Canadian Olympic gold medal winning curlers Brad Gushue of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, Manitoba each won the men’s and women’s competitions at the World Curling Tour’s Grand Slam of Curling Masters event in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Sunday. The tournament victories for the Gushue and Jones curling teams will give them confidence as they prepare for the 2017 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials in Ottawa.
In the men’s final, Gushue beat two-time world champion Niklas Edin of Sweden 8-4. The turning point came in the fifth end when Edin missed his final shot allowing Gushue to draw for three points and take a commanding 6-2 lead at the time.
In the women’s final, reigning Olympic champion Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, Manitoba beat Kerri Einarson of Winnipeg 6-5. Like Gushue’s win, the turning point came in the fifth end as Jones picked up three points to take a 5-3 lead at the time. Jones’s third, Kaitlyn Lawes made a key in turn hit around the guard to change the game’s momentum.
There will be one more grand slam event before the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials in Ottawa in December. The Boost National will take place in Sault. Ste. Marie, Ontario from November 14-19. Sault Ste. Marie is the home of reigning Canadian Olympic gold medalist Brad Jacobs.
