Ontario’s Team King takes a step closer to 2026 Montana’s Brier playoffs

A week ago, the very concept of being just one win away from making the playoffs going into the final day of round-robin play at the 2026 Montana’s Brier, presented by AGI, would have been tough for a rookie player to wrap his head around.

 

And yet, that’s exactly where Jayden King’s team of Montana’s Brier debutantes from Tillsonburg, Ont., finds itself through six days in the pressure-cooker known as the Mary Brown’s Centre in St. John’s, N.L.

 

After a crucial 8-7 victory over Quebec’s Team Jean-Michel Ménard (4-3; Des Collines, Glenmore, Belvédère, Etchemin, Valleyfield) Wednesday night, the Ontario champs have the clearest path to nailing down the third and final playoff spot from Pool A.

 

King, vice-skip Dylan Niepage, second Owen Henry, lead Victor Pietrangelo, alternate Spencer Dunlop and coach Morgan Lavell will take on Saskatchewan’s Team Kelly Knapp Thursday at 2:30 p.m. (all times NT) and will clinch that berth with a victory, or a Quebec loss against Prince Edward Island’s Team Tyler Smith (3-4; Crapaud).

 

“That’s pretty good,” said King, 23, with a wide smile. “We’re pretty happy with how we played that game. We know it’s been a little bit of a roller coaster this week, but the best roller coasters go down and then they go up again.

 

“And here we are.”

 

Wednesday’s win over Quebec was a roller coaster itself, with no shortage of scary moments both ways, but it was Ontario that was able to take advantage in the crucial moments. A steal of one in the third provided early momentum, and more was added when King was able to draw for three in the seventh, and steal one more in the eighth to go up 8-5. In the ninth, though, Quebec’s last-rock thrower Félix Asselin had a chance to turn the tide with a runback attempt for a potential go-ahead four. Instead, he was just off-line and removed one of his counting stones in the ring and settle for a disappointing single.

 

That was enough to seal the deal for Ontario and set the stage for what should be a dramatic Thursday in St. John’s.

 

Already assured of playoff spots, and with a tantalizing head-to-head showdown Thursday afternoon in the offing to decide first place in Pool A, are the unbeaten duo of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Team Brad Gushue and reigning champs Team Canada skipped by Brad Jacobs, who both won their assignments on Wednesday night.

 

A win over Team Saskatchewan-Knapp (3-4; Regina) would propel Team King into that playoff mix.

 

“Team Saskatchewan’s playing well,” said King. “We saw that we were having a good game over there on (Sheet) A (against Team Gushue), and we know they’re a solid squad. But we also put together a pretty good game over here, so if we can replicate that tomorrow, it’s going to be another good one, and we’ll see who comes out on top.”

 

The best part of the scenario, said King, is that his team doesn’t require help to make playoffs — Team Ontario’s fate is entirely in its own hands.

 

“Hugely important,” agreed King. “Out here, anybody can beat anybody, and you don’t want to be sitting back at the hotel or on another sheet, worried about someone else’s game. We just have to worry about the 150 feet in front of us, and if we control our rocks, we’ll be in a good spot.”

 

Team Newfoundland and Labrador-Gushue improved to 7-0 with a hard-fought 6-5 win over Saskatchewan-Knapp, while Team Canada outlasted the other fan favourites, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Team Nathan Young (3-5; St. John’s) 10-7.

 

The other Wednesday night game saw P.E.I. turn back Nova Scotia’s Team Kendal Thompson (1-6; Halifax) 9-3.

 

Nunavut’s Team Derek Samagalski (0-7; Iqaluit) had the Pool A Bye on Wednesday night.

 

The playoff format will see the first-place team from Pool A meeting second place from Pool B, and vice versa, in the first round of the playoffs at 1:30 p.m. (all times NT) on Friday, with the winners going directly to the Page playoff 1-2 game, while the losers meet the third-place finishers in the pools Friday at 7:30 p.m. The winners of those games will advance to the Page playoff 3-4 game.

 

The standard Page playoffs commence with the winner of the Page 1v2 game on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., advancing directly to the final, and the loser plays the winner of the Page 3v4 game (scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday) in the semifinal. 

 

The semifinal (Sunday at 1:30 p.m.) winner takes on the winner of the Page 1v2 game in the gold-medal game at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. The winner will represent Canada at the 2026 LGT World Men’s Curling Championship March 27-April 4 in Ogden, Utah.

 

Alberta’s Team Kevin Koe (6-0; Calgary) has already locked up a berth from Pool B in the Page 1-2 qualifying game and will take on either Team Canada or Team Newfoundland and Labrador-Gushue on Friday afternoon.

 

The other two Pool B playoff spots will be decided on Thursday.

 

The 2026 Montana’s Brier continues Thursday with draws at 9:30 a.m.. 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (all times NT).

 

Live scoring, standings and statistics for the 2026 Montana’s Brier are available at www.curling.ca/scoreboard/.

 

TSN and RDS2 will provide complete coverage of the 2026 Montana’s Brier. CLICK HERE for the complete schedule.

 

For ticket information for the 2026 Montana’s Brier, go to www.curling.ca/2026brier/tickets/

 

This story will be available in French as soon as possible at www.curling.ca/fr/2026brier/nouvelles/