Remember what happened at the 2024 Brier in Regina?

Article content

The Regina Leader-Post and Saskatoon StarPhoenix are looking back on some of the stories that had the most impact on us in 2024. Today: Canada’s best men’s curling teams chased their championship dreams at the Brier in in Regina.

Article content

Article content

Brad Gushue came to Regina in March pursuing his third straight Brier victory, sixth overall, and another chance at a men’s world curling championship.

Article content

Usually a fan favourite in a city where he also won the 2018 Canadian curling championship, Gushue had a heckler removed during a round-robin game, then qualified and advanced through the playoffs before dumping the home team 9-5 in the final, extending Saskatchewan’s excruciating Brier drought to 44 years.

“It isn’t about how many,” said Gushue, who was supported by long-time teammates Mark Nichols and Geoff Walker plus relative newcomer E.J. Harnden, an addition to the rink that usually represents Newfoundland and Labrador when it’s not Team Canada. “It’s about this moment.

“Kudos to Mike (McEwen, Saskatchewan’s skip) and his team. They had an incredible week, particularly Mike.”

A decorated skip in his home province of Manitoba, McEwen joined Saskatoon-based teammates Colton Flasch and twin brothers Kevin Marsh and Daniel Marsh — who grew up in Regina — in a Brier bid that is allowed under Curling Canada’s residency rules. Indeed, it was McEwen’s third straight Brier appearance after winning provincial championships the two previous seasons in Manitoba and Ontario.

Article content

Article content

“We have everything to be proud of, what we did in six months,” said McEwen, who is still seeking his first Brier victory.

“This is a great team and we’re not done yet.”

Playing with McEwen as their designated import, Flasch and the Marsh brothers finished atop their pool with a 7-1 record before losing to Alberta’s Brendan Bottcher in a preliminary playoff game.

McEwen’s crew rallied with three straight playoff wins — including a redeeming victory over Bottcher — to become the fourth Saskatchewan rink to appear in a Brier final since Saskatoon’s Rick Folk won the event in 1980. While 101,000 spectators filed through the Brandt Centre for the 10-day event, causing some condensation problems inside the 47-year-old building, Folk was watching the 2024 Brier on television.

“I always cheer for Saskatchewan,” Folk said from his curling supplies store in Kelowna. “Things have changed with the import rule, but it’s still Saskatchewan green.

“I can’t believe it’s been that long.”

With a crowd of 5,734 watching the final inside the Brandt Centre, Gushue was almost perfect, curling at 97 per cent proficiency to take early control against Saskatchewan. Gushue has occasionally told reporters that if he doesn’t win, he hopes Saskatchewan would. But he wasn’t surrendering to the hometown favourites.

Article content

“This moment is awesome,” said Gushue after earning an automatic berth into the 2025 Montana’s Brier by virtue of the victory. “This is what it’s all about. This is why I play, this is why I love the game.

“I love this moment; to see it all come to fruition after the hard work this week, this is so cool.”

Team Canada also qualified for the 2024 men’s world curling championship in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, where Gushue would be chasing his second title — the first came in 2017 — to go along with the 2006 Olympic gold medal, six Canadian crowns and redemption from three runner-up performances in his three previous appearances.

Gushue lost the championship final 6-5 to Sweden’s Niklas Edin, a seven-time world champion.

“For the fourth time, silver sucks,” said Gushue. “To be second in the world, we have to be proud of what we did. But it’s just disappointing now.

“This is four in a row for me. I’m sure at some point down the road I’ll appreciate it more than I do right now. But right now it’s tough to take.”

During the offseason, Gushue replaced Harnden with Bottcher on his rink’s roster. Playing on this season’s pro tour and looking to qualify for the 2025 Brier slated for Feb. 28 to March 5 in Kelowna, McEwen’s team remained intact.

Article content