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Recent runners-up Matt Dunstone and Mike McEwen continued to chase an elusive Canadian men’s curling title with wins in Draw 2 on Saturday in St. John’s.
Dunstone’s Manitoba team, which finished second to Brad Jacobs at the 2025 Brier and was also second in 2023, opened its account at this year’s event with a 5-3 win over New Brunswick’s Dean Grattan.
McEwen, who was runner-up in 2024, defeated Jamie Koe of the Northwest Territories 11-5.
Dunstone, who also finished second to Jacobs in the Canadian Olympic curling trials, says his team is hungry for a title.
Team Manitoba-Dunstone’s Colton Lott, front, and Ryan Harnden sweep a stone during 2026 Brier actions. (Paul Daly/The Canadian Press)
“Every time this team steps out onto the ice we feel like we’re taking steps forward and everyone amongst this group has played in every [big] game that Canadian curling has to offer,” he said.
“This group’s beyond ready and it’s going to be an exciting week to see when that time comes, because in the grand scheme of things there’s no guarantees — you just get back out on the horse and you keep on grinding.”
McEwen, who had a 7-1 round-robin record in 2025 before being eliminated early in the playoffs, stole two in the fourth end and three more in the seventh en route to his victory.
“If you write a book on it, it would be a book of perseverance,” the 45-year-old McEwen said of his path back to the Brier. “It would be a hell of a story.”
“Yeah, I’m still fighting. It took me a while to get my confidence back this year [after undergoing off-season knee surgery]. I think probably physically I got there before the mind did. And so a lot’s changed for me since the Christmas break and having a good month and a half to prepare for this.”
Team Alberta Skip Kevin Koe throws a rock during Draw 2 at the 2026 Brier. (Paul Daly/The Canadian Press)
Meanwhile, Kevin Koe and his Alberta rink opened a tight game with a four-point seventh end in an 8-2 win over Manitoba’s Braden Calvert.
Koe, a four-time Canadian men’s curling champion, capped his win with a steal of one in the eighth end as the two teams shook hands early.
In other Draw 2 action, Northern Ontario’s Sandy MacEwan stole one in the 10th end in a 9-8 victory over Yukon’s Thomas Scoffin.
WATCH | Breaking down Canada’s curling medals at Milano Cortina 2026:
Breaking down Canada’s curling medals at Milano Cortina 2026
CBC Olympics analyst Mike Harris breaks down Canada’s medal-winning performances in men’s and women’s curling at Milano Cortina 2026.
In the evening’s Pool A draw, six-time Canadian men’s champion Brad Gushue improved to 2-and-0 with a 10-2 win in eight ends over Derek Samagalski’s quartet from Nunavut. Gushue scored three in the first, stole two in the second and coasted to victory from there.
Jayden King’s Ontario foursome improved to 2-0 as well with an 8-3 win in eight ends over Tyler Smith’s team from Prince Edward Island. Leading 3-2 after four ends, King scored back-to-back deuces to go up 7-2 after six ends.
Defending Brier and Olympic champion Jacobs improved to 2-0 with a tough 8-6 win over Kelly Knapp’s team from Regina, Sask. Jacobs was trailing 4-2 after five ends, but scored three in the sixth and two in the eighth to grab control.
And Jean-Michel Menard of Quebec improved to 1-1 with a 7-3 win in nine ends over Nathan Young of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Action continues Sunday with three draws at the Mary Brown’s Centre.
