Recent runners-up Dunstone, McEwen among Draw 2 winners at Brier

Recent runners-up Matt Dunstone and Mike McEwen continued to chase an elusive Canadian men's curling title with wins in Draw 2 on Saturday.

Dunstone's Manitoba team, which finished second to Brad Jacobs at the Montana's Brier in 2025 and was also second in 2023, opened its account at this year's event with a 5-3 win over New Brunswick's Dean Grattan.

McEwen, who was runner-up in 2024, defeated Jamie Koe of the Northwest Territories 11-5.

Dunstone, who also finished second to Jacobs in the Canadian Olympic curling trials, says his team is hungry for a title.

"Every time this team steps out onto the ice we feel like we're taking steps forward and everyone amongst this group has played in every (big) game that Canadian curling has to offer," he said.

"This group's beyond ready and it's going to be an exciting week to see when that time comes, because in the grand scheme of things there's no guarantees — you just get back out on the horse and you keep on grinding."

McEwen, who had a 7-1 round-robin record in 2025 before being eliminated early in the playoffs, stole two in the fourth end and three more in the seventh en route to his victory.

"If you write a book on it, it would be a book of perseverance," the 45-year-old McEwen said of his path back to the Brier. "It would be a hell of a story.”

"Yeah, I'm still fighting. It took me a while to get my confidence back this year (after undergoing off-season knee surgery). I think probably physically I got there before the mind did. And so a lot's changed for me since the Christmas break and having a good month and a half to prepare for this."

Meanwhile, Kevin Koe and his Alberta rink opened a tight game with a four-point seventh end in an 8-2 win over Manitoba's Braden Calvert.