Did Mike McEwen’s team fall short once again at the Brier?
Yes, Mike McEwen’s quest for a Canadian men’s curling championship came to an end on March 5, 2026, at the Montana’s Brier in St. John’s, Newfoundland. His team finished with a 5-3 record but lost their final game against Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone with a score of 6-3, which eliminated them from playoff contention.
The loss was particularly disappointing for McEwen, as his team had tied with Braden Calvert’s team in terms of record but lost the crucial head-to-head matchup. Calvert’s team secured the final playoff spot in Pool B due to a better Last Stone Draw rank, leaving McEwen and his teammates from the Nutana Curling Club in Saskatoon once again without a chance to compete for the championship.
This marks McEwen’s second consecutive disappointing exit from the Brier, a tournament that has seen Saskatchewan struggle for decades. The province has not won a Brier title since 1980, when the Rick Folk rink captured the last Canadian championship for Saskatchewan. The ongoing drought continues to weigh heavily on the curling community in the province.
During the round robin, McEwen demonstrated impressive skill, curling at 98 percent for the first five ends of the game against Dunstone. However, despite his strong performance, the pressure of the final shot proved too much, as his teammate Colton Flasch expressed frustration after the rock was pushed away just within the guard zone.
Kelly Knapp’s team also faced elimination, finishing with a 3-5 record, further emphasizing the challenges faced by Saskatchewan teams in this year’s competition. As the championship round of the Brier begins on March 6, 2026, the focus shifts to the remaining teams, including Alberta’s Kevin Koe, who boasts an impressive 8-0 record, and Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone, who stands at 7-1.
McEwen, now 45 years old, has been a prominent figure in Canadian curling, but the recent results raise questions about his future in the sport. It is important to mention that he was battling a head cold during the tournament but felt well enough to compete. As fans reflect on this latest chapter, they are left to wonder when Saskatchewan will finally break its long-standing championship drought.
As the Brier progresses, the narrative of Mike McEwen and his team serves as a reminder of the fierce competition in curling and the unpredictability of sports. Details remain unconfirmed regarding McEwen’s plans for the future, but the disappointment of this year will surely linger in the minds of his supporters.
