Canada's Gushue opens with wins over Czechs, Norway at men's curling worlds

After taking a couple weeks off to enjoy his fourth career Canadian men's curling title, Brad Gushue picked up where he left off Saturday at the world championship.

Gushue and his St. John's-based team - with vice Mark Nichols back in tow - posted a 6-4 win over Lukas Klima's plucky Czech side at the Orleans Arena.

"It feels a lot easier with four people but the ice conditions out there are very tough," Gushue said. "It's going to be a challenge all week."

After Canada settled for a single in the ninth end, the Czechs conceded before their final shot in the 10th as they had no chance at a game-tying pair. Gushue followed with an 8-7 win over Norway's Magnus Ramsfjell in the evening draw.

WATCH l Canada defeats Norway for 2nd win at world curling championship:

There were several storylines on the go for the opening day of round-robin play.

Nichols returned after missing the final weekend at the Tim Hortons Brier due to a positive COVID-19 test result. Gushue, second Brett Gallant and lead Geoff Walker managed to win three straight playoff games as a trio for the title.

The team announced less than a week later that Gallant would be leaving the rink at the end of the season.

And finally, there were the ice conditions at the 9,500-seat venue just off the Vegas Strip - frosty in some spots with speed fluctuations in others - that gave the squad something else to think about.

"When the ice conditions are tough, you just try and limit the misses," Gushue said. "I thought we did a good job of that. I never felt like we were in any danger of losing that game."

WATCH l Gushue leads Canada past Czech Republic:

Both teams had a few hiccups in the early going as they settled in at the sparsely attended four-sheet venue. Gushue rolled out on an open hit for two in the first end but managed a steal in the second for a 2-0 lead.

Klima, skipping at the worlds for the first time, made a draw against four to get the Czechs on the board but Gushue answered with an angle raise for a deuce.

There was plenty of curl on the ice but some players seemed hamstrung by the speed at times. The mercury reached 31 C outside the building during the afternoon draw.