The 2026 Montana's Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship, was held from February 27 to March 8 at Mary Brown's Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.[1][2] The winning Matt Dunstone rink will represent Canada at the 2026 World Men's Curling Championship at the Weber County Ice Sheet in Ogden City, Utah.[3]
Notably, it is believed that this was the first Brier with a Black skip and a skip of Asian descent, with Jayden King, whose father is from Trinidad and Tobago, skipping team Ontario, and Cody Tanaka heading team British Columbia.[4]
The event was also a "swan song" for 2006 Olympic gold medallist Brad Gushue who announced his retirement from competitive curling, and is playing in his final Brier on home ice.[5] It was also a final Brier for Quebec's Jean-Michel Ménard, Martin Crête and Jean-François Trépanier as well as Manitoba's E. J. Harnden who all announced their retirements from the sport.
Teams
A total of eighteen teams qualified for the 2026 Brier. The fourteen Canadian curling member associations held playdowns to determine who would represent their province or territory. Team Canada is represented by Team Brad Jacobs, who won the 2025 Montana's Brier.[6] They are also fresh off winning gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In a continuation of the 2025 qualifying format, the final three teams in the field pre-qualified for the 2026 Brier based on their 2024–25 Canadian Team Ranking Standings, which meant they bypassed the provincial qualifiers. These spots went to Teams Matt Dunstone, Mike McEwen and Brad Gushue.[7]
The teams are listed as follows:[8]
Canada[6] |
Alberta[9] |
British Columbia[10] |
| The Glencoe Club, Calgary
Skip: Brad Jacobs
Third: Marc Kennedy
Second: Brett Gallant
Lead: Ben Hebert[a]
Alternate: Mike Caione |
The Glencoe Club, Calgary
Skip: Kevin Koe
Third: Tyler Tardi
Second: Aaron Sluchinski
Lead: Karrick Martin[b]
Alternate: Jacob Libbus[b] |
Kamloops CC, Kamloops & Tunnel Town CC, Delta
Skip: Cody Tanaka[c]
Third: Jared Kolomaya[d][c]
Second: Mitchell Kopytko[d][c]
Lead: Coburn Fadden[d]
Alternate: Sam Husdon[d][c] |
Manitoba (Calvert) |
New Brunswick |
Newfoundland and Labrador (Young) |
| Heather CC, Winnipeg
Skip: Braden Calvert
Third: Corey Chambers
Second: Kyle Kurz
Lead: Brendan Bilawka |
Gage G&CC, Oromocto
Skip: James Grattan[e]
Third: Joel Krats[e]
Second: Andy McCann[e]
Lead: Noah Riggs[e]
Alternate: Drew Grattan[e] |
St. John's CC, St. John's
Skip: Nathan Young
Third: Colin Thomas
Second: Nathan Locke
Lead: Ben Stringer[f]
Alternate: Jeff Thomas[f] |
Northern Ontario[11] |
Nova Scotia |
Ontario[12] |
| Northern Credit Union CC, Sudbury
Fourth: Sandy MacEwan
Skip: Dustin Montpellier
Second: Olivier Bonin-Ducharme
Lead: Luc Ouimet[g]
Alternate: Lee Toner[g] |
Halifax CC, Halifax
Skip: Kendal Thompson
Third: Stuart Thompson
Second: Bryce Everist
Lead: Michael Brophy
Alternate: Adam McKerihen |
Tillsonburg CC, Tillsonburg
Skip: Jayden King
Third: Dylan Niepage
Second: Owen Henry
Lead: Victor Pietrangelo[h]
Alternate: Spencer Dunlop[h] |
Prince Edward Island[13] |
Quebec |
Saskatchewan (Knapp)[14] |
| Crapaud Community CC, Crapaud
Skip: Tyler Smith
Third: Adams Cocks
Second: –[i]
Lead: Ed White |
Glenmore CC, Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Curling des Collines, Chelsea, CC Etchemin, Saint-Romuald Club Sports Belvédère, Val-d'Or & CC Valleyfield, Salaberry-de-Valleyfield
Fourth: Félix Asselin
Skip: Jean-Michel Ménard
Second: Martin Crête
Lead: Jean-François Trépanier |
Highland CC, Regina
Skip: Kelly Knapp
Third: Brennen Jones
Second: Dustin Kidby
Lead: Mat Ring
Alternate: Trent Knapp |
Northwest Territories |
Nunavut[16] |
Yukon |
| Yellowknife CC, Yellowknife
Skip: Jamie Koe
Third: Glen Kennedy
Second: Roland Robinson[j]
Lead: Shadrach McLeod
Alternate: Cole Parsons[j] |
Iqaluit CC, Iqaluit
Skip: Derek Samagalski
Third: Sheldon Wettig[k]
Second: Christian Smitheram
Lead: Justin McDonell[l]
Alternate: David Aglukark[l][k] |
Whitehorse CC, Whitehorse
Skip: Thomas Scoffin
Third: Kerr Drummond
Second: Trygg Jensen[m]
Lead: Joe Wallingham
Alternate: Ben Robinson |
Manitoba (Dunstone)[7] |
Saskatchewan (McEwen)[7] |
Newfoundland and Labrador (Gushue)[7] |
| Granite CC, Winnipeg
Skip: Matt Dunstone
Third: Colton Lott
Second: E.J. Harnden[n]
Lead: Ryan Harnden[o]
Alternate: Jacob Horgan[n][o] |
Nutana CC, Saskatoon
Skip: Mike McEwen
Third: Colton Flasch
Second: Kevin Marsh
Lead: Dan Marsh
Alternate: Brent Laing |
St. John's CC, St. John's
Skip: Brad Gushue
Third: Mark Nichols
Second: Brendan Bottcher
Lead: Geoff Walker[p]
Alternate: Adam Casey[p] |
CTRS Rankings
As of February 9, 2026
Source:[17]
Map of teams

Team Canada

Pre-Qualified Teams

Provincial Winners
Provincial winners that are in the same location as Team Canada or the Pre-Qualified teams are listed at the bottom
Round robin results
All draw times are listed in Newfoundland Time (UTC−03:30).[20][21]
Draw 1
Friday, February 27, 7:30 pm
Draw 2
Saturday, February 28, 2:30 pm
Draw 3
Saturday, February 28, 7:30 pm
Draw 4
Sunday, March 1, 9:30 am
Draw 5
Sunday, March 1, 2:30 pm
Draw 6
Sunday, March 1, 7:30 pm
Draw 7
Monday, March 2, 9:30 am
Draw 8
Monday, March 2, 2:30 pm
Draw 9
Monday, March 2, 7:30 pm
Draw 10
Tuesday, March 3, 9:30 am
Draw 11
Tuesday, March 3, 2:30 pm
Draw 12
Tuesday, March 3, 7:30 pm
Draw 13
Wednesday, March 4, 9:30 am
Draw 14
Wednesday, March 4, 2:30 pm
Draw 15
Wednesday, March 4, 7:30 pm
Draw 16
Thursday, March 5, 9:30 am
Draw 17
Thursday, March 5, 2:30 pm
Draw 18
Thursday, March 5, 7:30 pm
Championship round
Page 1/2 Qualifier
Friday, March 6, 1:30 pm
Page 3/4 Qualifier
Friday, March 6, 7:30 pm
Playoffs
1 vs. 2
Saturday, March 7, 7:30 pm
3 vs. 4
Saturday, March 7, 1:30 pm
Semifinal
Sunday, March 8, 1:30 pm
Final
Sunday, March 8, 7:30 pm
Statistics
Top 5 player percentages
Round robin only; minimum 6 games played[22]
| Key |
|
First All-Star Team |
|
Second All-Star Team |
Perfect games
Round robin only; minimum 10 shots thrown
Provincial and territorial playdowns
Source:[23]
Notes
- ↑ For Draw 1, Team Canada lead Ben Hebert did not play due to illness and opted to only play with three players.
- 1 2 Team Alberta alternate Jacob Libbus threw lead stones in the last two ends of Draw 6 and the last end of Draw 14.
- 1 2 3 4 For the final end of Draw 16, Team British Columbia alternate Sam Husdon threw second stones, second Mitchell Kopytko threw third stones, third Jared Kolomaya threw skip stones, while skip Cody Tanaka sat out.
- 1 2 3 4 For the final two ends of Draw 10, Team British Columbia alternate Sam Husdon threw lead stones, lead Coburn Fadden threw second stones, second Mitchell Kopytko threw third stones, while third Jared Kolomaya sat out.
- 1 2 3 4 5 For the final four ends of Draw 10, Team New Brunswick alternate Drew Grattan threw lead stones with skip James Grattan sitting out. All other players moved up one position.
- 1 2 Team Newfoundland and Labrador (Young) alternate Jeff Thomas threw lead stones in the final end of Draw 7.
- 1 2 Team Northern Ontario used a five-player rotation.
- 1 2 Team Ontario alternate Spencer Dunlop threw lead stones in the final end of Draw 7.
- ↑ Team Prince Edward Island is playing with only three players as their second Christopher Gallant is unable to play in the Brier due to work commitments.[15]
- 1 2 Team Northwest Territories alternate Cole Parsons threw second stones for the final three ends of Draw 14.
- 1 2 Team Nunavut alternate David Aglukark threw third stones in the last end of Draw 9 and the final six ends of Draw 13.
- 1 2 Team Nunavut alternate David Aglukark threw lead stones in the last end of Draw 5.
- ↑ Team Yukon alternate Ben Robinson threw second stones for the final three ends of Draw 16.
- 1 2 Team Manitoba (Dunstone) alternate Jacob Horgan threw second stones in the last end of Draw 8.
- 1 2 Team Manitoba (Dunstone) alternate Jacob Horgan threw lead stones in the last two ends of Draw 16.
- 1 2 Team Newfoundland and Labrador (Gushue) alternate Adam Casey threw lead stones for the final three ends of Draw 13.
[24]
References
- ↑ "2026 Montana's Brier presented by AGI". Curling Canada. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ↑ "St. John's Wins Bid to Host 2026 Montana's Brier". St. John's. February 3, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ↑ "LGT World Men's Curling Championship 2026". World Curling. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ↑ "Asian and Black skips look to carve a place in curling history at Brier". TSN. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Gushue's swan song, Jacobs' Olympic triumph headline compelling St. John's Brier". TSN. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- 1 2 "Golden boys!". Curling Canada. March 10, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 "Pre-Qualified teams set for 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Montana's Brier". Curling Canada. July 18, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ↑ "Teams". 2026 Montana's Brier. Curling Canada. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
- ↑ Todd Saelhof (January 12, 2026). "Kevin Koe, Selena Sturmay capture Alberta's curling crowns". Calgary Herald. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
- ↑ Victor Kaisar (January 4, 2026). "Brier-bound Kamloops trio wins men's B.C. curling title; Brown foursome falls in women's final". CFJC Today. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
- ↑ Greg Estabrooks (January 12, 2026). "Sudbury's Sandy MacEwan rink wins Northern Ontario men's curling title". The Sudbury Star. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
- ↑ Donald Duench (January 11, 2026). "Ontario curling championships: Armstrong, King, claim titles". Toronto Sun. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
- ↑ Jason Simmonds (January 6, 2026). "Team Smith dominates P.E.I. men's curling championship with three players". The Guardian. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
- ↑ Randy Palmer (January 11, 2026). "LIVE BLOG: Kelly Knapp wins SaskTel Tankard men's provincial curling championship". SaskToday. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
- ↑ Simmonds, Jason (February 27, 2026). "Team P.E.I.'s Smith rink to play with three players at Brier". Saltwire.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ↑ "Bring on the Brier". Nunatsiaq News. January 12, 2026. Retrieved January 25, 2026.
- ↑ "CTRS". Curling Canada. Retrieved February 9, 2026.
- ↑ "Standings – Pool A". Curling Canada. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Standings – Pool B". Curling Canada. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Draw". Curling Canada. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ↑ "Schedule". 2026 Montana's Brier. Curling Canada. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ↑ "Positional Percentage Comparison". Curling Canada. Retrieved March 1, 2026.
- ↑ "2024-25 Provincial and Territorial Playdown Schedule" (PDF). Curling Canada. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ↑ "2026 Montana's Brier Live". Curling Canada. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
External links
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| Labatt Brier | |
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| Nokia Brier | |
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| Tim Hortons Brier | |
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| Montana's Brier | |
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