Saskatchewan's Crucial Role in Matt Dunstone's Long-Awaited Brier Triumph
While Saskatchewan's own Brier championship drought has now extended to forty-six long years, the province can take significant pride in its instrumental role in shaping this year's Canadian men's curling champion. Matt Dunstone, who finally secured his first career Brier victory after numerous heartbreaking near-misses, developed key aspects of his championship-caliber game during his formative years curling out of Saskatchewan.
A Championship Moment Decades in the Making
Matt Dunstone, originally from Winnipeg but who curled out of Saskatchewan from 2017 through 2022, achieved his breakthrough moment on Sunday, March 9, 2026, defeating Alberta's Kevin Koe with a decisive 6-3 victory in the final held in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. This triumph represents the culmination of a journey that saw Dunstone come agonizingly close to Brier glory on multiple previous occasions, including twice as the skip of Team Saskatchewan.
"This moment feels way more incredible than I ever would have imagined," an emotional Dunstone told reporters following his historic win. The victory earns him the right to represent Team Canada at the upcoming World Men's Curling Championship in Utah, scheduled from March 27 through April 4, 2026.
Saskatchewan Roots: Building a Champion
Dunstone's connection to Saskatchewan curling began after he had already established himself as a promising young talent in Manitoba, where he captured Canadian junior championships and world bronze medals in both 2013 and 2016. Following appearances in the Manitoba men's provincial championships in 2015 and 2016, Dunstone made the pivotal decision to join a Saskatchewan-based team for the 2017-18 season.
He joined as an import alongside established Saskatchewan curlers Steve Laycock, Kirk Muyres, and Dallan Muyres. During that inaugural season together, Dunstone initially threw second stones before transitioning to the fourth position heading into the SaskTel Tankard provincial curling championship. The squad's victory over Colton Flasch in that provincial final earned them the right to represent Saskatchewan at the 2018 Brier, which was held in Regina.
Although the team advanced to the playoff round, they experienced an early exit in front of their hometown crowd—a disappointing result that nonetheless provided the then-22-year-old Dunstone with his first real taste of Brier-level competition and defeat.
Perseverance Through Provincial Challenges
The following season, Dunstone formed a new Saskatchewan rink based in Regina with teammates Braeden Moskowy, Catlin Schneider, and Dustin Kidby. This new configuration faced immediate challenges, losing in the provincial final to the Muyres brothers, who were joined by twins Kevin and Dan Marsh.
Rather than being discouraged by this setback, Dunstone demonstrated remarkable perseverance by returning with the same team in 2020. This commitment paid dividends as the squad defeated the Muyres rink in the provincial final, securing their return to the Brier championship. It was during this period that Dunstone truly began to establish himself as a perennial contender on the national curling stage, showing the heart-on-his-sleeve passion that would become his trademark.
The Saskatchewan team finished the 2020 Brier with an impressive 8-3 record before falling to eventual champion Brad Gushue in the semifinal, claiming third place overall. Dunstone made another strategic adjustment for the 2021 season, bringing Kirk Muyres back to replace Schneider, and the retooled squad won a second consecutive SaskTel Tankard provincial championship.
Yet another similar result followed at the national level, with the Saskatchewan team once again securing the bronze medal after losing to eventual champion Brendan Bottcher in the semifinal. These repeated near-misses at the highest level of Canadian curling only fueled Dunstone's determination to eventually break through.
From Saskatchewan Development to National Champion
The years spent developing his skills within Saskatchewan's competitive curling environment proved invaluable to Dunstone's ultimate success. While the province continues to await its own Brier championship after forty-six years, Saskatchewan's curling community can rightly claim a significant share in the development of this year's national champion.
Dunstone's journey—from his early days as a promising junior in Manitoba, through his formative competitive years in Saskatchewan, to his eventual breakthrough as Brier champion—demonstrates how regional curling programs contribute to national excellence. His victory serves as both inspiration for Saskatchewan curlers and validation of the province's development system, even as the quest for a Saskatchewan-based Brier champion continues.
