Team Gushue 'wins one for Mark' in epic Brier ending

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – It was a win that will go down in the history books. 

Playing a man down, Brad Gushue and his Wild Card 1 rink from St. John’s, Nfld., are Canadian curling champions for the fourth time.

With veteran third Mark Nichols sidelined for the playoffs after a positive COVID-19 test on Friday, Gushue, Brett Gallant and Geoff Walker defeated Alberta’s Team Kevin Koe, 9-8, in a thrilling extra end final at the Tim Hortons Brier Sunday night at Enmax Centre. 

Brad Gushue reflects on what it took to stand atop the podium at #Brier2022 ⬇️⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/TMyKXZxlqi

“This is for you, Mark,” Gushue told the cameras immediately following the win. 

The drama in the 10th end was palpable with Team Koe scoring a deuce to stay alive. In the extra, Gushue made an open takeout for the single point and the once-in-a-lifetime victory.

No team in Brier history has captured the prestigious Tankard with just three players. 

The first time in Brier history a three-man team has captured the Tankard! #Brier2022 https://t.co/Ns6SzAuzZX

“You know, what the three of us pulled off here the last few days, man oh man, it’s pretty crazy,” said Gushue. “I never thought a team of three could go through a gauntlet of Koe, Bottcher and Flasch in the Brier playoffs. That’s crazy.” 

Like he did for the team’s previous three games, Nichols watched the championship final isolated in his Lethbridge hotel room. A quick glance at Nichols’ Twitter feed Sunday night and one could conclude watching your team battle in a Canadian final is much more stressful then actually playing in it. 

The 42-year-old, who led all vices with an 88 per cent shooting percentage this week, appeared to crush more than one Honey Cruller throughout the game just to