With just two days left in the 2025 Montana’s Brier, a trio of Sault products are still in the mix for a Canadian men’s national curling championship.
Matt Dunstone’s Manitoba rink that includes E.J. Harnden and Ryan Harnden booked a spot in Saturday’s 1V2 Page Playoff game thanks to a 6-5 win over Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen on Friday afternoon.
With things tied at three through five ends, Dunstone took the lead with a pair in the sixth end before stealing one more in the eighth end to take a 6-3 lead.
McEwen made things close late with a single in nine before stealing one more in the 10th end.
Brad Jacobs’ Alberta-based team dropped into Friday evening’s qualifier game after dropping a 7-4 decision to Brad Gushue (Team Canada) in the afternoon qualifier game.
Tied at three through six ends, Gushue scored a single in the seventh end before taking a 5-3 lead with a steal of one in the seventh end.
After Jacobs made it a 4-4 game in the eighth end, Gushue sealed the win with three in the ninth to advance to Saturday.
Gushue will face Dunstone in the 1V2 Page Playoff on Saturday.
Jacobs, meanwhile, earned a spot in Saturday’s Page Playoff action after beating Nova Scotia’s Owen Purcell 10-6 in Friday’s evening draw.
Purcell didn’t make things easy on the Jacobs rink.
After Jacobs opened up a 5-1 lead through three ends, Purcell cut the lead to 5-3.
Jacobs added a pair in the seventh end to take an 8-3 lead, but Purcell again made things close with a pair in eight and a steal of one in nine to make it an 8-6 game coming home before Jacobs scored two more in the 10th end to seal the win.
Jacobs will now face Reid Carruthers of Manitoba in the 3V4 Page Playoff game on Saturday afternoon with the winner of that game advancing to semifinal play to face the loser of the Dunstone/Gushue game on Saturday evening.
Carruthers advanced to Saturday thanks to a Friday evening win over McEwen in the other qualifier game.