Brier

Brad Gushue wins unprecedented fifth Brier championship as skip

Brad Gushue won an unprecedented fifth national championship as skip as Team Canada beat Matt Dunstone’s Manitoba rink 7-5 Sunday night at the Tim Hortons Brier in London, Ont.

It was a tight game most of the night featuring the top two teams from the tournament. Canada and Manitoba traded single points until the eighth end when Gushue broke it open by scoring three.

With the win, Gushue passed Ernie Richardson, Kevin Martin, Randy Ferbey and Kevin Koe to set a new record for championships by a skip. Team Gushue has now won five of the last seven Briers, twice as Newfoundland and Labrador, twice as Team Canada and once as a wild card team. The rink will now represent Canada at the men’s World Curling Championships in Ottawa April 1-9.

Skip Brad Gushue and third Mark Nichols will be looking to add a second world title to their resumes, which also include Olympic gold and bronze medals. The team also includes Geoff Walker at lead, who has been with the team through its current dynastic run, and E.J. Harnden at second, who joined the team this season after Brett Gallant left to play for Brendan Bottcher in Alberta. Harnden also has an impressive resume, having previously won the Brier with Northern Ontario in 2013 and an Olympic gold medal in 2014.

Team Gushue steals way into Brier final

Team Gushue will play for a fifth Brier championship on Sunday after winning the 1-2 playoff game Saturday night in London, Ont.

The defending Brier champions from Newfoundland and Labrador, playing as Team Canada, defeated Matt Dunstone’s Manitoba rink 5-4 after stealing a point in the 10th end. Dunstone had been perfect all week, but his final shot rolled a little too far, giving Canada the win in a tightly-fought game.

Dunstone will now play Brendan Bottcher’s wild card team from Alberta in the semifinal Sunday afternoon while Gushue waits to play the winner Sunday night in the final of the 2023 Tim Hortons Brier.

Gushue quietly set the record this week for most career wins at the Brier. A victory in the championship game would also set a record, making him the first person to win five Brier championships as a skip.

Scroll to top