Brad Gushue's storied career in men's curling concluded with a 7-5 playoff defeat to Brad Jacobs at the Montana’s Brier in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. The 45-year-old six-time Canadian champion received an emotional farewell from over 6,000 hometown fans. Jacobs' team, fresh off Olympic gold, advanced to the semifinals.
In his 23rd and final Brier appearance, Brad Gushue and his Team Newfoundland and Labrador faced a decisive Page 3-4 playoff game against Brad Jacobs' Team Canada on March 7, 2026, at Mary Brown's Centre. The match, the 69th 'Battle of the Brads,' saw Jacobs secure a 7-5 victory, eliminating Gushue from contention for a record seventh national title.
The game was closely contested, tied 2-2 at the fifth-end break. Gushue shot 93 percent in the first half, but a rub on his draw in the sixth end allowed Jacobs to score three points for a 5-2 lead. Gushue responded with two in the seventh and forced a single in the eighth, trailing by one entering the ninth. He settled for one point there, and in the tenth, without the hammer, Gushue's final shot hit but could not steal, ending his run.
Post-game, an emotional Gushue hugged his family and acknowledged the roaring crowd with tears in his eyes. “Thank you,” he said, hand over heart. “That was special to me. That’s a memory I’ll have for the rest of my life.” Over 6,000 fans stood, cheering with cowbells and flags, many in homemade Gushue gear.
Jacobs congratulated Gushue: “Congrats on a great career. You’re the best ever.” He noted their rivalry's history: “If anyone was going to end it for their week, I like that it’s us.” Gushue replied, “It sucks to lose, no matter who it’s to.”
Gushue, who announced his retirement from men's curling in September 2025, leaves with Olympic gold in 2006, bronze in 2022, a 2017 world championship, six Brier titles, and 15 Grand Slams. Teammate Mark Nichols, partnering since juniors, praised Gushue's drive: “We both pushed each other to just get better and better.”
The loss came after Gushue's team went 9-2 in round-robin play but fell short in playoffs. Gushue reflected, “We played good this week... It’s okay for me to be disappointed for a day or two, but at the end of the day, I think we performed pretty well.” He may return for mixed doubles with his daughters, Hayley and Marissa, who are emerging in the sport.
Competitors lauded Gushue's legacy. Kevin Koe called him “one of the best ever,” while Jacobs said he “raised the bar in curling.” Nolan Thiessen, Curling Canada CEO, deemed him a “Mount Rushmore skip.” Gushue's impact elevated curling in Newfoundland and Labrador, a province not traditionally dominant.
Jacobs' team, Olympic champions from two weeks prior in Milano Cortina, advanced to face the semifinal loser of Alberta's Kevin Koe and Manitoba's Matt Dunstone.
