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Brad Gushue improved to 3-0 at the Canadian Curling Trials with a 5-3 victory over John Epping in Monday's opening draw in Halifax.
Gushue's St. John's team won the low-scoring contest, stealing a point in the third and sixth ends. The Gushue rink also took care of the hammer stone, not giving up an interception to Epping's Toronto team.
A corner kick in the eighth end allowed Gushue to score one and extend the lead to 5-2.
“This hit was important. If you give up an interception, a little bit of momentum will shift to John's side,” Gushue told CBC Sports' Devin Hehr. “Put the broom in the right place, the guys swept it well, and I threw it well too.”
He noted that Monday's game had more mistakes compared to Sunday's game, but noted that the ice was a little more difficult.
Gushue added that the nerves and motivation are there, and he is pleased with the team's performance.
“It's still early in the week but obviously 3-0 is a good result and I like the way we're playing,” he said. “Today is a big game against [Winnipeg skip] Matt [Dunstone] and see if we can come out on top.”
CBC Sports' Devin Heroux previews the upcoming 2025 Canadian Curling Trials in Halifax.
Gushue, a 2006 Olympian, hopes to represent Canada at the Winter Games again in his final season of competition.
He also led Canada to bronze at the 2022 Olympics.
Dunston also improved to 3-0 with a 7-3 win over Saskatoon's Ryan Clater. Dunston went up 5-1 after five ends and cruised to victory from there.
“I Can't Wait” to Play Gushue
He is delighted with his match with Gushouet and calls him the greatest Canadian curler of all time.
“I’m thrilled and can’t wait,” Dunston said. “I hope it's one hell of a battle.”
Dunston noted that his team received a “cheeky deuce” in the first end and wanted to control the scoreboard after that.
“Put a little pressure on [Kleiter's rink] and I like where [our] The team is now in place,” he added.
“They were the best team in Canada this year – their performances [Grand Slams of Curling] and PointsBet [Invitational]Gushue said of Dunston and his teammates. – They play incredibly well.
“We'll have to arrange our stones [precisely] with the way Matt and Colton [Lott] can deliver such powerful blows.”
The winners of the men's and women's curling competitions will represent Canada at the 2026 Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
In other early results from the tie, Calgary's Kevin Coe scored three goals in the ninth end in an 8-7 win over Winnipeg's Jordan McDonald, while 2014 Olympian Brad Jacobs and his Calgary team beat Saskatoon's Mike McEwen 6-3.
Coe and Jacobs tied for third at 2–1, while Epping and McEwen fell to 1–3 and Kleiter and McDonald fell to 0–3.
The women's draw was scheduled for Monday afternoon, followed by another men's draw in the evening.
Kerri Einarson of Gimli, Man., started the day with a 3-0 lead in the women's tournament.
