Canada prepares for worlds
Photo: Team Gushue
Professional curler Brad Gushue made history earlier this month when he captured his record-breaking fifth Brier title, and now his team travels to the nation’s capital to compete in the Men’s World Championship.
Third Mark Nichols, second EJ Harnden, leader Geoff Walker, and deputy Ryan Harnden make up the rest of the team coached by Caleb Flaxey and Jeff Stoughton.
This group of experienced curlers will look to win Canada’s first world title since Gushue in 2017 and defeat arguably their all-time best title in Sweden’s Niklas Edin.
Team Canada will face stiff competition to get the tournament started. At 11:00 Pacific it meets Switzerland’s Benoit Schwarz, followed by a match against Joel Retornaz and the Italians at 16:00
Team Canada will wrap up the opening weekend with two games on Sunday, one at 11pm against World Cup newcomers Team Anton Hood of New Zealand and then at 4pm against Norway team Magnus Ramsfjell
The talent pool is large and has been for most of the last decade. Team Sweden will be the team to beat, looking to extend their streak to five consecutive world titles.
Canada will play Sweden on Friday April 7th at 16:00 to complete the round robin.
Another game worth mentioning will be Canada’s traditional rivalry with 2018 Olympic champions Team John Shuster of the United States, which will be renewed on Wednesday April 5th.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for April 1 at 9:30 am Pacific Time.