Matt Dunstone (Image Credit: CFJC Today/Anthony Corea)

By Marty Hastings

On pebbled ice

Dunstone picks up pieces after Olympic trials defeat, back to chasing first Brier title

Feb 27, 2026 | 4:43 PM

KAMLOOPS — Matt Dunstone was shattered after dropping the Canadian Olympic Curling Trials final to Brad Jacobs in November in Halifax. 

The Kamloops skip tended to his wounds during a recent seven-week break and said he feels ready to chase the Tankard at the Montana’s Brier, which is scheduled to run from Friday (Feb. 27) to March 8 in St. John’s, Nfld. 

“Everyone else can think what they want,” said Dunstone, whose Manitoba team is ranked second in Canada and fifth in the world. “At the end of the day, we know if we come out and play well, we have as good of a chance – if not the best – of anybody to win. This long break is going to do wonders for us. I think it was very necessary.” 

Dunstone storylines abound. 

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Second E.J. Harnden is retiring at the conclusion of this season, marking the end of this iteration of Team Dunstone, a rink that qualified for three Grand Slam finals this season – winning one of them – and finished atop the podium the PointsBet Invitational in Calgary. 

The gut-wrenching defeat at Olympic Trials joins a list of painful losses that includes a soul-crusher to Jacobs in the Brier final last year in Kelowna. 

Exorcising demons with a last-gasp Brier triumph would make for great TV – and an even better celebration. 

“With this team, there are a lot of rallying points,” Dunstone said. “Me and Colton [third Colton Lott] are hungrier than ever to get our first. It’s been 13 years for Ryan [lead Ryan Harnden] to get his second and we’ve got E.J.’s last one. This team has been through a lot in the 16 months that we’ve been together. To finish on this note and get a crack at the World championship would be very fitting.” 

Dunstone is scheduled to open its tournament against New Brunswick on Saturday. 

The Manitoba rink is slated to play Team B.C. on Sunday in a Kamloops curling pebbled ice bonanza. 

Kamloops Curling Club members Jared Kolomaya, Coburn Fadden and Mitchell Kopytko belong to Team B.C., along with Richmond skip Cody Tanaka. 

Dunstone was master of ceremonies at Kolomaya’s wedding, played with Fadden and sponsored his junior team and knows well KCC assistant ice technician Kopytko. 

“I’ve got that one circled for Sunday night already,” Dunstone said. “I hope they have an awesome Brier outside of Sunday night. I’m super happy for them that they get to experience this and I’ve chatted with them a little bit on what to expect. But, hell, going into this Brier with this atmosphere and with the storylines, I’m not even sure I know what to expect yet.” 

Dunstone, participating in his eighth Brier, said this year’s edition of the men’s national curling championship – Brad Gushue’s swan song – may boast the greatest atmosphere in curling history. 

“I think it probably will end up being one of – if not the – best Briers of all time due to that,” Dunstone said. “We’re not in the same pool, so hopefully we’re going to meet in the playoffs at some point. I would love nothing more than to play him in his own barn in his last Brier. [He’s] probably the best Canadian curler to ever play.”