Dunstone defeats Gushue, Jacobs prevails over Carruthers at Brier

his shot while playing Canada during the playoffs at the Brier. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)Top-seeded Matt Dunstone of Manitoba and defending champion Brad Gushue were set to face off in the Page playoff 1-2 game later that evening. The victor would secure a spot in the final, while the loser would go head-to-head against Jacobs in the semifinal the following morning.”We’ve put in a lot of work to reach this point,” remarked Alberta vice Marc Kennedy. “Our preparation has been solid, so we’ll just go out there, play freely, and give it our all.” A packed crowd of 5,309 fans was treated to a showcase of exceptional shotmaking by both seasoned teams.Carruthers executed a remarkable tap in the second end, followed by a series of flawless freezes with Jacobs, who skillfully made a tough pick to salvage a single point. The Alberta squad successfully set up a force in the fourth end, with Carruthers executing a tricky draw to score.The momentum shifted in the fifth end when Alberta’s Catlin Schneider’s takeout attempt overcurled, allowing Jacobs to secure two points and take a 3-1 lead. Jacobs continued his dominant performance with a double takeout to set up a blank end, but Carruthers’s skip missed the shot, resulting in a single point for him and the loss of the hammer. Jacobs capitalized on this opportunity with another double takeout, increasing his lead to 5-2.Despite being forced to settle for a single point in the eighth end, Carruthers managed to tie the game in the ninth after Jacobs missed a peel attempt. Kennedy commented on Jacobs’ rare error, acknowledging that it happens even to the best, but praised Carruthers for making a tremendous shot on his final stone, setting up an exciting even game going into the final end.Jacobs maintained his perfect record in the round-robin phase, with his sole loss coming from Gushue in an early qualifier game. Carruthers, who posted a 6-2 record in the round-robin matches, secured his spot in the playoffs with a victory over Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen.Carruthers acknowledged a few “half-shots” that influenced his team’s performance, expressing disappointment in the loss but acknowledging the talent and strength of the opposition. He commended his team for their performance throughout the week, expressing pride in their achievements.Gushue aims to secure his fourth consecutive victory at the national men’s curling championship and his seventh overall. Jacobs, who clinched a Brier title in 2013, formed a new team with Kennedy, Brett Gallant, and Ben Hebert after parting ways with Brendan Bottcher. This team aims to outplay the best teams not just in Canada but globally.Bottcher transitioned to the second position after joining Gushue’s team, filling the gap left by E.J. Harnden, who now supports Dunstone in his quest for his first Brier title. In a separate event during the weekend, the late Ted Wyman was posthumously awarded the Paul McLean Award in honor of his significant contributions to curling journalism. Wyman’s son, Chris, graciously accepted the award during a break in the game.