It was not an easy path to victory, but Brad Gushue got back on top of the Canadian curling scene, winning the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier over Kevin Koe.
Gushue's Team Wild Card 1 defeated Koe's Team Alberta 9-8 in extra ends on Sunday night, getting back to the podium after missing out in 2021.
We did it! It was a hard fought battle in the playoffs, made even more difficult with Mark's absence. We had to adjust quickly to playing with only three men and @gwalker71 and @bpgallant made it look so easy! pic.twitter.com/gmNQlsfc4W
— Team Gushue (@TeamGushue) March 14, 2022
Gushue's team was down a man after vice skip Mark Nichols was ruled out for the final weekend due to COVID-19. Along with Brett Gallant and Geoff Walker, Gushue overcame being shorthanded, denying Koe what would have been a record fifth win at the Brier.
Koe's team entered the 10th and final end down 9-7, but grabbed two points to force an extra end. But it was Gushue who came through in the extra end, as the skipper notched a successful takeout, knocking Koe's stone off the board and securing his fourth Brier win.
The Championship moment! @TeamGushue #Brier2022i pic.twitter.com/LyJSOQwk4x
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 14, 2022
Up next for Gushue is the 2022 LGT World Men’s Curling Championship in Las Vegas, where the team will represent Canada. That competition runs from April 2-10.
For Koe, it's now back-to-back losses in the championship of the Brier. The skip's last title came in 2019.
MORE: Tim Hortons Brier: Why is Canada's men's curling championship called the Brier?
How many times has Brad Gushue won the Brier?
Since coming onto the Canadian curling scene, Gushue has been a problem at the Tim Hortons Brier for the rest of the competition.
He has won four out of the last six Briers. He earned back-to-back wins in 2017 and 2018, lost in page playoffs in 2019, won in 2020 and missed out on the playoffs last year.
The skip from St. John's, N.L. joins Koe, Kevin Martin, Randy Ferbey and Ernie Richardson as the only skips to lead a team to four Brier wins.
What is the purse for the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier?
With 18 teams competing in 2022, the amounts awarded decreased slightly (down $5,000 each for first, second and third) to accommodate the extra teams.
Here's the breakdown for 2022:
Total purse: $300,000
1st: $100,000
2nd: $60,000
3rd: $40,000
Championship Pool (4th-8th): $15,000
Non-Championship Pool (9th-18th): $2,500
Who won the last 10 Tim Hortons Brier titles?
2012: Ontario (Glenn Howard, Wayne Middaugh, Brent Laing, Craig Savill)
2013: Northern Ontario (Brad Jacobs, Ryan Fry, E.J. Harnden, Ryan Harnden)
2014: Alberta (Kevin Koe, Pat Simmons, Carter Rycroft, Nolan Thiessen)
2015: Canada (Pat Simmons, John Morris, Carter Rycroft, Nolan Thiessen)
2016: Alberta (Kevin Koe, Marc Kennedy, Brent Laing, Ben Hebert)
2017: Newfoundland and Labrador (Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, Geoff Walker)
2018: Canada (Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, Geoff Walker)
2019: Alberta (Kevin Koe, B.J. Neufeld, Colton Flasch, Ben Hebert)
2020: Newfoundland and Labrador (Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, Geoff Walker)
2021: Alberta (Brendan Bottcher, Darren Moulding, Brad Thiessen, Karrick Martin)
