London Calling: Sweet Brier memories come rushing back for skip Reid Carruthers

The memories came rushing back for Reid Carruthers upon his return to Budweiser Gardens in London, Ont.

The Wild Card 2 skip made a point of stepping on Sheet C, the same strip of ice where he won his first Canadian men's curling title as second for Manitoba's Jeff Stoughton in 2011.

"The building is beautiful, it's just how I remembered it," Carruthers said Sunday after an 11-7 win over the Northwest Territories. "It's neat to come back here. Even doing the walk to and from the hotel is the same."

That memorable season was capped by a world championship. Carruthers will get a chance to go for world gold again later this month.

And if all goes to plan this week at Budweiser Gardens, he'll again raise the tankard and put on Canada colours at the men's worlds in April.

"I think our team is capable of winning this thing," he said. "I wouldn't say we're the favourites but I'd say we'd be almost like a dark horse in my opinion.

"I have the confidence thinking we could put a run in. We've just got to make more shots."

His team of Derek Samagalski and Connor Njegovan — the front end before the midseason departure of vice Jason Gunnlaugson — are joined by new lead Rob Gordon, who won a world junior bronze in 2016.

They gave up a four-ender to Jamie Koe on Sunday before recovering to even their round-robin record at 1-1.

"We're one of those teams that just kind of hang in there," Carruthers said. "A 10-end game allows you to have that opportunity to come back. I felt like we had good attitudes out there and it helped us."

WATCH | Gushue, Hebert join That Curling Show to preview this year's Brier:

Carruthers scored three points in the sixth end and closed the game with three straight deuces. His rink shot 83 per cent overall,