Gushue feeling 'okay' after hard fall

Brad Gushue will be just fine after a painful fall during Saturday's quarterfinal match against Saskatchewan's Steve Laycock at the Masters of Curling in Truro, NS.

During a shot by third Mark Nichols in the fourth end, the 35-year-old Gushue lost his balance and fell hard face down on the ice. He remained on the ice for a few minutes as he bled from his right eye before being taken to a nearby hospital where he got stitched up. Gushue returned to the game in the seventh to a warm applause from the crowd, but ended up losing to Laycock, 5-2. 

Gushue release a statement after the game Saturday, announcing that he'll be fine.

"Thank you to everyone for their kind messages and concern. It was a scary moment for all of us. I am doing okay. Pretty sore and my head has felt better, but I will be okay. Few days rest and I will be good as new," said Gushue on the team Facebook page. "Want to say thanks to my team for hanging in the game in my absence. They did a great job. Feel like I let them down, but they are great teammates and told me I didn't. Thanks again for all the support and I will post a picture of my shiner in the next couple days. Take care." 

Fellow curlers took to Twitter to show their concern for the St. John's, NL curler.

Gushue's rink have been one of the best teams on the World Curling Tour this season as they've won three events and sit atop the Money List as well as the Canadian Team Ranking System. He was the defending champion at the Masters.