Team McEwen and Team Dunstone clinch Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials playoff berths

Mike McEwen came into the final day of the round robin at the 2025 Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials, presented by Connect Hearing, with a calmness he hasn’t felt for a while. The skip knew exactly what was on the line and delivered by setting up his team for a playoff berth and a chance to continue chasing his elusive dream.

McEwen’s assignment was straightforward, though not simple. Win his final game of the round robin and his Saskatoon-based team — third Colton Flasch, second/vice-skip Kevin Marsh, lead Dan Marsh, alternate Brent Laing and coach Pat Simmons — would qualify for the playoffs with a 5-2 record. The unit rode a wave of momentum powered by two three-enders on its way to a 9-5 win against Winnipeg’s Team Matt Dunstone (4-3).

The victory kept McEwen’s Olympic hopes alive and marked just his team’s second win over Dunstone in their last 11 meetings.

Next, McEwen must defeat Dunstone again in the semifinal, scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. (all times Atlantic), to reach the best-of-three final series.

McEwen is regaining the form that led Saskatchewan to a 2024 Montana’s Brier silver medal, and he is displaying renewed confidence that benefits his team.

“Opening night, I definitely didn’t have my best stuff, but we got it done, and I felt different after that Saturday,” said McEwen. “I felt that way right until now. I don’t know what it is, but just a better presence — more in the moment. That helps, I think the guys feed off me.

“I’m kind of bouncing around. I’ve got good body movement and energy. It’s good for the team, and I think that helped carry us through four really tough games to get to five and two.”

It is McEwen’s first appearance at the Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials playoffs in eight years. In 2017, he was the runner-up with a different lineup.

Team Brad Jacobs (6-1; Calgary) secured a direct berth to the final before the evening draw, but also threw Team Dunstone a life preserver by defeating Team Brad Gushue (4-3; St. John’s, N.L.) 6-3, giving Dunstone another chance.

Team Gushue attempted a game-winning triple takeout, but the target stone slipped between the other two rocks, leaving Team Jacobs with two counting stones. That miss meant Gushue missed the Montana’s Canadian Trials playoffs for the first time in his career.

“They can be lethal, he can be lethal, and he’s been that way the majority of the last 10 years — a lot in his career,” Jacobs said.  “Any time you have an opportunity to eliminate a great team like that, you’ve got to take advantage of that opportunity. We played great tonight, we had a really great day, I think this was our best day that we’ve had as a team in terms of performance and executing since we’ve been here and that bodes well moving into the finals.”

Jacobs and his team have Thursday off, and will return to the ice against either Team McEwen or Dunstone for the best-of-three final, starting Friday at 7:30 p.m.

“The job’s not finished. It’s nice to grab another win there, and it did matter for us. We wanted to win that game for hammer in the final, and we were able to do that,” Jacobs said. “We got fortunate. Brad had a shot to win, but I’ll tell you at the top of the rings, it looked like he was driving that through the hole, and that’s kind of why I chuckled. I know it’s a big game and I know it meant a lot to them, but hey, when things are going your way, that’s what happens.”

In other men’s action Wednesday evening, Team Rylan Kleiter (2-5; Saskatoon) defeated Team Kevin Koe (3-4; Calgary) 8-3; and Team John Epping (3-4, Sudbury, Ont.) earned an 8-6 win over Team Jordon McDonald (1-6, Winnipeg).

Action resumes on Thursday with the women’s semifinal game between Halifax’s Team Christina Black and Team Kerri Einarson of Gimli, Man., at 1 p.m.

Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2025 Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials are available by CLICKING HERE.

TSN and RDS will provide coverage of the 2025 Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule.

For ticket information for the 2025 Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials, go to www.curling.ca/2025trials/tickets.

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