gushue said. “It was important to be here. I love this event, I love the Slams and these are the ones everyone wants to play in and win.”

Team Gushue begin their National quest by coincidence against Team Laycock Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. ET.

The National is the third tournament and second major of the 2015-16 Pinty’s GSOC season. Previously a men’s invitational, the National has expanded this year to include a women’s division for the first time in the event’s history.