Brad Gushue records convincing win over Denmark for 1st Olympic curling victory in Beijing

Canada's Team Gushue opened its Olympic curling campaign Wednesday with a 10-5 win over Denmark in Beijing.

Brad Gushue, alongside Mark Nichols, won Olympic gold in 2006, and are joined on this Olympic journey by first-time Olympians Geoff Walker and Brett Gallant.

Team Gushue was focused but relaxed as play began, with a strong first end in which they stole one point from the Danes. Denmark, with the hammer, scored two in the second end.

But Canada came roaring back in the third end. After a couple of misses by Danish skip Mikkel Krause, Canada was in a position to draw for three points to take control of the game.

Denmark stormed back in the fourth end, scoring two to tie it up before Canada drew for one in the fifth to take a narrow lead heading into the break.

During the break, Gushue told the CBC's Colleen Jones that he was feeling the nerves, and there was a bit of rust to shake off from not having been on the ice in the last five days.

"I think there's a little bit of adjustment," he said. "But having a lead right now I think is pretty good. We're in good shape."

WATCH | Canada vs. Denmark, full game:

That Curling Show: What went wrong for Homan and Morris in mixed doubles

3 years ago

Duration 34:46

Canada found itself on the wrong end of the measuring stick in mixed doubles. But Colleen Jones, Joanne Courtney, Mike Harris, Bruce Rainnie and Devin Heroux believe the team lacked the same prep time and international experience as other countries.

Things looked dicey for Canada in the sixth end with Denmark lying two, but a big miss by the Danish skip on his last shot allowed Canada to steal two to take a 7-4 lead. Denmark had the hammer for the seventh end and scored one to bring the score to 7-5.

But Canada took control in the eighth end, scoring three to end the game. 

"It feel great," he said after the win. "The second half felt a whole lot better than the first half. I think the first game jitters kind of ironed themselves out and I thought we played pretty good."

Despite early jitters, Gushue said he "was a lot more nervous" when he made his Olympic debut 16 years ago.

"I remember ... I couldn't sleep. I could barely feel myself out on the ice."

WATCH | Extended highlights of Team Canada's opening win over Denmark:

Team Gushue’s return to the Olympics has been years in the making

3 years ago

Duration 2:27

With two members of Brad Gushue’s curling team going to the Olympics for the first time, the others who recall Torino and their gold medal fondly look to give the first time Olympians that feeling.

There are 10 teams in the men's curling tournament. Canada plays Norway next in a match scheduled for Thursday.

Gushue will be looking to turn the tide of Canada's curling luck in Beijing, after the mixed doubles team of John Morris — the mixed doubles gold medallist from Pyeongchang with Kaitlyn Lawes — and Rachel Homan failed to make it to the semifinals.

On the women's side, Jennifer Jones will be looking to win a second Olympic gold medal after winning in Sochi in 2014. Team Jones opens their Olympic tournament on Thursday against South Korea.

WATCH | That Curling Show: What went wrong for Homan and Morris:

WATCH | Team Gushue's return to the Olympics has been years in the making: