Men’s final matchup remains undecided after Saturday afternoon chaos at 2025 PointsBet Invitational

Team Matt Dunstone (3-1; Winnipeg) threw a wrench in the Men’s Pool B standings on Saturday afternoon at the 2025 PointsBet Invitational by handing over the pool’s leader, Team Mike McEwen (3-1; Saskatoon), its first loss.

Dunstone applied incessant pressure in the first half, resulting in a 4-1 lead at the break. In the third end, Dunstone made a clutch game-saving runback to combat four McEwen stones.

“Yeah, I think you could feel momentum shift,” said Dunstone. “Obviously in the end, but in the game as a whole a little bit, and you know, it’s nice to finally make one for them. I hadn’t been making many of those this week, so it was nice to finally make one.”

Dunstone kept his foot on the gas for the rest of the game, hardly leaving any room for McEwen to catch up. ‘The Sherriff’, as they call him, made quite the pick off the top in the sixth that led to another three points in their favour.

“That one’s gross,” Dunstone said. “You know, generally speaking, you’re going to draw the four foot for two, bunch of backing. But, when you’re feeling it, you’re feeling it and I wanted to go after it, I thought we were always going to get two at the very worst and outside chance of three, I obviously glad we chose that shot.”

Dunstone’s crew maintained a solid performance throughout the game and made it clear right from the first end that the game was his.

“It happens subconsciously, I guess,” he said. “You’re thinking a lot less, just going out and throwing. You just you feel like you’re in full control in the hack and then you know exactly what the rock is going to do.

“We needed this. We had a horrific game last night, one to forget, and, you know, just proud of the group for bouncing back, playing against a great team. Came out and brought it today.”

Of the last ten matchups between the two, Dunstone improves his record to 9-1 against McEwen after today’s win.

The win complicates the road to the final, with a potential for a three-way tie in Men’s Pool B. The results of Winnipeg’s Team Jordon McDonald’s (2-1) faceoff with Team Sam Mooibroek (0-3; Whitby, Ont.) this evening will determine who moves on for a chance to claim the PointsBet Invitational’s top $35,000 prize, with Team Dunstone, Team McEwen and Team McDonald all still in contention as of Saturday afternoon.

In other action on Saturday afternoon, Team Beth Peterson (2-2; Winnipeg) took Team Kaitlyn Lawes (2-2; Winnipeg) 11-5, while Team Kevin Koe (2-1; Calgary) bested Team Calan MacIsaac (0-4; Truro, N.S.) 7-3. Meanwhile, Team Rylan Kleiter (1-3; Saskatoon) outperformed Team Mooibroek 7-1. On Sheet C, Team Corryn Brown (4-0; Kamloops, B.C) breezed by Team Kayla Skrlik (0-3; Calgary) 10-5 on its way to the women’s final.

The 2025 PointsBet Invitational continues with draws Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday finals at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. (all times MT).

Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2025 PointsBet Invitational are available by CLICKING HERE.

TSN and RDS will provide coverage of the 2025 PointsBet Invitational. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule.

For ticket information for the 2025 PointsBet Invitational, go to www.curling.ca/2025pointsbetinvitational/tickets/.

This story will be available in French as soon as possible at www.curling.ca/fr/2025pointsbetinvitational/nouvelles/