McEwen comes up short with last rock to be eliminated at Brier

Team Saskatchewan-McEwen's Kevin Marsh, Dan Marsh, Mike McEwen and Colton Flasch discuss the play during Draw 14 at the Montana's Brier Canadian men's curling championship, in St. John's, N.L., on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

With a 6-3 loss to Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone Thursday night, Saskatoon Nutana Rink’s Mike McEwen has officially been eliminated at the 2026 Montana’s Brier in St. John’s N.L.

Locked in a 2-2 tie at the 5th end break, McEwen couldn’t generate a deuce with the hammer in 6.

Following a blank in the 7th end, Dunstone took the lead scoring two of his own in the 8th.

McEwen needed just one point to force an extra end or two to win in the 10th.

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With his first stone in the final end, the skip lined up an in-off to sit shot stone. However, McEwen would miss the line, crash on a guard and be forced to draw against two Manitoba stones with his last.

His final draw attempt would not even crack the house, coming up short to give Dunstone a steal of two and the 6-3 win.

With Manitoba rink Braden Calvert winning his draw against Northern Ontario, McEwen needed a win to clinch his spot in the page playdowns.

Instead, the loss means both Saskatchewan rinks, along with Regina Highland Club’s Kelly Knapp, did not make the final six.

In Friday’s qualifiers, Brad Jacobs and Team Canada will take on Alberta’s Kevin Koe, while host favourite Brad Gushue and Newfoundland & Labrador will play Dunstone.

Calvert and Ontario’s Jayden King await the losers.

Despite having two teams in the field, 2026 now becomes the first Brier since 2023 no Saskatchewan team makes the playoffs.

The province has not won a tankard since Rick Folk’s rink brought it home in 1980 – 46 years ago.