Brad Jacobs and his team—third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant, and lead Ben Hebert—celebrate with the Brier Tankard after winning the final against Matt Dunstone’s Manitoba team on Sunday in Kelowna, B.C. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)
Brad Jacobs and his Alberta team pulled off a thrilling comeback on Sunday night, securing their second Montana's Brier title with a dramatic final-end performance. Facing Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone in a tense showdown, Jacobs delivered a flawless series of shots to claim a 5-3 victory, capping off an unforgettable night of curling.
A Perfect Finish
Trailing by one point with the final shot advantage, Jacobs and his team needed to execute flawlessly. They did just that, making eight consecutive perfect shots. His final move—a precise pick for three points—sealed the win, setting off an emotional celebration on the ice.
"It was one of the best ends we've played all week," said coach Paul Webster. "But the truth is, they’ve been playing like champions all tournament long. That last end was just the final piece of the puzzle."
Dunstone’s squad, which included Colton Lott, E.J. Harnden, and Ryan Harnden, tried to force an extra end by positioning their stones strategically around the button. But Jacobs and his teammates—Ben Hebert, Brett Gallant, and Marc Kennedy—kept their cool. A soft tap with Jacobs' first rock set the stage, and when Dunstone's freeze attempt left a slight opening, Jacobs struck, sending his team into celebration mode.
A Long-Awaited Victory
Jacobs' triumph marks his first Brier championship since 2013. Jacobs was brought in for moments like this after joining the team last spring and replacing Brendan Bottcher.
"It was like swapping a first-line centre for another," Webster explained. "And when we needed him most, he delivered."
Alberta remained undefeated in the round-robin stage, but after a loss in the qualifiers, they had to fight through four straight elimination matches. Their resilience paid off, culminating in a semifinal win over Canada’s Brad Gushue, who had been aiming for his fourth consecutive Brier title.
"We never quit," Jacobs said. "No matter what, we always fight until the very last shot."
A Game of Precision
The championship match started cautiously, with four blank ends as both teams focused on strategy. Dunstone took the first lead with a well-placed draw for two points. Jacobs responded with a single before stealing another when Dunstone’s attempt at a double takeout jammed. A single from Manitoba in the ninth end set the stage for the thrilling conclusion, but Jacobs' team proved unstoppable in the final moments.
"They just placed their rocks better than us," Dunstone admitted. "I wasn’t good enough for my team down the stretch."
A Record-Breaking Night
The victory was a historic one, with Kennedy earning his fourth Brier title, while Gallant and Hebert claimed their fifth. Jacobs’ win also secured Alberta’s spot in the 2026 Brier and a place in the upcoming world championship in Moose Jaw.
A sold-out crowd of 5,483 fans witnessed the electrifying final, pushing overall attendance to 89,108. The Alberta team took home $108,000 of the $300,000 prize pool, with Dunstone’s rink earning $60,000 and Gushue’s team collecting $40,000.
