News National

OSHAWA, Ont. — Brad Gushue said at the start of the National he felt good enough to play in the event following his frightening fall on the ice just two weeks ago at the Masters. 

As it turned out, Gushue was good enough to win his fourth career Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling championship following a 7-2 victory over Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers in the National men’s final Sunday at the General Motors Centre. 

It’s also the third Grand Slam title in the past two seasons for the team of Gushue, third Mark Nichols, second Brett Gallant and lead Geoff Walker. The foursome captured the Masters and the Canadian Open last year.

Gushue said he felt better as each day progressed through the tournament. 

“I had a few ups and downs, some games were better than others but I felt really good today, which is good,” he said. “I feel way better than I did on Tuesday night when we showed up. Time is going to heal it for sure and physically I feel really good.”

“I think the only issue for me right now is the psychological part and I’m still a little tentative and stepping over rocks and moving around rocks,” added Gushue, who collected $24,500 CAD. “I’m a little more careful than I normally am but I think with more time on the ice that will go away and I’ll get back to myself. I’m probably more of a danger to myself acting the way I am right now but as far as throwing the rock I feel pretty good. I felt comfortable out there today and the last couple days.” 

Despite the decisive final score, things almost went sideways early for Gushue. Carruthers had a chance to open the scoring with a four-count in second end but needed to make a tricky tap back to eliminate Gushue’s counter. Carruthers’ shooter rubbed off of one of his own stones and he gave up a steal as Gushue took a 1-0 lead.

“It was a very scary second end,” Nichols said. “We dodged a huge bullet and played a little bit better, they still put on some pressure on us. We avoided some bad ends and weathered the storm and we were kind of able to break through.”

Carruthers faced a pair with his last shot in four and drew to the button to tie it. Gushue capitalized in the fifth end after Carruthers missed on a double attempt, drawing for a deuce to go up 3-1. Carruthers was forced to a single in six and Gushue got through the guards with his last shot in seven to tap for a point and retake the two-point lead. Carruthers faced three with his last shot in the eighth end but was wide and missed the mark. 

“The first four ends, Geoff really struggled,” Gushue said. “We didn’t get much set up and Reid was all over us and that game could have been all over in the second end if he made that shot. Even in the third end it looked like they were going to score another big end but we just tried to weather the storm, really, and kind of got through. We used that phrase a couple times throughout the first four ends and then once the fifth end started we kind of got our mojo back a little bit and to play the way that we’re capable of playing. Even in the seventh end we dodged another bullet. We’re a little fortunate to win. We played pretty good but definitely had some luck on our side for sure.”

“These are the best fields in curling right now,” Nichols added. “They’re so hard to win and it always feels nice when you come out on top.”

Gushue admitted he had “sea legs” during their Tuesday night practice to start as he had only hit the ice three days prior while resting and recovering from his head, neck and back injuries sustained at the Masters. After the doctor gave him the all clear, Gushue didn’t want to lose out on getting the chance to play in the National. 

“I love the feel, the atmosphere, it’s kind of where I have the most fun curling and that’s why I rested as much as I did to make sure I was ready to get the okay to get back here this week because missing an opportunity to play in an arena, in a Grand Slam on great ice against the best teams in the world would have been pretty disappointing,” Gushue said. “It would have been hard for me to watch this game at home so I’m much happier playing in it.” 

Gushue has been on a tear this season winning five titles on tour as well as finishing runner-up to Calgary’s Kevin Koe in the Tour Challenge Tier 1 event in September.

The team of Carruthers, third Braeden Moskowy, second Derek Samagalski and lead Colin Hodgson earned $15,500 CAD and were playing in their first Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling final together. Coincidentally, Carruthers won a National championship with Nichols in 2013 when the pair played together on Jeff Stoughton’s team.