By The Canadian Press

Koe wins group, Dunstone into playoffs at Canadian men’s curling championship

Mar 5, 2026 | 9:06 AM

ST. JOHN’S — Alberta’s Kevin Koe wrapped up top spot in Pool B in Thursday’s early draw at the Montana’s Brier, while Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone clinched a playoff spot.

Koe, a four-time Canadian men’s curling champion, improved to 7-0 with an 11-4 win over B.C.’s Cody Tanaka in the morning.

Dunstone assured himself a playoff spot with a 9-3 win over Northern Ontario’s Sandy MacEwan. He improved to 6-1, but can’t catch Koe after losing to the Alberta skip earlier in the tournament.

It sets up a key match in the final draw between Dunstone and Saskatchewan skip Mike McEwen, who was idle in the morning. McEwen enters the final match at 5-2, and would take second from Dunstone with a win, as the first tiebreaker is head-to-head record.

Meanwhile, rookie Manitoba skip Braden Calvert and New Brunswick’s James Grattan were still in the mix for the third playoff spot, should McEwen lose to Dunstone.

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Grattan beat Calvert 8-7 in an extra end to give both rinks 4-3 records.

In the morning’s other game, Jamie Koe of the Northwest Territories defeated Yukon’s Thomas Scoffin 10-4.

Two more draws were scheduled for Thursday, including a highly anticipated afternoon matchup between Newfoundland and Labrador’s Brad Gushue and Canada’s Brad Jacobs.

The winner of the showdown between Gushue, a six-time Canadian men’s champion and local favourite, and Jacobs, the reigning Brier and Olympic champion, will finish first in Group A heading into the playoffs.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2026.

The Canadian Press