Mark Nichols Weighs Future as Brad Gushue’s Curling Career Nears End

St. John’s, NL – As Brad Gushue contemplates retirement, his longtime teammate Mark Nichols is carefully considering his own future in curling. Nichols, a 46-year-old curler from St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, says he won’t make any decisions about his next steps until after the Brier.

A Partnership Forged Over Two Decades

Nichols and Gushue have been a dominant force in Canadian curling since teaming up as teenagers in 1999. Their partnership yielded a World Junior Curling Championship in 2001 and, five years later, a historic Olympic gold medal – the first for Newfoundland and Labrador [2]. The duo has since added five Brier championships and another Olympic medal in 2022 to their impressive resume.

Focus on the Present: The Brier

Despite the looming question of Gushue’s retirement, Nichols remains focused on the task at hand: the 2026 Montana’s Brier in St. John’s. “Honestly I’ve thought about it a lot,” Nichols said. “I just wanted to place all my effort and energy into this Brier… I’ll be particularly content with whatever happens. I’m very at peace with kind of how things go, and I just didn’t desire to be focusing on anything other than the Brier.” [1]

A Legacy of Dedication and Success

Nichols and Gushue are widely recognized for their exceptional work ethic and commitment to raising the standards of physical fitness and mental preparation within the curling world. Their dedication has resulted in six Brier championships in the last nine years [2].

Supporting Gushue Through Transition

The team is rallying around Gushue as he navigates his potential retirement. Nichols noted the team has created a supportive environment, isolating themselves to focus on the Brier and sharing stories and experiences. Gushue himself expressed concerns about managing his emotions during the event, but remains confident in the team’s ability to perform well [3].

What’s Next for Nichols?

While Nichols acknowledges he’s considered various options for his future, he remains open to possibilities. He is willing to “entertain any open doors” after Gushue retires, but has not yet made a definitive decision about continuing his curling career [1]. The team hopes to conclude their run with a final Brier victory and a trip to the World Championship in Utah later this month.