The 1968 Macdonald Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship was held March 4–8 at the Kelowna Arena in Kelowna, British Columbia. A total of 25,813 fans attended the event.[5]
At the time, Kelowna was the smallest city to have hosted the Brier.[6] The city had been trying since 1961 to host the event, and was finally selected after a successful pitch to Brier trustees at the 1967 Brier.[7]
Team Alberta, who was skipped by Ron Northcott captured the Brier Tankard by finishing round robin play with a 9-1 record. This was Alberta's tenth Brier championship overall and the second one won by Northcott's rink, who also won the Brier two years prior in 1966. Northcott's rink would represent Canada in the 1968 Air Canada Silver Broom, which was the men's world curling championship.
Alberta won the championship by winning their game against Northern Ontario in the last draw. A loss would have forced a tiebreak match against Saskatchewan, who were runners-up, with an 8–2 record.[6] Prince Edward Island finished in third with a 7-3 record, which at the time was PEI's best Brier finish.[8]
Ice conditions at the event were considered poor, with the ice on Thursday being so bad that "sweeping power was nullified".[9]
Manitoba's 22–5 victory over British Columbia in Draw 4 was the last time a team scored 20 or more points in a Brier game until 2025, which was also held in Kelowna.
Teams
The teams are listed as follows:[10]
Alberta | British Columbia | Manitoba | New Brunswick |
Calgary CC, Calgary Skip: Ron Northcott Third: Jim Shields Second: Bernie Sparkes Lead Fred Storey | Richmond WC, Richmond Skip: Bob McCubbin Third: Jack Tucker Second: Ed Trimble Lead: Keith Issac | Dauphin CC, Dauphin Skip: Burke Parker Third: Lloyd Yerama Second: Roy Berry Lead: Jack Yuill | Fredericton CC, Fredericton Skip: Jim Ayer Third: Ron Ketch Second: Jim Anderson Lead: Frank Ayer |
Newfoundland | Northern Ontario | Nova Scotia | Ontario |
St. John's CC, St. John's Skip: Bill Piercey Third: Frank M. Stent Second: Thomas A. Warren Lead: William C. Roy | Geraldton CC, Geraldton Skip: Herbert Pile Third: Len Tremblay Second: Ross Davis Lead: D. Wayne Downey | Mayflower CC, Halifax Skip: Don Flemming Third: Chuck Piper Jr. Second: Gregory Jeans Lead: David Conrad | St. Thomas CC, St. Thomas Skip: Don Gilbert Third: Al Zikman Second: Jimmy Waite Lead: Dick Donald |
Prince Edward Island | Quebec | Saskatchewan |
Charlottetown CC, Charlottetown Skip: Alan Smith Third: Doug Bell Second: Bob Dillon Lead: Merrill Wiggington | CFB Bagotville CC, Chicoutimi Skip: Bill Tracy Third: Earl Carson Second: Alan R. Sully Lead: Ed Wood | Avonlea CC, Avonlea Skip: Bob Pickering Third: Jack Keys Second: Garnet Campbell Lead: Gary Ford |
Map of teams

Provincial Winners
Round Robin standings
The final standings were as follows:[8]
Round-robin results
Draw 1
Monday, March 4, 4:00pm[11]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Quebec (Tracy) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Saskatchewan (Pickering) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Newfoundland (Piercey) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
Alberta (Northcott) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Ontario (Gilbert) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
Manitoba (Parker) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Draw 2
Monday, March 4, 11:00pm[11]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Alberta (Northcott) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14 |
Nova Scotia (Flemming) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
New Brunswick (Ayer) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
Saskatchewan (Pickering) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Newfoundland (Piercey) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
British Columbia (McCubbin) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Prince Edward Island (Smith) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
Quebec (Tracy) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Ontario (Gilbert) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
Northern Ontario (Pile) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Draw 3
Tuesday, March 5, 12:00pm[12]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Nova Scotia (Flemming) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
British Columbia (McCubbin) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Newfoundland (Piercey) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
Ontario (Gilbert) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Manitoba (Parker) | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
Northern Ontario (Pile) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Alberta (Northcott) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
Quebec (Tracy) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
Draw 4
Tuesday, March 5, 5:30pm[12]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Manitoba (Parker) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 22 |
Newfoundland (Piercey) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
British Columbia (McCubbin) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
Quebec (Tracy) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Alberta (Northcott) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
New Brunswick (Ayer) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Nova Scotia (Flemming) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Ontario (Gilbert) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
Draw 5
Wednesday, March 6, 5:30pm[13][14]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Saskatchewan (Pickering) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Alberta (Northcott) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Quebec (Tracy) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
Ontario (Gilbert) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 11 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Nova Scotia (Flemming) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Manitoba (Parker) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
Draw 6
Wednesday, March 6, 11:00pm[13]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Prince Edward Island (Smith) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
Alberta (Northcott) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Ontario (Gilbert) | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
New Brunswick (Ayer) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
British Columbia (McCubbin) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
Saskatchewan (Pickering) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Quebec (Tracy) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
Manitoba (Parker) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Final |
Northern Ontario (Pile) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Nova Scotia (Flemming) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
Draw 7
Thursday, March 7, 12:00pm[15]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
New Brunswick (Ayer) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
Manitoba (Parker) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Quebec (Tracy) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Northern Ontario (Pile) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Newfoundland (Piercey) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
Nova Scotia (Flemming) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Ontario (Gilbert) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Saskatchewan (Pickering) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
Draw 8
Thursday, March 7, 5:30pm[15]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Newfoundland (Piercey) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
Quebec (Tracy) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Manitoba (Parker) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
Saskatchewan (Pickering) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Ontario (Gilbert) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Prince Edward Island (Smith) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Alberta (Northcott) | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
British Columbia (McCubbin) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
Draw 9
Thursday, March 7, 11:00pm[15]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Alberta (Northcott) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
Ontario (Gilbert) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Nova Scotia (Flemming) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
Quebec (Tracy) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
New Brunswick (Ayer) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
Newfoundland (Piercey) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
Draw 10
Friday, March 8, 12:00pm[8][16]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Nova Scotia (Flemming) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
New Brunswick (Ayer) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Manitoba (Parker) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
Alberta (Northcott) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
British Columbia (McCubbin) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
Ontario (Gilbert) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Saskatchewan (Pickering) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
Newfoundland (Piercey) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Draw 11
Friday, March 8, 5:30pm[8]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
British Columbia (McCubbin) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
Manitoba (Parker) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Saskatchewan (Pickering) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 |
Nova Scotia (Flemming) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Quebec (Tracy) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
New Brunswick (Ayer) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
Northern Ontario (Pile) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
Alberta (Northcott) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 13 |
Awards
All-Star Team
The media selected the following curlers as All-Stars:[17]
Bernie Sparkes became the first player to be selected to the all-star team three times as he was selected the two previous years as well.
Ross G.L. Harstone Award
The Ross Harstone Award was presented to the player chosen by their fellow peers as the curler who best represented Harstone's high ideals of good sportsmanship, observance of the rules, exemplary conduct and curling ability.[18]
Records
Prince Edward Island's 17-16 extra end victory over Newfoundland in Draw 11 tied the record for the highest scoring game in Brier history.[19] This was also matched in 1932 with Ontario's 17-16 win over New Brunswick and in 1957 with Saskatchewan's 30-3 victory over New Brunswick.
References
External links
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Macdonald Brier | 1920s | |
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1930s | |
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1970s | |
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Labatt Brier | |
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Nokia Brier | |
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Tim Hortons Brier | |
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Montana's Brier | |
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