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The annual Montana’s Brier 2025 curling showdown is set to kick off this weekend in Saskatchewan, uniting 18 elite teams from across Canada. This renowned tournament not only boasts a substantial cash prize but also offers its winner a coveted berth at the World Men’s Curling Championship.
Eighteen teams will vie for glory at the 2025 edition. Fourteen teams earned their spots through provincial and territorial championships, while last year’s champion—Team Canada—and three wild card entries round out the lineup. Notably, the defending champions led by Brad Gushue return after their 2024 triumph.
Curling enthusiasts can catch all the live excitement on TSN, the exclusive broadcaster for Montana’s Brier. Additionally, TSN Direct and Curling World will offer live streams, making it easy for fans to follow the matches on any device. International viewers might find coverage on platforms like Curling World OTT or via regional sports networks, depending on local broadcast rights.
Some of the headline teams include:
Team Canada – Skipped by Brad Gushue
Team Alberta (Koe) – Featuring the experienced Kevin Koe
Team Manitoba (Dunstone) – Led by Matt Dunstone
Team Saskatchewan (McEwen) – With Mike McEwen at the helm
Team Ontario – Under the leadership of Sam Mooibroek
For a full breakdown of all competing teams and players, refer to the complete roster.
The tournament launches on Friday, February 28, 2025, and will culminate with the championship final on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Teams are organized into two pools, competing in a round-robin format before advancing to the playoffs.
Key Matchups Include:
Opening Draws (Feb 28, 9:30 p.m. ET):
Manitoba (Carruthers) vs. British Columbia
Canada vs. Newfoundland and Labrador
Playoff Rounds (March 7):
Page 1/2 Qualifiers at 3:30 p.m. ET
Page 3/4 Qualifiers at 9:30 p.m. ET
Championship Weekend (March 9):
Semifinal at 2:00 p.m. ET
Final at 8:00 p.m. ET
Recent roster changes have cast a shadow over Gushue’s rink. In October, longtime teammates Mark Nichols and Geoff Walker parted ways with E.J. Harnden—a key contributor to their previous national championships—and welcomed Brendan Bottcher. Although this strategic move initially promised high potential, the team’s record has faltered, posting a disappointing 2-7 in recent Grand Slam events, including a 0-4 run in their latest outing.
This instability has paved the way for formidable challengers like Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone and Alberta’s Brad Jacobs, with Northern Ontario’s John Epping and Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen also emerging as strong contenders. All are ranked in the top nine according to statistical expert Ken Pomeroy’s global power ratings, with both Dunstone and Jacobs currently positioned ahead of Gushue, whose form has dipped.
Brad Jacobs, in particular, presents a compelling challenge. Now based in Calgary, the 39-year-old skip previously led Northern Ontario to a Brier victory in 2013 before capturing Olympic gold in Sochi. Recently, he took charge of a reformed team featuring Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert—replacing Bottcher. Their impressive run in the last two Grand Slam finals, albeit falling short to Scottish rivals Bruce Mouat and Ross Whyte, underscores Jacobs’ rising threat.
Pool A
Team (Skip)WinsLossesAlberta (Kevin Koe)00British Columbia (Cameron de Jong)00Canada (Brad Gushue)00Manitoba (Reid Carruthers)00Manitoba (Matt Dunstone)00New Brunswick (James Grattan)00Newfoundland and Labrador (Ty Dilello)00Northern Ontario (John Epping)00Nunavut (Shane Latimer)00
Pool B
Team (Skip)WinsLossesAlberta (Brad Jacobs)00Northwest Territories (Aaron Bartling)00Nova Scotia (Owen Purcell)00Ontario (Sam Mooibroek)00Prince Edward Island (Tyler Smith)00Quebec (Felix Asselin)00Saskatchewan (Rylan Kleiter)00Saskatchewan (Mike McEwen)00Yukon (Thomas Scoffin)00
As teams prepare to face off in this prestigious event, the dynamics at the top are shifting—making Montana’s Brier 2025 a must-watch for curling fans around the world.