Team Canada with the Brier Trophy (Left to Right--Far Left Brad Gushue, Middle Left Mark Nichols, Middle E.J. Hardnen, Right Middle Geoff Walker, Far Right Coach Caleb Flaxey. (Source: Ella Mack Queen Bee Photography.)
“It’s cool [to win my 5th Brier] and all but…I’m more happy for E.J.”.
Truer words have never been spoken by a team captain.
Brad Gushue and Team Canada captured the 2023 Brier Championship with a 7-5 win over Matt Dunstone and Team Manitoba.
“You knew that if you let them [Manitoba] make those key shots, that could be the difference maker”.
For Gushue, he now stands alone at the top of Canadian Men’s Curling as becoming the Skip with the most Brier wins at 5.
“Yeah. It’s pretty cool but, I don’t care about that, I’m more happy for E.J. to win his second Brier and first with us, so, I’d rather focus on that”.
The final was a very intense match with key shots being made back and forth.
The turning point in the match was in the 8th End when Team Canada scored 3 to take a 6-3 lead into the 9th.
Having Hammer in the 9th, Manitoba knew they needed to score at least 2 to have a shot in 10, and luckily they did. Already sitting 1, Dunstone had a beautiful draw to the button for 2 to be down 1 heading into the 10th and final end.
Dunstone and his team did everything right to have a shot at winning, but Brad Gushue is now the 3-straight Brier champion for a reason.
Gushue, with a small opening to sneak his rock in for the win, was able to do just that.
“I threw it a little soft so I knew I’d get a little extra curl and when it was coming in, I knew it was gonna hit the back rock and it hit the back of the button for the win”.
Gushue and his team will now represent Team Canada at the 2023 Men’s World Curling Championships in Ottawa, ON from April 1-9.
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