It had all the makings of a back-and-forth championship game in the first half and then the Canadians took control and never looked back.
On Saturday afternoon, Team Gushue would need nine ends to win their second straight Pan Continental Championship, defeating Team Korea in the final.
Canada broke the scoreless draw in the second end as their last rock just barely stopped in the house, putting a single on the board.
Team Korea then answered with a deuce in the third end to take the lead.
Gushue’s rink managed a single in the fifth end to tie the game at 2-2.
In the sixth, Korea had the hammer and came up short as the last rock clipped a centre guard, giving Canada the steal of two.
A BIG steal of 2 by Canada, as Korea wrecks on a guard in the sixth end. Let’s go, @TeamGushue!!
— Curling Canada (@CurlingCanada) November 4, 2023
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The Canadians then added to their lead in the seventh end with another steal for two as Team Korea’s hit was too thin.
“When we were missing some shots, it could have been easy to be a little aggressive and make a silly call and give up a big end,” said Gushue.
“But we kept it tight and allowed him to make mistakes and fortunately for us, we got two of them in the sixth and seventh.”
Out of nowhere, another steal of two for Canada in the seventh end!
— Curling Canada (@CurlingCanada) November 5, 2023
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Korea could only score a single in the eighth end to keep the game going before Canada added another deuce in the ninth.
With the ninth-end deuce, Team Korea conceded and Team Gushue won 8-3.
In the second-ever Pan Continental Championship, Team Gushue has won their second straight gold medal at the event.
Team Gushue only lost one game at this year’s event and that was their tournament opener against Team Korea.
The Canadians will now head to the 2024 LGT World Men’s Curling Championship in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
“Representing Canada is always an honour and to do it well and win a gold is something I’m proud of,” Gushue said following the win.
Team Japan won the bronze medal after defeating the United States 9-6.
