Dunstone, Jacobs Rinks Secure Top Seeds at Montana’s Brier 2025
RED DEER, Alberta – The playoff picture is set at the 2025 Montana’s brier, with Matt Dunstone’s Manitoba-based team and brad Jacobs’ Alberta-based team clinching the top spots in their respective pools after a dramatic final day of round robin play Thursday.
Dunstone Rink Triumphs Over Gushue, Secures Pool A Lead
Dunstone, with Sault Ste.Marie natives E.J. Harnden and Ryan Harnden in the lineup, defeated brad Gushue’s Team Canada 7-6 in a crucial afternoon draw. the victory gave Dunstone’s squad a 7-1 record, matching Gushue’s, but Dunstone earned the tie-breaker advantage thanks to the head-to-head win.
Trailing 5-3, Dunstone rallied with a deuce in the seventh end followed by a steal of one in the eighth to take the lead. A single point in the tenth sealed the win. Dunstone will now face Mike McEwen’s Saskatchewan team in Friday’s 1 vs.2 page playoff qualifier.
Jacobs’ Alberta Team Completes Undefeated Round Robin
Brad Jacobs and his Alberta-based rink secured their Pool B top spot with a perfect 8-0 record, defeating mcewen 9-6 in an extra end Thursday night. earlier in the day, Jacobs earned a 6-4 victory over Quebec’s Felix Asselin.Jacobs scored two in the eighth end and two more in the tenth to seal the win against Asselin.
Jacobs is set to face Gushue in the other 1 vs.2 page playoff qualifier game.
Epping’s Northern Ontario team Misses Playoffs Despite Strong Showing
John Epping’s Team Northern Ontario narrowly missed the playoffs, finishing with a 6-2 record. They concluded their round robin with a win over Nunavut’s Shane latimer, highlighted by a six-ender in the eighth. However, Dunstone’s victory over Gushue eliminated Epping from contention.
Carruthers, Purcell Advance to Qualifier Games
Reid Carruthers of Manitoba and Nova scotia’s Owen purcell finished third in Pool A and Pool B respectively, both with 6-2 and 5-3 records. They will face the losing teams from Friday’s page playoff qualifier games in a second set of qualifier games scheduled for Friday evening.
The four remaining teams will then compete in the page playoff games on Saturday.
* **”As a die-hard curling fan, what are the biggest takeaways from the round robin so far, and how do you think this will impact the playoff matchups?”**
Dunstone, Jacobs Rinks Secure Top Seeds at Montana’s Brier 2025: Q&A
Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways from the 2025 Montana’s Brier so far, answering your burning questions:
Q&A
What is the Montana’s Brier?
The Montana’s Brier is the Canadian men’s curling championship. The winning team represents Canada at the World Men’s Curling Championship.
Fun Fact: The Brier has been held annually sence 1927, making it one of Canada’s oldest and most prestigious sporting events!
Who are the top seeds and what does that mean?
Matt Dunstone (Manitoba) and Brad Jacobs (Alberta) are the top seeds from their respective pools (Pool A and Pool B). This means they finished the round robin in first place in their pool. This gives them an advantage in the playoff structure.
actionable Advice: Remember that a good start is critical.Securing a top seed allows teams a chance to win the championship without enduring an arduous journey through the playoffs.
How did Dunstone and Jacobs secure their top spots?
Dunstone defeated Brad Gushue’s (Team Canada) in a crucial match, earning the tie-breaker advantage. Jacobs went undefeated through the round robin, winning all eight of his games, including a victory over McEwen that secured his spot.
Trivia: The “deuce” mentioned in the Dunstone game refers to scoring two points in one end. This is a common and exciting occurrence in curling.
What are the playoff matchups looking like?
The 1 vs. 2 page playoff qualifier games are: Dunstone vs. McEwen and Jacobs vs. Gushue. The winners of these games advance directly to the page playoff games on Saturday.The losers will play against Carruthers and Purcell in another set of qualifier games.
Actionable Advice: Keep an eye on these qualifiers! They are often some of the most exciting matches of the tournament, as the stakes are high and the teams are evenly matched.
What happened to John Epping’s team?
John Epping’s Northern Ontario team finished with a strong 6-2 record, but they narrowly missed the playoffs because of Dunstone’s win over Gushue. This highlights the importance of head-to-head results and tie-breakers.
Fun Fact: Curling can be a game of inches! A single missed shot or strategic error can have a dramatic impact on the outcome of a game and even playoff qualification.
Who are Carruthers and Purcell and why are they vital?
Reid Carruthers (Manitoba) and Owen Purcell (Nova Scotia) finished third in their pools, with 6-2 and 5-3 records, respectively. They will face the losers of the 1 vs. 2 page playoff qualifier games in a second set of qualifier games. This gives them a chance to still advance to the page playoff games.
Actionable Advice: Underdogs like Carruthers and Purcell always make things captivating. Keep an eye on their games as they look to upset the higher-ranked teams.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Montana’s Brier 2025 playoffs unfold! watch the action to see which team will be crowned the champions.
