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As the 2026 Brier came to a close, a mix of joy and sadness filled the hearts of Canadian curling fans — many who travelled from far and wide to see iconic curling champion Brad Gushue play the last game of his career.
“I came to see Brad Gushue, I won’t lie. Knowing that it was his last,” Irene Schiller from Windsor Ontario told CBC News at the Mary Brown’s Centre.
“He’s been my team all along.”
Sunday marked the last day of the 2026 Montana’s Brier, with Team Manitoba beating Team Alberta 6-3.
But for many fans, Saturday was the most important day of the championship, as Gushue closed out his curling career in a heart-racing match where he lost 7-5 to longtime rival Brad Jacobs and Team Canada.
Gushue and his team were the first people from Newfoundland and Labrador to win Olympic gold in 2006. He remained a champion throughout the years, winning gold once again at the Olympics in 2022.
“I’m a little sad but wanted to be here in his hometown for his last,” said Schiller. “He will go down to be the greatest curler in Canadian history.”
WATCH | The 2026 Montana’s Brier wraps up in St. John’s:
A hometown hero and a championship for the history books: Brier 2026 and Brad Gushue’s goodbye.
Winter in St. John’s melted this week, or at least it felt that way. Hosting the Brier championship with thousands of fans, bustling pubs and the collective energy driven by watching a live moment in Canadian history. CBCs Leila Beaudoin reports.
After completing his final match, Gushue received a standing ovation from the crowd of more than 6,000 fans.
“I was in tears,” said John Nicol from Ontario. “It was very emotional, very well done.”
John and Deb Nicol said they feel like they witnessed Canadian history this weekend.
“He’s a legend,” said Deb Nicol.
Hometown crowd
The final game was a special moment for Newfoundlanders Denise Walsh and Cathy Flynn, who also attended the 2017 Brier when Gushue got his first Brier win.
“It’s been fantastic,” said Walsh.
Newfoundlanders Denise Walsh and Cathy Flynn have been rooting for Brad Gushue since the start of his career. (John Pike/CBC)
The duo said they have been rooting for Gushue since the beginning of his career.
“We’re all here to see Brad and his final game,” said Flynn. “It was phenomenal.”
But now, they said it’s good to see a new generation of curling players, like Ontario’s Jayden King and N.L. ‘s Nathan Young.
“So good to see all these young players coming up and being so good,” said Walsh.
“They’re not very old, but to make playoffs and do so well against people like Jacobs and Gushue … and hold their own, right? We got some great curlers coming up,” said Flynn.
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