As the 2026 Montana's Brier in St. John's draws to a close, curling fans from Newfoundland and Labrador are readying themselves to say goodbye to Brad Gushue after nearly three decades in the sport. Gushue, who won Olympic gold in 2006 and multiple Brier titles, announced his retirement, prompting heartfelt reactions from supporters. His father described the moment as 'sort of really sad,' while expressing optimism for the next generation of curlers.
The Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John's has been filled with enthusiastic crowds throughout the 2026 Montana's Brier, many attending specifically to witness what they know will be Gushue's final competition. Phyllis Cooper, a longtime fan from Stephenville, received tickets as a Christmas gift and called the event 'really special.' She has followed Gushue since his 2006 Olympic gold medal victory and enforces a strict rule at home during his games: 'Everything shuts down... Brad is on.' Even without a win, she views the tournament as a fitting tribute.
Other fans shared similar sentiments. Paulette Snow and Robbi Gellately, who reconnected amid a snowstorm before traveling to the Brier, booked their tickets unaware of the retirement announcement. Snow reflected, 'This is it, we’re not going to see him anymore,' and hoped for a victory to cap his career: 'I want to be here and cry with everybody else.'
Younger admirer Zachary French from Brigus became a curling enthusiast after Gushue's 2017 Brier win in St. John's, the same venue hosting this event. 'It’s pretty cool because when I got into curling, this is where it started,' French said, adding that Gushue is 'our most successful athlete.' Volunteer Maurice Babin praised Gushue's legacy, comparing it to that of the band Great Big Sea for promoting Newfoundland: 'He’s that big... always talking about St. John’s and Newfoundland.'
Couples like Justin and Michelle Graveline, dressed in banana costumes as a playful tradition, emphasized Gushue's representation of home and sportsmanship. Visitor Mandy Boers saw the Brier as a chance to combine family time with watching her hero. As Gushue's career nears its end, fans like Cooper summed up the collective feeling: 'We always feel like he belongs to all of us... He feels like family to us.' Gushue's father echoed the bittersweet mood in an interview, noting the sadness but highlighting promising young curlers poised to follow in his footsteps.
