Brad Gushue kicked off his last Montana’s Brier with a victory in St. John’s on Friday evening. The St. John’s native defeated Quebec’s Jean-Michel Menard 10-2 in the opening match. Gushue, who is set to retire from curling at the end of the season, is competing in the Brier in his hometown for the first time since his championship win in 2017.
The enthusiastic reception from the local crowd was no surprise to Gushue. He expressed his emotional response to the overwhelming support, mentioning that the warm welcome gave him a rush of excitement and nerves. Despite being a six-time national champion, Gushue emphasized the importance of managing emotions and staying focused throughout the game.
Gushue started strong with two points in the first end, but Menard leveled the score with a single in the sixth end. However, Gushue, a world champion and Olympic medalist, secured the win by scoring four points in both the seventh and eighth ends. Reflecting on the match, Gushue acknowledged some nerves at the start but was pleased with his overall performance.
Meanwhile, Brad Jacobs, fresh from his gold medal win at the Milan Cortina Olympics, also tasted success with an 8-3 victory over Tyler Smith from Prince Edward Island. Jacobs, like Gushue, received a warm reception from the St. John’s crowd, showing appreciation for the support received.
Despite a slow start, Jacobs and his team rallied back after conceding two points in the opening end, showcasing resilience and adaptability throughout the game. The Olympic gold medalists displayed their strength by scoring consistently and ultimately clinching a convincing victory over their opponents.
In other opening matches, Jayden King from Ontario triumphed over Kendal Thompson from Nova Scotia with a score of 11-4, while Nathan Young from Newfoundland and Labrador defeated Derek Samagalski from Nunavut 8-4. The competition will continue on Saturday with afternoon and evening draws scheduled for the day.