Koe Blasts His Way Into “Fun” Brier Curling Finale

With files from Curling Canada

ST. JOHN’S, NL – On an afternoon filled with emotion, the Saturday evening Brier ice was filled with drama.

After nearly 11 ends of roller-coaster curling, it was Alberta’s Kevin Koe who defeated Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone 9-7 in the Page 1 vs 2 playoff at the Mary Brown’s Centre.

The Calgary squad are now into Sunday’s championship final (6:00 p.m. ET, TSN) where they will battle the winner of this afternoon’s semifinal (12:00 p.m. ET, TSN) between Dunstone and defending Brier champion Brad Jacobs.

Koe didn’t need to throw his last stone, as Dunstone’s last-ditch draw attempt to the button was wide and wrecked on a corner guard.

The veteran Koe, winner of the Brier Tankard four times previously, had made a simply stunning lengthy straight-back raise double-takeout with his first shot of the extra frame.

Koe will attempt to become just the second skip to win five Brier titles, trailing only Brad Gushue, who played his last-ever high-performance curling game earlier Saturday and was given an emotional sendoff from the sellout crowd, after losing the Page 3-4 playoff to Jacobs’ Team Canada.

“It’s going to be fun,” said Koe, who last won the Brier Tankard in 2019 and – just like that year – heads to the 2026 final without a loss. 

“I mean, these are the games I look forward to personally, and it feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve been in one (2022 in Lethbridge, Alta.). I’m excited for the opportunity.”

“We battled,” said Dunstone, who just missed a raise-double-takeout attempt of his own in the 10th end that would have won the game. 

“We were just up against it all game, and just missed a shot to win by a centimetre. But, I mean, that’s the beauty of being in the one-two game. We won it last year, it didn’t work out for us. You never know what’s good for you.”

Jacobs’ Olympic champions are attempting to win their second straight Brier by winning four straight elimination games. Prior to last year’s shootout in Kelowna, B.C., this had never been done before.

Koe is supported by youthful Tyler Tardi – Jacobs’ Olympic alternate – as well as Aaron Sluchinski and Karrick Martin.

He heads into his ninth career Brier final at an age where he’s eligible to play in the Canadian Seniors.

“I mean, I’m 51 now, so I’m getting old,” Koe said with a laugh. “I’m old, officially. I was old before this event. But I’m excited for the chance to get Tyler and Aaron one (Martin won a Brier title with Brendan Bottcher in 2021). I’m feeling good.

“It’ll be my ninth final, so, I mean, I’ve been in a lot of them, so I feel like I’m throwing it good, hopefully I can carry the guys (Sunday).”

Dunstone’s first task on Sunday is daunting.

Team Jacobs defeated Dunstone in last year’s Brier final, and also defeated him three times at the Olympic Trials last November, including two straight in the best-of-three final series.