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Gander's Gushue Girls put Brier crowds in the pink

Seven friends from Newfoundland and Labrador are livening up the curling crowd in Regina.

7 curling fans from N.L. change pink shirts to green to go from Team Gushue to Team Smith

Three men in red shirts next to a rink corner, behind it are six women wearing pink shirts.
The Gushue Girls pose for a shot with, from left, Brett Gallant, Geoff Walker and Brad Gushue. (Twitter)

Gushue's Girls are hard to miss.

Decked out in Pepto-Bismol-pink T-shirts, each with a letter spelling out Team Canada skip Brad Gushue's last name — plus a thumbs-up — the seven friends from Gander are a fixture in the stands at the 2018 Tim Hortons Brier.

They performed the same role at the Brier last year at Mile One Centre in St. John's, not to mention the Brier before that. Like then, they're drawing a lot of attention.

"We started this two Briers ago, in Ottawa, and we were a little surprised at the reaction, but we're getting a little bit used to it," Jeanne Collins — also known as "G" — told CBC's Here & Now.

'Nothing can touch St. John's'

And while they're having a good time in Regina, Collins said, it doesn't top the 2017 Brier, which Gushue won before a hometown audience. That victory earned his rink the Team Canada position this year.

"To be absolutely truthful … and I hope nobody around me hears me, nothing can compare to last year's Brier in St. John's. That was stupendous," she said.

"But it's a great Brier, as most Briers out west are. But nothing can touch St. John's."

With Team Gushue representing Canada, that meant there would be two teams from Newfoundland and Labrador at the Brier, leaving the team with a dilemma when Greg Smith's rink played Gushue's.

"We had a little problem because we had divided loyalties so we sort of handled it by switching shirts about each end," said Collins.

"We would be Gushue supporters one end, and Team Newfoundland the next. We had green shirts for Newfoundland."

Match Wrap: Gushue bounces back with win in championship draw

7 years ago
Duration 1:07
Brad Gushue's Team Canada are back in the win column at the 2018 Brier, after taking care of Reid Carruthers' Team Manitoba 7-2 in championship draw 1.

On Thursday, Gushue's Team Canada defeated Team Manitoba 7-2 and Saskatchewan 5-4, while Team Newfoundland and Labrador has been eliminated from championship contention after picking up one win in seven matches.