16 October 2023
Canada’s Gushue and Einarson gear up for Pan Continental Curling Championships return
Brad Gushue’s last competition in Kelowna saw him lose in the semi-final of the 1999 Canadian Junior Curling Championships to fellow future Olympic champion John Morris – but this time, gold will be the goal.
The Newfoundland curler will fly from the far east of Canada to the west in British Columbia for the upcoming Pan Continental Curling Championships, travelling as long by plane as Korea and Japan.
Long-time ally Mark Nichols – who was also part of that teenage rink 24 years ago – joins him for the latest quest for glory, alongside familiar lead Geoff Walker and E.J. Harnden, set for his second season with the team.
© WCF / Steve Seixeiro
A successful 2022-2023 season ended with a silver at the World Championship, but started with victory at the inaugural Pan Continental Curling Championships in Calgary.
It made Canadian selection for this year’s edition an easy choice, with Team Gushue being reunited with last year’s women’s bronze medallists, skipped by Kerri Einarson.
“Winning the inaugural one and having a chance to defend that at home, is going to be exciting,” said Gushue.
“Being the home team and being the fan favourite, we’ve been fortunate to have a good following no matter where we play, but when you got the Maple Leaf on your back and you’re playing in Canada, it takes it to another level and I’m excited to have that in Kelowna and certainly hope that we get some good support out behind us.
“I had the opportunity to play at home last year in Ottawa at the World Championship and to be quite honest, it was one of the best weeks of my career.”
Reflecting on last year
Adjusting to a time difference of four-and-a-half hours and limited practice on ice so far this season will be challenging, but challenges the veterans dealt with last year on their run to the final.
The men’s skip admitted in 2022 they “got off to a slow start”, losing their opener to Korey Dropkin’s United States and will have to avoid rust with their first two matches coming against accomplished opponents from Korea and New Zealand.
Despite early signs of worry in Calgary, Canada downed Japan 8-2 after eight ends and similarly topped Korea 11-3 in the gold medal game with ends to spare.
“We kind of jumped into the games right at the start of the season,” said the skip.
“But then we got a feel for the ice and kind of got into a better routine and started to play really well as the week went on.
‘Best we played all year’
“By the end of the week, I would say arguably that was the best we played all year.”
A consistent line-up has been credited for the long-term success of the team, with Gushue claiming there is “comfort” and “confidence” in the team, with all members knowing how each other reacts under pressure.
There’s an element of caution from the Canadian who is often touted as a favourite on the international stage, aware that the regional standard will continue to improve.
“It’s getting tougher and tougher each year to be at the top week in and week out because there’s so many good teams that can beat you,” he added.
“But I like our chances every time we step out on the ice and hopefully we have as good a year this year as what we had last year.”
Canadian women looking to ‘do even better’
Einarson returns to Kelowna 15 years on from her last competition there, with an unchanged rink for a sixth consecutive season alongside Val Sweeting, Shannon Birchard and Briane Harris.
October 31, 2022
© WCF / Steve Seixeiro
Last season, they were defeated 6-5 by Japan’s Fujisawa Satsuki in the semi-final, claiming the bronze by beating Tabitha Peterson from United States – the only side to beat the Canadians in the round-robin.
“Last year was an amazing experience to play at the Pan Continental against teams that you don’t normally play,” said the skip.
“We were just on the wrong side of the inch in that semi-final.
“We were a little bit deflated but we had a good debrief afterwards and we just put that aside.
“It was nice to come out with a good solid game and bring home bronze.
“We’re hoping to do even better this year.”
The Manitoban spoke highly of the competition, which now gives non-European nations a unifying regional championship, finding the quality of the field at the top high – as well as an opportunity to play smaller curling countries for the first time very rewarding. – noting the Brazilian team asked to take photos with the Canadians last year.
Gold will be the goal on home soil and Einarson will be hoping to impress some of her British Columbia family members who will be in the crowd cheering her on; but there is no stress in the camp of having to top the podium.
“I know we have the most success when we’re laughing and enjoying ourselves and not putting so much pressure to bring home that gold,” she added.
With two bronze medals at the last two World Women’s Championships and four-straight Canadian titles, there must be a lot of amusement in the team, because those results are being delivered.
