KELOWNA, B.C. — The 2025 Montana's Brier curling tournament kicked off on Friday night at Prospera Place, bringing excitement to downtown Kelowna and drawing significant fan engagement. The night was marked by the performance of Team Canada, skipped by defending champion Brad Gushue, who effectively opened their campaign with a decisive 9-2 victory over Team Newfoundland and Labrador led by Ty Dilello.
Brad Gushue, alongside his teammates vice Mark Nichols and lead Geoff Walker, is aiming to secure his fourth consecutive Brier title. Achieving this would make him the first skip to accomplish such a feat and tie him with Randy Ferbey for the most all-time Brier titles at six. Gushue emphasized his existing motivations, stating, "If I had to pick a main motivator this week it would be making sure we're Team Canada in St. John's next year." He aims to lock down his position for the 2026 playdowns.
Gushue's strategy was evident as he fired up his team, quickly establishing control over the game. After taking a 5-1 lead at the fifth-end break, Gushue stated, "I thought our team was really firing on all cylinders and executing the shots really well." His performance set the tone for the week, as fellow competitors noted their need to keep pace with his skilled squad.
While Gushue was busy on the ice, discussions related to equipment persisted off it, impacting the overall mood leading up to the tournament. All 18 competing teams agreed not to utilize the newly approved firmer foam broomheads, citing concerns from elite players over the level of control they provided. Brad Jacobs, another top skip at the tournament, tweeted, "The entire men’s field has collaborated to protect the event’s integrity as best we can to prevent this equipment from entering the field of play – A win for all of us!" He expressed his worries about how the modified brooms might alter gameplay, particularly with elite sweepers behind the stones.
The recent contention spiraled around the so-called ‘black foam,’ with Gushue also voicing his frustrations about the situation. He stated, "I’m disappointed and disgusted with the World Curling Federation for not handling this and leaving it to the players," underscoring the need for urgent resolution before the Brier began.
On the ice, another standout was Team Manitoba under skip Matt Dunstone, who secured a solid 6-2 victory against Team Alberta, skipped by Kevin Koe. Dunstone's team showcased their ability to dominate and confirmed their status as one of the pre-tournament favorites. He mentioned, "It’s tough to hide under the radar, considering how the season’s gone." Dunstone's confidence rises as the top-ranked team is on a strong winning streak of 22 out of their last 24 games since E.J. Harnden joined the team.
The opening round also featured Team Northern Ontario, led by John Epping, who found themselves engaged in overtime against Team New Brunswick. Epping noted the intensity of the competition when he said, "We’re an Olympic-level sport and there’s a lot on the line." Epping managed to secure the win, stepping up significantly as the tournament progressed.
Throughout the evening, the crowd at Prospera Place embraced the electric atmosphere, with attendance reaching 4,210. Gushue remarked about the acoustics, noting how the venue amplifies the energy, making it challenging to communicate effectively with his team during games.
The current Brier structure means the action doesn’t slow down. The round-robin continues through Thursday night, culminating with the final match set for March 9. The stakes are high, as successful teams will secure their standings for next year's playdowns. Gushue's hopes to clinch another championship outright would provide him and his team with undeniable momentum heading forward.
Other matches saw Manitoba’s Reid Carruthers achieve a hard-earned 6-5 win over Cameron de Jong of British Columbia, as well as the spirited comeback from Team BC, who rallied but fell short against Carruthers, finishing the match 6-5. The excitement builds as the tournament progresses, with multiple highly anticipated matchups scheduled.
Gushue and his team are determined to carry this momentum throughout the event, aware of the challenges they face from both opponents and the traditional concerns surrounding sweeping technology. Team Canada’s performance on opening night has fueled anticipation for what lies ahead. Curling fans are sure to witness high-stakes competition, history-making moments, and perhaps even the emergence of new stars as the Brier evolves.