One of the best in the game is sharing his wealth of knowledge of curling with the next group of up-and-comers.

The first-ever Team Gushue Curling Camp is taking place at the RE/MAX Centre in St. John’s over the course of this week.

Around 90 kids are enrolled from across the country, with some young curlers from the Northwest Territories, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec and more.

There is lots going on here at the RE/MAX Centre with junior curlers here from all across the country, including the Northwest Territories.

They are thrilled with the turnout in the camp’s first year. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/1DEGRQqXr1

— Ben Murphy VOCM (@BenMurphyVOCM) August 28, 2019

Team Gushue, along with a number of other professional coaches, are doing on- and off-ice sessions with the kids, including a week-ending competition.

Brad Gushue says as junior curlers, they never had the opportunity to do camps like this, and had to learn on their own and through individual coaches. That’s where the idea for the Team Gushue Curling Camp came from.

He says to get an atmosphere, where you have some of the best coaches and players in the world teaching what they’ve learned over their careers, will help elevate their game. Further to that, Gushue says he hopes it will get them more interested in the sport, along with creating lifelong friendships.

The Olympic champion says he hopes the camp will also grow the competitive side of the game here in the province.

If they can keep kids engaged through the junior program into the men’s and women’s program, Gushue says that’s a positive. If they can help them gain skills and improve, Gushue feels it may help the province in a competitive standpoint as well.

It’s safe to say that the Team Gushue Curling Camp will be back next summer.

Team Canada Making the Most of the Opportunity

Meanwhile, Gushue’s curling camp is also a big piece of preparation for one young team.

The Youth Olympic Games are just six months away, and Team Canada is using Gushue’s camp as a way to gel, and soak up all the knowledge they can from the former Olympic champs.

One team member is from St. John’s. Nathan Young says the camp is very important to them because it’s the longest period of time they’ll have together before the games.

For five days, they’ll be staying in residence together and getting to know one another. Young says to get on the ice with Team Gushue and the other great coaches is a great opportunity.

From all different parts of the country, the team is using the time to also work on their communication.

Young says Newfoundland is front and center in the curling world, with how well Team Gushbue has been playing—so it’s great to bring Team Canada to St. John’s.