Mark Nichols, ONL (born January 1, 1980) is a Canadian curler from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. [2] He currently plays third for the Brad Gushue rink. Nichols is a former Olympic champion curler, having played third for Team Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where the team won a gold medal. He also won a World Championship with Gushue in 2017.
Nichols was born in Labrador City, Newfoundland, the son of Gerry and Helen Nichols. Nichols began curling at the age of 3 in Labrador City. [3] In 1995, he played for Newfoundland at the Canada Games, placing eighth. [4]
Between 1999 and 2011, Nichols lived in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, where he played third for the Brad Gushue rink. It was with Gushue that he represented Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics. With Gushue, Nichols has been to three Canadian Junior Curling Championships (1999, 2000, and winning in 2001) and fourteen Briers (2003-2005, 2007-2011, 2015–2020). He also qualified for the 2013 and 2014 Brier with Manitoba's Jeff Stoughton rink. He also won the World Junior Curling Championships in 2001 with Gushue. He also won Gold in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, at which he threw a spectacular shot - running back a guard onto another stone which picked another rock that was sitting in a dead zone - in the 6th end of the final against Finland, helping Canada to score 6. Certainly, one thing to aid their victory was the fact that Nichols shot a blistering 97 percent in the gold medal final. "When he’s playing that way, we don’t lose very much," said Gushue. [5] He is also the 2017 Tim Hortons Brier Champion, again as third for Gushue, defeating Kevin Koe 7-6 in the final, helping Gushue to win the Brier in his 14th appearance. This was an especially sweet victory for Nichols, who had lost 3 Brier finals previously- with Gushue to Glenn Howard in 2007, with Stoughton to Brad Jacobs in 2013, with Gushue to Kevin Koe in 2016. The 2017 Brier was also in St. John's, where the Gushue team is from. The team went undefeated at the 2017 World Men's Curling Championship, defeating Niklas Edin in the final. At the 2018 Brier, he went back-to-back as brier champion, but this time he was a member of Team Canada, defeating Brendan Bottcher of Alberta 6-4 with fellow skip Brad Gushue. At the 2018 World Men's Curling Championship, they would lose the final in a rematch against Sweden's Edin. They couldn't win three Briers in a row, losing the 3 vs. 4 game of the 2019 Tim Hortons Brier to Brendan Bottcher.
Nichols has won a career total of twelve Grand Slam of Curling events, ten with Gushue and two with Stoughton. He won his first at the 2010 The National (January), defeating Randy Ferbey in the final. He also won the National in 2013 and 2015. He won two Masters (2014, 2017), two Canadian Open's (2014, 2017), two Elite 10's (2016, 2018 (Sept.)) and one Tour Challenge, Players' Championship and Champions Cup.
He briefly retired from curling after the 2011 Brier, although he always suggested he might return at some point, which he did for the 2012-2013 season as Jeff Stoughton's lead. He would play two whole seasons with Jeff, winning a silver at the 2013 Brier, and in the middle of the 2013-2014 season, moved to throwing second stones for Jeff, missing the playoffs at the Canadian Olympic Trials, but winning a bronze at the 2014 Brier. He left the Stoughton rink to reunite with Brad after the 2014 Brier.
He won the Ford Hot Shots shot-making competition at the 2005 Brier, winning a two-year lease on a new Ford vehicle.
Nichols also skipped team Newfoundland and Labrador with sister Shelley, Brent Hamilton and Jennifer Guzzwell to a Canadian Mixed Curling Championship in 2005.
Nichol's team, skipped by Brad Gushue, qualified as the Canadian representatives for the 2022 Winter Olympics by winning the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, defeating Brad Jacobs 4–3 in the final. [6] [7] The team would go onto win the bronze medal. [8] [9] [10]
In 2005, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from the Memorial University of Newfoundland. He also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2006 and received a certification of Mac-Nutrition in 2021. [3]
With Gushue, Nichols is the co-owner and personal trainer with Orangethory Fitness in St. John's. [11] In the summer of 2011, Nichols married his longtime girlfriend and fellow curler Colette Lemon. They have two children. [12] In August 2011, Nichols ran for the Progressive Conservative nomination in the district of Labrador West, losing to Nick McGrath. [13] [14] His mother, Helen competed for Newfoundland at the 1992 Scott Tournament of Hearts. [3]
| Season | Skip | Third | Second | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998–99 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Neal Blackmore | Steve Parsons |
| 1999–00 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Jamie Korab | Mike Adam |
| 2000–01 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Brent Hamilton | Mike Adam |
| 2001–02 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Paul Harvey | Gene Trickett |
| 2002–03 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Jamie Korab | Mark Ward |
| 2003–04 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Jamie Korab | Mark Ward |
| 2004–05 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Keith Ryan | Jamie Korab |
| 2005–06 | Brad Gushue (Fourth) | Mark Nichols | Mike Adam Russ Howard (Skip) | Jamie Korab |
| 2006–07 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Chris Schille | Jamie Korab |
| 2007–08 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Chris Schille | David Noftall |
| 2008–09 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Ryan Fry | Jamie Korab |
| 2009–10 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Ryan Fry | Jamie Korab |
| 2010–11 [lower-alpha 1] | Brad Gushue (Fourth) | Randy Ferbey (Skip) | Mark Nichols | Ryan Fry |
| 2011 [lower-alpha 1] | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Ryan Fry | Jamie Danbrook |
| 2012–13 | Jeff Stoughton | Jon Mead | Reid Carruthers | Mark Nichols |
| 2013–14 | Jeff Stoughton | Jon Mead | Reid Carruthers | Mark Nichols |
| Jeff Stoughton | Jon Mead | Mark Nichols | Reid Carruthers | |
| 2014–15 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Brett Gallant | Geoff Walker |
| 2015–16 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Brett Gallant | Geoff Walker |
| 2016–17 [lower-alpha 2] | Brad Gushue Mark Nichols | Mark Nichols Charley Thomas Adam Spencer Pat Simmons | Brett Gallant | Geoff Walker |
| 2017–18 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Brett Gallant | Geoff Walker |
| 2018–19 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Brett Gallant | Geoff Walker |
| 2019–20 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Brett Gallant | Geoff Walker |
| 2020–21 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Brett Gallant | Geoff Walker |
| 2021–22 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | Brett Gallant | Geoff Walker |
| 2022–23 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | E. J. Harnden | Geoff Walker |
| 2023–24 | Brad Gushue | Mark Nichols | E. J. Harnden | Geoff Walker |
Randy S. Ferbey is a Canadian retired curler from Sherwood Park, Alberta. Ferbey is a six-time Canadian champion and a four-time World Champion. He recently coached the Rachel Homan women's team.
Kevin Martin, nicknamed "The Old Bear" and "K-Mart", is a Canadian retired curler from Edmonton, Alberta, an Olympic, World and four-time Canadian champion and a member of the World Curling Hall of Fame. He is considered by many commentators and former and current curlers to be the greatest curler of all time. He is also known for his rivalries with Randy Ferbey/David Nedohin, the best Alberta provincial rivalry ever as the two teams were generally regarded the best in the world from 2002 to 2006; his rivalry with Jeff Stoughton, perhaps the most famous all prairies rivalry ever which spanned over 2 decades from 1991 to 2014; with Glenn Howard from 2007 to 2014, perhaps the best two team rivalry in Canadian curling history, and his rivalry with Sweden's Peja Lindholm from 1997 to 2006, perhaps the best ever men's Canada-Europe rivalry.
Jeffrey R. "Jeff" Stoughton is a Canadian retired curler. He is a three-time Brier champion and two-time World champion as skip. Stoughton retired from competitive curling in 2015. He is one of the most successful Manitoba skips in curling history, and one of the most successful players in Canadian curling history. He is currently the National Men's Coach and Program Manager for Curling Canada, as well as being the head coach of the Canadian Mixed Doubles National Team.
Bradley Raymond Gushue, ONL is a Canadian curler from St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Gushue, along with teammates Russ Howard, Mark Nichols, Jamie Korab and Mike Adam, represented Canada in curling at the 2006 Winter Olympics, where they won the gold medal by defeating Finland 10–4. He also represented Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where he won a bronze medal. In addition to the Olympics, Gushue won the 2017 World Men's Curling Championship with teammates Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, and Geoff Walker. He is a record six-time Brier champion skip, having won in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024 all with Nichols, Gallant and Walker, except for 2023 and 2024 with E. J. Harnden replacing Gallant. Their win in 2017 was Newfoundland and Labrador's first Brier title in 41 years. At the 2018 Tim Hortons Brier, Gushue set a new record for Brier game wins as a skip, breaking a three-way tie with previous record-holders Russ Howard and Kevin Martin.
John C. Morris is a Canadian curler, and two-time Olympic gold medallist from Canmore, Alberta. Morris played third for the Kevin Martin team until April 24, 2013. Morris, author of the book Fit to Curl, is the son of Maureen and Earle Morris, inventor of the "Stabilizer" curling broom. Morris grew up in Gloucester, Ontario and at the age of five began curling at the Navy Curling Club.
Glenn William Howard is a Canadian curler who is one of the most decorated curlers of all time. He has won four world championships, four Briers and 17 Ontario provincial championships, including a record eight straight, from 2006 to 2013. Through 2017, he has played in 218 games at the Brier, more than any other curler in history. He has also won the 2001 TSN Skins Game.
Brent George Laing is a Canadian curler from Horseshoe Valley, Ontario. He grew up in Meaford, Ontario.
Marc Kennedy is a Canadian curler, and Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic gold medallist from St. Albert, Alberta.
Ryan Bennett Fry is a retired Canadian curler currently living in Pickering, Ontario. He most recently played third on the Mike McEwen team and coached the Rachel Homan team. He currently coaches the Joël Retornaz rink. He previously played third for Team Brad Jacobs, and the team represented Canada and won the gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics. The team also won the 2013 Tim Hortons Brier. Fry won a silver medal at the 2013 World Men's Curling Championship.
Brett Philip Gallant is a Canadian curler from Chestermere, Alberta. He currently plays second for the Brendan Bottcher rink.
The 2011 Tim Hortons Brier, the Canadian men's national curling championship, was held March 5 until March 13, 2011 at the John Labatt Centre in London, Ontario. This event marked the 30th time that the province of Ontario has hosted the Brier since it began in 1927 in Toronto, Ontario and the first time a Bronze Medal Game was added to the playoffs.
The 2011–12 curling season began in September 2011 and ended in April 2012.
Adam Adrian Casey is a Canadian curler originally from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. He currently skips his own team.
Geoff Walker is a Canadian curler, currently living in Edmonton, Alberta. He currently plays lead for the Brad Gushue rink. He was the Men's World Champion in 2017 and won silver the following year in 2018. A six-time national champion, he won the Brier in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Walker was a two-time World Junior Champion when he won gold in 2006 and 2007.
Eric Christopher "E. J." Harnden, Jr. is a Canadian curler. He currently throws second stones for the Canadian champion Brad Gushue rink.
Ryan Harnden is a Canadian curler. He currently plays lead on Team Matt Dunstone. He is the former lead for the Brad Jacobs rink, with whom he represented Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics, winning a gold medal.
The 2016 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship, was held from March 5–13, 2016 at TD Place Arena in Ottawa, Ontario.
The St. John's Curling Club is a curling club in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The club plays at the RE/MAX Centre in Central St. John's, on Mayor Ave. It is the largest curling club in the province.
The 2017 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship, was held from March 4–12, 2017 at the Mile One Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
The 2022 Tim Hortons Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship, was held from March 4 to 13 at the ENMAX Centre in Lethbridge, Alberta. In the final, the defending Olympic bronze medallist Brad Gushue Wild Card #1 team, which also include Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant and Geoff Walker from Newfoundland and Labrador defeated Alberta, skipped by Kevin Koe. It was Gushue's fourth career Brier title, and the team did it shorthanded, as Nichols missed the playoffs due to testing positive for COVID-19. According to Curling Canada, it was the first time a three-player team won a Brier final. Gushue's four Brier wins ties the record with Ernie Richardson, Randy Ferbey, Kevin Martin and Koe for most Brier championships as a skip, and his rink tied the "Ferbey Four" for most Brier championships as a foursome with four titles. Gushue played as a Wild Card team as they missed the Newfoundland and Labrador provincials due to their participation in the Olympics, and were the first team to ever play at the Brier and the Olympics in the same year. They were also the first Wild Card team to win the Brier. The Gushue rink represented Canada at the 2022 World Men's Curling Championship at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, United States, where they won the silver medal.
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