Dunstone to curl for 1st Brier title after avenging Olympic trials loss to Jacobs

Matt Dunstone's Manitoba team is a win away from claiming the Canadian men's curling championship.

Dunstone ousted the Brad Jacobs foursome 7-3 in the Brier semifinal to advance to the championship game against Alberta's Kevin Koe at 6 p.m. ET in St. John's.

In late November, Jacobs and his Calgary-based team held off a spirited challenge from Dunstone's Winnipeg side in Halifax, making a hit in the 10th end for a 6-5 victory and two-game sweep in the best-of-three men's final to clinch an Olympic berth in Milan Cortina, where they recently won the gold medal.

Dunstone and vice Colton Lott have never won the national men's crown while Koe is a four-time champion. His most recent title victory was 2019.

Second E.J. Harnden has won three and lead Ryan Harnden one with other teams.

But Dunstone must beat undefeated Koe in the evening session to raise the trophy.

The winner represents Canada at the men's world championship later this month in Ogden, Utah, and gains entry into next year's Brier in Saskatoon as defending champions.