The Montana's Brier, Canada's men's curling championship, begins Friday at the Mary Brown's Centre in St. John's, N.L., offering a curling fix after the Winter Olympics. The 10-day tournament's winner will represent Canada at the World Men's Curling Championship from March 27 to April 4 in Ogden, Utah. Key narratives include Brad Gushue's farewell season and Brad Jacobs defending his title post-Olympic gold.
The 2026 Brier kicks off with high anticipation following the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Hosted at the Mary Brown's Centre in St. John's, N.L., the event features 12 teams divided into Pools A and B, with three advancing from each to the championship round.
In Pool A, Brad Gushue of Newfoundland and Labrador aims for a seventh Brier title in his final season on Canadian ice. Gushue, an Olympic gold medallist, world champion, and record six-time Brier champion as skip, announced in September that this would be his last competitive year. Despite a tight schedule leaving his team at No. 32 in world rankings and No. 14 on the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS), the hometown support echoes the packed crowds from his 2017 Brier win. Also in Pool A is Brad Jacobs, fresh from Olympic gold with his Calgary-based team of Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert. Ranked No. 2 worldwide and No. 1 on CTRS, Jacobs defends the title won last year in Kelowna, B.C., starting against short-handed P.E.I. in Draw 1. Their matchup promises another "Battle of the Brads," recalling past intense encounters at the venue.
Pool A could see surprises from Ontario's Jayden King, making his Brier debut after defeating Sam Mooibroek provincially and rising to No. 18 world and No. 6 CTRS rankings. Saskatchewan's Kelly Knapp (No. 35 world, No. 16 CTRS) and Quebec's Jean-Michel Ménard, who plans to step back post-season after a 20-year drought since his last Brier win, add intrigue.
In Pool B, Winnipeg's Matt Dunstone seeks redemption after a runner-up finish at the Olympic trials and a winless HearingLife Canadian Open in December. A two-time Brier finalist, including last year's loss to Jacobs, his team ranks No. 5 world and No. 2 CTRS, with a fall title at the AMJ Masters. Second E.J. Harnden will retire at season's end. Saskatchewan's Mike McEwen (No. 15 world, No. 5 CTRS), Alberta's 51-year-old Kevin Koe with Olympic alternate Tyler Tardi, and Manitoba's Braden Calvert, who won three tour events, round out strong contenders.
