Brad Gushue’s Storied Curling Career Ends at Brier
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Brad Gushue’s remarkable curling career at the Brier concluded on Saturday with a 7-5 playoff loss to Brad Jacobs, marking the end of an era for the six-time Canadian champion.1 The defeat came in front of a sold-out crowd of over 6,000 at the Mary Brown’s Centre in his hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland, and Labrador.
A Farewell to a Curling Legend
Gushue, 45, had announced this season would be his last in competitive curling.1 He leaves the sport with an unparalleled record, including six Brier titles (with his first coming in 2017 at the same venue), an Olympic gold medal in 2006, an Olympic bronze medal in 2022, a World Championship in 2017, and 15 Grand Slam titles.2
The Final Match
The Page 3/4 playoff game saw Gushue’s team – consisting of Mark Nichols, Brendan Bottcher, and Geoff Walker – fall to Jacobs’s Team Canada by a score of 7-5.2 Jacobs, the reigning Olympic and national champion, capitalized on a momentum shift later in the game. After tying the game 2-2, Jacobs scored three points in the sixth end to take a commanding lead.2
Jacobs Advances, Koe and Dunstone to Play
Jacobs, along with teammates Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert, who recently won Olympic gold less than two weeks prior, will advance to the semifinal.1 They will face the loser of Saturday’s playoff match between Alberta’s Kevin Koe and Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone. The winner of that game will automatically qualify for Sunday’s final.
A Hometown Farewell
Despite the loss, Gushue was met with a standing ovation from the St. John’s crowd, acknowledging his incredible contributions to the sport.1 The 2026 Montana’s Brier marked Gushue’s 23rd appearance in the tournament.1