ST. JOHN’S — It was the end of an era at the Montana’s Brier Canadian men’s curling championship on Saturday afternoon.
Newfoundland’s Brad Gushue dropped a 7-5 decision to Canada’s Brad Jacobs in the Page Playoff 3-4 game at Mary Browns Centre in St. John’s, bringing an end to the legendary skip’s incredible career.
Gushue had left no doubts that this Brier would be his final foray in elite men’s curling, and he made it an interesting run, getting all the way down to the final four before Saturday’s loss.
All told, Gushue caps his career with a record six Brier championships, the 2017 World Championship and a gold medal at the 2006 Olympic Games.
Here’s how it looked as Gushue made his way down the ice for the final time in front of the Newfoundland crowd
Brad Gushue salutes the hometown fans in St. John's in the last Brier of his legendary career. #Brier2026 pic.twitter.com/8ipSV3EGtN
— TSN Curling (@TSNCurling) March 7, 2026
It was a close battle in the 3-4 game, as Gushue scored one in the first end, Jacobs picked up a pair in the third and Gushue added another single in the fifth to see things tied 2-2 at the break.
Jacobs took control of things with three in the sixth, though, and after Gushue got a pair back in the seventh, Jacobs added another single point in the eighth to lead 6-4. The teams then exchanged single points the next two ends and Canada had the win in the books.
Jacobs, third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant and lead Ben Hebert will now face Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone in the semifinal on Sunday morning after Alberta’s Kevin Koe took a 9-7 extra end win in the Page 1-2 game.
Koe, third Tyler Tardi, second Aaron Sluchinski and lead Karrick Martin got off to a good start against Dunstone, third Colton Lott, second E.J. Harnden and lead Ryan Harnden, scoring three in the second end and adding a deuce in the fourth to lead 5-3.
Dunstone got one back in the fifth and Koe picked up one in the seventh before Manitoba tied things up 6-6 with a pair in the eighth. The teams then exchanged points the next two frames, sending things to an extra end. There, Koe put the hammer to good use, scoring two for the 9-7 win and berth in the championship final.
The semifinal between Dunstone and Jacobs can be seen on TSN at 10 a.m., followed by the gold medal final at 4 p.m.
You can keep up with all the scores on championship Sunday at www.curling.ca.
