Saskatchewan’s Team McEwen makes final three at 2024 Montana’s Brier

His nickname is Magic Mike McEwen, but the Team Saskatchewan skip didn’t need any magic Saturday. He just needed steady shot-making—including a last-rock hit-and-stick—to keep Saskatchewan alive at the 2024 Montana’s Brier, presented by AGI.

Playing in front of a loud Brandt Centre crowd in Regina, the hometown favourites out of Saskatoon built up a 5-1 lead through six ends and hung on to beat Matt Dunstone and Team Manitoba-Dunstone (Winnipeg) 6-5 in the Page 3v4 playoff game.

Saskatchewan advances to Sunday’s semifinal at noon (all times Central Standard) against the loser of Saturday evening’s Page 1v2 game between five-time and defending Montana’s Brier champion Brad Gushue and Team Canada (St. John’s, N.L.) and Team Alberta-Bottcher (Calgary) skipped by 2021 Canadian men’s champion Brendan Bottcher.

“It’s been a long road back to a semi for me, since the St. John’s Brier [in 2017],” McEwen said. “Honestly, this is the best building I’ve ever played in. St. John’s was amazing, but I wasn’t the home team. It’s going to go down as one of my best memories ever.”

The winner of the Gushue-Bottcher game moves on to the Montana’s Brier final on Sunday at 6 p.m.

Dunstone rallied from a four-point deficit after six ends to tie the game 5-5 after nine and had the crowd on the edge of their seats by forcing McEwen to make a perfect shot with his final stone to secure the win.

After a timeout, McEwen gave up the single in nine on the advice of coach Brent Laing to maintain the last rock in ten.

“That was probably my gut,” McEwen said of the decision. “You need that voice of reason to allow you to push forward. That was a good timeout moment.”

McEwen, third Colton Flasch, second Kevin Marsh, lead Daniel Marsh, alternate Pat Simmons and coach Laing, reached the Page 3v4 game by beating Jamie Koe’s Team Northwest Territories 7-0 in their Page qualifier Friday.

Dunstone, third B.J. Neufeld, second Colton Lott, lead Ryan Harnden, alternate Rob Gordon and coach Adam Kingsbury, reached the game by beating Team Manitoba-Carruthers 6-2 in their qualifier.

Saskatchewan came out aggressively Saturday, scoring two in the first end and three consecutive singles in ends four, five and six.

“You could tell Mikey was in a zone and playing very well,” said an emotional Dunstone. “We gave up a very cheap deuce in the first end and that got the ball and momentum rolling for them. We weren’t making enough shots early on. Just weren’t sharp enough.

“We got behind the 8-ball early, but to make him throw his last one (in ten) was a tribute to our team. That’s how resilient we are and why we’re one of the best teams in the world to put away.”

Dunstone scored a deuce of their own in seven and stole singles in eight and nine to put the pressure on Saskatchewan. McEwen had an outside chance at a three in the eighth, but his short runback double was only half successful and let Manitoba steal one.

“I was hoping that wouldn’t bite me,” said McEwen. “I had a shot to win the game in the eighth end, but sometimes you don’t know what’s good for you. Maybe it’s good I missed that because I had to make a shot that, for all intents and purposes, would be a shot to win the Brier. So maybe that was good what happened to me because I had to throw a precise shot to win the game.”

Dunstone had represented Team Saskatchewan at three Montana’s Briers, but there was no doubt the packed crowd’s alliance was with McEwen. After skipping Team Manitoba in four prior appearances—and Ontario once—in the Canadian men’s championship, McEwen brought his skipping skills and enthusiastic personality to Saskatchewan prior to this season.

The Sunday’s gold-medal winner will represent Canada at the 2024 LGT World Men’s Curling Championship, March 30 to April 7, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland.

The 2024 Montana’s Brier continues Saturday with the Page 1v2 game at 6 p.m.

Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2024 Montana’s Brier are available at www.curling.ca/scoreboard/

TSN and RDS will provide complete coverage of the 2024 Montana’s Brier. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule. Live coverage is also available for international streaming on TSN’s YouTube channel.

This story will be available in French as soon as possible at https://www.curling.ca/?lang=fr