Brier Scores Today: Final draw costs Mike McEwen spot in playoffs
brier scores today show Mike McEwen’s Saskatchewan rink eliminated after a 6-3 loss to Matt Dunstone on Thursday night ET in St. John’s, leaving McEwen out of the Montana’s Brier playoffs as Braden Calvert claimed the final Pool B slot. McEwen’s 5-3 finish matched Calvert’s record but Calvert’s earlier head-to-head win secured the tiebreaker. Kevin Koe (8-0) and Matt Dunstone (7-1) finished as the top two seeds in Pool B as the round-robin wrapped up.
Brier Scores Today: Final draw fallout in St. John’s
The decisive moment came late in the 10th end when McEwen could not convert a draw to force an extra end, finishing the game 6-3 and ending his team’s week. McEwen’s rink — Colton Flasch (third), Kevin Marsh (second) and Dan Marsh (lead) — led or shared control through the first five ends and McEwen curled at 98 percent during that span, with two blank ends also part of the build-up. In the sixth, McEwen took a single and surrendered hammer momentum; Dunstone later scored a deuce to take the lead in the eighth and held through the finish.
Braden Calvert’s 8-4 win elsewhere sealed the final playoff berth because Calvert had beaten McEwen earlier in round-robin play. Dunstone’s final shot in the McEwen game removed a potential in-off and left McEwen only half the button to draw to; McEwen’s final attempt came up short as Colton Flasch pushed the stone away in visible frustration inside the guard zone. McEwen battled a head cold through the round robin but competed each draw.
Immediate reactions and other eliminations
The night also delivered other provincial disappointment: Kelly Knapp’s Regina-based rink closed its week with a 3-5 record after a 9-4 loss to Ontario’s Jayden King, finishing tied for fifth in Pool A. Knapp’s lineup — Brennen Jones (third), Dustin Kidby (second) and Mat Ring (lead) — fell short after moments of early competitiveness in their final game. Jayden King’s Ontario rink, at 5-3, clinched a playoff spot and produced several highlight shots during the week.
Observers noted the Saskatchewan picture has deep implications beyond this event: the Saskatoon-based McEwen squad, formed in 2024 and coming off consecutive 7-1 round-robin seasons in previous years, now faces an uncertain immediate future as McEwen is 45 while his teammates are younger. The night ended with Calvert celebrating his berth while McEwen’s team left the ice with the playoff door closed.
What’s next
With the round robin complete as of Thursday night ET, Pool B advances now include Kevin Koe, Matt Dunstone and Braden Calvert; playoff brackets will proceed with those seeds in place. Team dynamics for McEwen’s rink will be a story to watch, as retention and lineup decisions were already in question after the result. Expect post-event statements and roster decisions to follow in the coming days as teams process eliminations and prepare for the next season. brier scores today will remain a focal point for Saskatchewan fans assessing what comes next for their provincial representatives.
