Walker honoured to wear the maple leaf in Beijing

“Anytime you get to wear the maple leaf, it’s just an honour (to) represent your country and your area and your city and your town and all that.”

“As far as experience goes, I feel like I have a bundle of experience of playing in big games. The Olympics is a different beast, we prepare as good as anybody, and I think we’ll be ready for it,” he added.

Walker says it will be exciting to go to the games as part of a larger Team Canada that includes athletes from other sports.

“That’s a new experience for me to be part of such a larger team and cheering on everybody and just the vibe of the whole Canadian contingent.”

“It’s going to be very exciting and something I’m really looking forward to.”

Skip Brad Gushue says they will leave Vancouver Friday. They will fly to Tokyo then continue to Beijing after a layover of a few hours.

Gushue says preparations this time around have been “night and day” compared to when he and third Mark Nichols played at the 2006 Olympics, where they won gold.

“I think our preparation in 2006 was very chaotic, very busy with different appearances, events, a lot of activities that we had. We actually went into that Olympics quite tired, mentally, physically.”

“This time around, we’ve been here in the house (in Vancouver) for almost three weeks. Outside of our time that we go to practice, there is a lot of time to rest and time to do nothing.”

Gushue says the team is getting excited to get over there but still has some work to do first.

Brent Gallant is the Team Gushue second.

The entire team, plus Curling Canada coach Jeff Stoughton took part in a Zoom call Monday with news people.

Canada plays Denmark in its first game February 9. Start time is just after 5 a.m. Alberta time.

by Curtis Galbraith

Walker honoured to wear the maple leaf in Beijing

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