Brad Gushue’s Farewell Brier: A Celebration in St. John’s

The 2026 Montana’s Brier begins Friday in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, marking a poignant moment for Canadian curling icon Brad Gushue as he prepares to end his illustrious career. The event promises a blend of high-level competition and heartfelt tributes to one of the sport’s most decorated athletes.

Gushue’s Last Hurrah

Gushue, a six-time Canadian champion, world champion, and Olympic medalist, will face Quebec’s Jean-Michel Menard in the opening draw at 7:30 PM on Friday. This Brier holds particular significance as it will be Gushue’s final competitive event.

A City Embraces its Curling Hero

St. John’s is buzzing with excitement as it welcomes the Brier for the second time, the first being in 2017 when Gushue secured his initial Brier victory. The city anticipates a week filled with thrilling curling action and emotional farewells to Gushue. Thousands of fans and 18 teams will compete at the Mary Brown’s Centre.

Tributes Planned for Gushue

The host committee has planned several tributes to honor Gushue’s remarkable career throughout the tournament. These will include sharing videos and memories collected from his years in curling. A special event will be held on Sunday evening at The Patch, where Gushue will take the stage to reflect on his career and connect with fans. Organizers strategically scheduled this event early in the tournament to allow Gushue to remain focused on competition.

Other Storylines at the 2026 Brier

Beyond Gushue’s farewell, the 2026 Brier features several compelling storylines. The defending champions, skipped by Brad Jacobs, will compete shortly after their Olympic gold medal win in Cortina, Italy. Ontario’s Jayden King will become the first Black man to skip a team at the Brier, and his team includes Dylan Niepage, who is deaf and uses cochlear implants. Prince Edward Island’s Tyler Smith will field a three-man team, as they did during their provincial championship.

Playoff Format and Championship Implications

The top three teams from each of the two pools of nine will advance to the playoffs. The winner of the Brier on March 8th will represent Canada at the Men’s World Championship, taking place from March 27th to April 4th in Ogden, Utah.