Brier 2026 Playoff Picture Takes Shape as Round Robin Wraps Up
As the 2026 Montana's Brier enters its final day of round robin play, the playoff landscape is beginning to crystallize with intense competition still unfolding. Four elite teams have already punched their tickets to the postseason, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the preliminary phase of Canada's premier men's curling championship.
Secured Playoff Contenders
Hometown favorite Brad Gushue, Alberta's veteran skip Kevin Koe, 2025 runner-up Matt Dunstone, and Olympic gold-medalist Brad Jacobs, who is also the defending Brier champion, all secured their playoff berths on Wednesday. These curling powerhouses demonstrated exceptional skill and consistency throughout the round robin, earning their places in the next stage of the tournament.
Pool A: The Battle for Third Place
In Pool A, Gushue and Jacobs await a third team to join them in the playoffs, with several contenders vying for that coveted spot. Ontario's Jayden King (4-3) can secure qualification with a victory over Saskatchewan's Kelly Knapp (3-4) in their Thursday afternoon draw.
Should King falter, the door opens for Knapp, Québec's Jean-Michel Ménard (4-3), or Prince Edward Island's Tyler Smith (3-4) to claim the final playoff position. The crucial matchup between Québec and P.E.I. will play a significant role in determining the outcome.
Pool B: Tight Race for Final Berth
Pool B witnessed dramatic developments early Thursday when New Brunswick's James Grattan kept his team's playoff hopes alive with an 8-7 extra-end victory over Manitoba's Braden Calvert. This win improved New Brunswick's record to 4-3, tying them with Calvert in the race for the third playoff spot.
The rink from Oromocto, N.B., now needs a victory over British Columbia's Cody Tanaka (1-6) in their late Thursday match, combined with favorable results from other games, to complete their late-week push for postseason qualification.
Critical Thursday Night Matchup
The most significant game of the evening features an all-Saskatchewan battle between Mike McEwen (5-2) and Matt Dunstone (6-1). A victory for McEwen would secure his team's place as the third playoff qualifier in Pool B.
If McEwen falls short, the opportunity shifts to either New Brunswick or Calvert to claim that final spot. These teams will face B.C. and Northern Ontario's Sandy MacEwan (2-5), respectively, in their concluding round robin matches.
Playoff Format Explained
Once the top three teams from each pool are determined, the tournament progresses to Friday's qualifying round, which follows a Page playoff-style format similar to recent Scotties Tournament of Hearts competitions.
The qualifying round structure includes:
- The first-place teams from each pool will crossover to face the other pool's second-place teams in 1-v-2 seeding games on Friday at noon ET.
- Winners of these 1-v-2 games advance directly to the playoff round, while losers drop to the 3-v-4 seeding games later Friday at 6 p.m. ET.
- In the 3-v-4 games, these teams face the third-place qualifiers from each pool, with winners advancing to the playoff round and losers being eliminated.
Championship Pathway
With just four teams remaining after the qualifying round, the Page playoff format continues through the weekend to determine Canada's men's curling champion.
The championship schedule includes:
- The winners of the qualifying round's 3-v-4 games compete against each other early Saturday at noon ET.
- The victor of this match advances to Sunday's early semifinal, while the defeated team is eliminated from contention.
- The tournament culminates with the crowning of the 2026 Brier champion following Sunday's final matches.
As Thursday's games unfold, curling fans across Canada are witnessing the dramatic conclusion of round robin play, with every shot potentially determining which teams will continue their pursuit of the coveted Brier championship trophy.
