Defending champion Brad Gushue opens with victory at Montana's Brier
Social Sharing
Defending champion Brad Gushue opened the Montana's Brier with a 9-2 victory over Newfoundland and Labrador's Ty Dilello on Friday night.
Gushue opened with a deuce and never trailed in the eight-end win at Canada's annual men's curling championship at Prospera Place in Kelowna, B.C.
The St. John's, N.L.-based skip is looking to win the curling championship for a record fourth time in a row and seventh time overall.
Dilello is making his Brier debut. His team plays out of the same St. John's club as Gushue's rink.
Round-robin play continues through Thursday night.
The Page playoffs are set for next weekend ahead of the final on March 9.
Teams from 10 provinces and three territories, along with a few additional teams, will compete for the title of Canada's best men's curling team. The winning team will also go on to represent Canada at the World Curling Championships, which will be played on home ice this year in Moose Jaw, Sask.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Calgary Herald
04-06-2025
- Calgary Herald
Curling legend Kevin Martin draws Order of Sport, joining loaded Class of 2025
Article content Kevin Martin was forever on the mark during his legendary curling career. Article content Both on and off the ice. Article content And for his curling success, he's been named to receive the Order of Sport, Canada's highest sporting honour. Article content 'When it comes to an honour like the Order of Sport, you're in a group with all the athletes of all the different sports — and that means a lot,' said Martin, of the announcement made Tuesday by Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. 'But you don't really worry about this stuff when you're playing. All you do is get out there and try your best, and then wherever it all falls into place, it does. Article content Martin joins not only an elite club but an elite athletes class, as the 2025 inductees also include soccer legend Christine Sinclair, alpine skiing sensation Erik Guay, para-athletics performer Michelle Stilwell and softball superstar Darren Zack. Article content The two builders in the class of 2025 are philanthropist Martha Billes and hockey's Ted Nolan. Article content 'Definitely, you do not take it lightly,' said Martin of the call to order. 'I've actually heard from quite a few of people already, which has been pretty nice. Mostly, it's just a congratulations, which is fantastic to hear from a lot of people.' Article content Article content The 58-year-old native of Killam, Alta., touched many others during his career — and still does as a major advocate for the sport he has helped grow. Article content 'Between the junior curling and the events and the Grand Slam curling and the players association in the '90s and all those various things that I got myself into all those years ago, that means a lot, because that's off the ice,' Martin said. 'That's helping the game at a later date — growing the sport. Article content Article content 'Whereas winning is just yourself.' Article content And he won a lot. Article content At the provincial level, Martin skipped 12 rinks to Alberta titles, and he is a four-time Brier victor, advancing to win the world championship in 2008. Article content Twice, he represented Canada at the Olympics, winning the gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games. Article content Plus Martin has copped more grand-slam championships than any other curler. Article content 'The obvious answer is the Olympic gold in 2010,' said Martin, when asked to list his most memorable achievements. 'The 18th grand slam win meant a ton, too. Article content 'And helping to get the grand slams started meant a ton. Like developing it and getting it going was important, because that was necessary for a sport to grow internationally.' Article content Article content Sinclair, from Burnaby, B.C., is the all-time leader for international goals scored by men or women with 190 in 331 appearances with the Canadian women's team. She was an Olympic gold medallist in 2021 and twice a bronze medallist before retiring from the national team in 2023. Sinclair, 41, is now a co-owner of the Northern Super League's Vancouver Rise FC.
CTV News
29-05-2025
- CTV News
Classic Sports Moments - The last time Saskatchewan won the Brier
Watch Let's go back to 1980, where Rick Folk skipped Team Saskatchewan to a win at the Brier
Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
In the Rings: Highlights and lowlights from a curling season to remember
Curling made some strides over the 2024-25 campaign yet also remained behind the times in other areas, leaving the Roaring Game in a peculiar spot entering the all-important Olympic season. Equipment issues have been a concern in recent months and the sport's archaic rule structure and lack of video review have sparked controversy. The new-look Grand Slam of Curling series had some hits and misses under new ownership. Here's a look at some highlights and lowlights from the previous season with a look ahead at what's to come. BURNING ISSUE The handling of a situation involving an apparent burned rock in a China-Norway playoff game at the world men's championship sparked heated online comments from many top players. It also showed just how far behind curling is compared to other sports. Video footage appeared to show the Chinese sweeper hit the rock with his broom just before it entered the house. Put in a tough position as the non-offending team, Norway's Magnus Ramsfjell felt the stone was burned but agreed to let it remain rather than have it removed. Umpire involvement was minimal since the players decided to play on. 'If we're not going to have umpires or officials there that are actually going to officiate and umpire the game, they shouldn't be there in my opinion,' veteran skip Brad Gushue said in a recent interview. 'And if that's the case and we have cameras, we have streaming services on just about every game now played at the top level, why not utilize that?' A World Curling spokesman noted Norway didn't make a complaint after continuing play. Chinese coach Weidong Tan, who served as interpreter for skip Xiaoming Xu, said the team didn't feel the broom made contact with the rock. World Curling director Jill Officer was made available for an interview at the event but a communications staffer shut down questions on the subject. HOMAN DOMINANT Rachel Homan's Ottawa-based team became the first Canadian women's rink to repeat as world champions since Sandra Schmirler's side did it in 1994. The top-ranked Homan finished with a remarkable 75-9 record over a season that included a fifth career Scotties Tournament of Hearts title along with Grand Slam crowns at the Kioti National and Co-op Canadian Open. Top-ranked Bruce Mouat of Scotland won the men's world title. Italy's Amos Mosaner and Stefania Constantini took the world mixed doubles crown. HITS AND MISSES The Curling Group tried some new things over its five-event calendar after purchasing the Grand Slam of Curling series last spring. Some things worked and others didn't. More changes — including a new pro league — are on the way next season. A big hit was the decision to provide live streaming of all games at Slam competitions. Curler walkouts — or slideouts in some cases — also proved popular. Misses included the dizziness-inducing 'hat-cam' live camera and a GSOC playoff draft where skips selected pool opponents. The draft's start was delayed, players didn't have their own microphones and graphics weren't used. CLEAN SWEEP Call it what you will — Foamgate or Broomgate 2.0 — but broomhead foam density was a hot topic among athletes in recent months. Many teams believe firmer foam products allow sweepers to have too much control on the ice. World Curling and Goldline Curling mutually agreed to suspend the approval of Goldline's Pursuer foam from competitive play last February. Curlers, manufacturers, federations, the athlete commission and officials have had discussions about equipment in recent months but it's unclear when there might be clarity on the subject. 'The athletes need to know by the beginning of August what sort of broom they're going to have (in) their hand for next (season),' Officer said. 'And I plan (to) keep trying to push that timeline.' HOG-LINE VIOLATIONS In the wake of repeated electronic sensor issues with curling stones, the honour system has been in place for hog-line violations over the last few seasons. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The setup has generally worked although many curlers do not release the rocks in time. Opponent apathy may be to blame. 'There's a line there that has to be abided by and it has to be enforced,' said World Curling Hall of Famer Warren Hansen. 'And to ignore it, to me, is just ridiculous.' A first-hand look from ice level at the recent world men's championship revealed several uncalled violations. A player can still request an umpire to watch the line if desired. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2025.
