Crowd goes wild for Gushue at Kioti National in Newfoundland

Brad Gushue received a hero’s welcome in his home province of Newfoundland Thursday night.

A packed house in St. John’s welcomed Gushue ahead of a Draw 12 matchup with Mike McEwen at the Kioti National.

Gushue, the six-time Brier champ, is competing in the province’s capital for the first time since he captured his first national title in 2017.

“Obviously, we’ve played a couple Slams out there in (Conception Bay South) but to be back in the building where we won the Brier seven years ago, almost eight years ago now, it’s going to be exciting,” Gushue said during the Co-op Canadian Open, according to Sportsnet’s Jonathan Brazeau. “It’s sold out, so I know there’s a lot of people really excited to come watch us. We’re pumped. I’m nervous, but I’m pumped.”

There was a lot at stake in Thursday’s matchup as Gushue and McEwen both entered play with 2-0 records in the tournament.