ST. JOHN’S — The final four is set at the Montana’s Brier Canadian men’s curling championship, and it’s safe to say there will be plenty of star power on hand during championship weekend at Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s.
The Page Playoff 1-2 game will feature Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone taking on Alberta’s Kevin Koe, while the 3-4 game will feature Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue against Canada’s Brad Jacobs.
Dunstone and his rink of third Colton Lott, second E.J. Harnden and lead Ryan Harnden booked their spot in the 1-2 game with a 7-5 win over Gushue, third Mark Nichols, second Brendan Bottcher and lead Geoff Walker.
It was a close contest throughout, as Gushue picked up a deuce in the second end and Dunstone two in the fifth to see things tied up 3-3 at the break. The teams then exchanged single points the next three ends to see Gushue up 5-4 coming home, but like he did against Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen a day earlier, Dunstone would put together a great 10th end, scoring three for the win.
The other Page 1-2 playoff saw Koe, third Tyler Tardi, second Aaron Sluchinski and lead Karrick Martin defeat Jacobs, third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert 7-4.
Trailing 2-1, Jacobs scored a pair in the sixth to take the lead, but Koe came right back with three in the seventh to go ahead 5-3. Jacobs picked up one in the eighth, but Koe replied with a single point in the ninth and then stole one in the 10th to secure the victory.
Gushue dropped down to the Page 3-4 playoff against Ontario’s Jayden King and led 5-4 through six ends before picking up three in the seventh to take control of things. King got two back in the eighth, but a Gushue four-spot in the ninth would finish things off with a 12-4 win.
Things were just as comfortable for Jacobs in their 3-4 playoff against Manitoba’s Braden Calvert, with a deuce in the second end giving Canada a 3-1 lead before steals in the sixth and seventh made it a 5-1 game. Calvert scored one in the eighth, but Jacobs added single points the final two ends for the 7-3 victory.
The Page 3-4 game between Gushue and Jacobs takes place at 11 a.m. Saturday and will see the winner advance to the semifinal and the loser eliminated. The Page 1-2 game between Dunstone and Koe goes at 5 p.m. and has the winner advance to the final and loser move to the semifinal.
Championship Sunday sees the semifinal at 11 a.m. and Montana’s Brier gold medal final at 5 p.m.
