AS I SEE IT COLUMN: Brad Gushue is the quintessential Canadian hero

Watching Brad Gushue’s illustrious Brier career come to end was tough for his legions of fans across the country.

With an astonishing record of competing in the Brier 23 times (the most in Canada’s history) and having won six Brier titles (the most ever by a skip), Gushue has been a mainstay on the Canadian and world curling scenes for nearly three decades.

All good things must come to an end, and Gushue’s curling career was an exceedingly good thing, for him and for our country.

Part of Gushue’s enduring legacy is, of course, his play on the ice. The many Brier championships, the Olympic gold and bronze medals, the World Championship title; those are all impressive.

But it was the way he carried himself that set Gushue apart. To be dominant in your sport and be a nice guy while doing it, isn’t always easy.

Gushue’s emotional Brier farewell was a much-needed counterpoint and antidote to the black eye that Marc Kennedy from Team Jacobs gave our nation for being such a rude, obnoxious bully at the Milano Olympics. Kennedy, caught on live, international TV, started cussing at a Swedish curler who accused Kennedy of throwing his rocks illegally; accusations that video evidence proved to be true.

While Kennedy didn’t have the strength of character nor the integrity to apologize to the Swedish player, or to Canadians for tarnishing our curling reputation, it is precisely Gushue’s strength of character that endeared him to curling fans across the country and around the world. Gushue would never in a million light years be a jerk like Kennedy.

There is a dignity, a niceness about Brad that emanates from his all-world smile and cascades into his words, his actions and his demeanor.

Gushue is the embodiment of what it means to be a Canadian. He is kind, thoughtful and courteous; gracious in victory and in defeat.

He exudes class in everything he does.

There was a beautiful moment in the Brier when Gushue’s team played a young team from Newfoundland and Labrador. Gushue won the game and sensing that it was a ‘passing of the baton’ moment, got both teams to pose together for a group photo after the game as the home town crowd cheered wildly for both teams.

It was a touching gesture, and it was classic Gushue, doing the right thing at the perfect time.

Between his telegenic looks and his many achievements on the ice, there is a very good chance we’ll see Gushue become a TV commentator. He is simply too popular and too accomplished to simply ride off into the sunset. Someone smart will scoop him up (if they haven’t already), and Canadians will continue to be blessed with Gushue’s knowledge of the game and his niceness for a long time.

Our country needs to thank him for being such a wonderful ambassador, not just for the sport of curling, but also for Canada. In the pantheon of Canadian sports heroes – for his impressive accomplishments and the dignified way he conducted himself on and off the ice – Gushue is a true living legend.

For Gushue to say goodbye to the Brier in his home of St. John’s, was the perfect sendoff for the curling icon. With his family in attendance and in front of a packed arena, it was a fitting end to a glorious career.

Thank you Brad for representing our nation with distinction, class and honour.