Brad Gushue hoping home-ice advantage in Ottawa pays off at curling worlds

Sin City wasn't kind to Canadian skip Brad Gushue. He's hoping a return to the nation's capital will work more in his favour.

After settling for silver in his last two trips to the world men's curling championship in Las Vegas, Gushue will try to get back to the top of the podium at the 2023 playdowns starting Saturday at TD Place.

"If we can really just enjoy it and ride that wave, I think good things can happen," Gushue said. "But it's a challenge. It's a lot easier said than it is done. So we'll see if we can make it work."

Gushue and teammates Mark Nichols, E.J. Harnden and Geoff Walker secured their berth earlier this month with a victory over Manitoba's Matt Dunstone in the Brier final at London, Ont.

It will be Gushue's fourth career appearance at the world men's championship. He took gold in Edmonton in 2017 but fell to Sweden's Niklas Edin in 2018 and again last spring at the Orleans Arena, just off the Vegas strip.

WATCH | Gushue wins 2023 Brier:

The always quotable Gushue didn't mince words after the 2022 loss. He said there were noticeable ridges on the sheet, calling it the "worst ice" he's ever curled on at a major championship.

Conditions should be better at the 9,500-seat TD Place with veteran icemaker Dave Merklinger serving as chief ice technician.

His squad will also get a boost as the home team. Gushue is popular wherever he plays in this country and Ottawa should be no exception.

"I think when we let the crowd get into the game and play to the crowd a little bit — whether (it's) good shots, everything that happens — this team plays better," Nichols said.

"We can use that momentum as an extra player on our team."

The top-ranked Edin will be looking for a seventh career world title. Other