“I think we are the best team that has ever played since the longevity we had and the success we had,” Gushue said. “It’s a tough argument for anyone else, so (a title here) would definitely be the icing on the cake.” His team, vice-president Mark Nichols, second-placed Brett Gallant and leader Geoff Walker have filled the CV well this season with a Trials victory, a fourth national title in six years and an Olympic bronze medal. Another medal could come this weekend after the team qualified for the semifinals with an 8-6 victory over Scotland’s Kyle Waddell on Friday. The Canadians who won the first place improved to 9-2 and will close the shooting game tonight with Tobias Thune from Denmark. Sweden’s three-time defending champion Niklas Edin (9-3), who defeated Canada earlier in the tournament, beat Norway’s Magnus Ramsfjell 7-6 in the afternoon to stay on the hunt for the first seed. Italians Joel Retornaz and Korey Dropkin from the United States (both 7-4) have also secured places in the playoffs. In the bubble to cut the six teams were Scotland, Swiss Yannick Schwaller and South Korean Soo-Hyuk Kim, all at 6-5. German Sixten Totzek was next at 6-6. The first two seeds win places in Saturday’s semifinals, while the other four playoff teams meet in qualifying matches to join them. The current Gushue four-man squad has spent two to four years together, but Gallant will leave at the end of the season. In addition to their national and Olympic material, they won world gold in 2017, silver in 2018 and have 12 Grand Slam titles to their credit. “There is enough on the resume to consolidate this group’s legacy,” Gushue said. “I do not know if a victory here this week will move this needle a lot. Obviously a victory will improve it.” Gushue, who won gold at the 2006 Olympics with the Nichols, was determined to reduce the distractions he felt were holding the team back when the 2018 World Cup was played here. The Canadians do not stay in the tournament hotel and have stayed low during their break time. A golf tour before the event was the most ambitious activity on the calendar since it arrived in Sin City. It was a difficult but successful season for Gushue. They climbed to the top of the Canadian Olympics last November – considered the most difficult curling event – and were isolated at a training camp before the BC Games for a few weeks before heading to Beijing. A semifinal defeat by Edin at the Ice Cube was followed by a victory over the American John Schuster in the fight for the bronze medal. A short break followed an unforgettable week in Brier, where Gushue’s team prevailed despite the loss of the Nichols for the last weekend due to COVID-19. A second world title would be a huge achievement in an unforgettable season that concludes with a few Grand Slam stops. “There were times this week when I felt like a zombie out there,” Gushue said. “You are focused and trying to do your best. But it was a long year. The Canadians were in control of the second half against Scotland, but an angle increase by fourth Ross Paterson in the ninth end equalized the game at six. Gushue had a hammer in the 10th, but did not need his last stone as Paterson threw his last throw between two Canadian rocks in the house. It was a nice break for the Canadians as the weight of the tie had changed during the game. Mild conditions outside – the mercury reached 30 C – may have affected the ice conditions. “We have some flat spots and it was a bit of rubbish,” Gushue said. “If we had to equalize the quadruped at the last end, it would be a bit speculation and you do not really want it. Fortunately, we played a very strong 10th end.” Located a few miles from the Vegas Strip, the venue has plenty of Canadian flavor, although the pandemic has affected attendance, travel plans and limited regular event activities. Dozens of Canadian fans shouted their support throughout the draw and “38 Years Old” by The Tragically Hip played into the arena loudspeakers after the match. Gushue defeated Edin in the 2017 World Final in Edmonton. The Swede won the rematch a year later for the first of three consecutive world titles. Medal races are scheduled for Sunday. This Canadian Press report was first published on April 8, 2022.
