Regina skip Kelly Knapp has secured his second provincial men's curling championship, punching his ticket to Canada's premier national event for the second time in four years.
A Commanding Victory in Melville
Knapp and his Regina-based team of third Brennen Armstrong, second Dustin Kidby, and lead Mat Ring captured the 2026 SaskTel Tankard title on Sunday in Melville. They defeated the defending champion, Saskatoon's Rylan Kleiter, by a decisive score of 9-4 in the final.
This victory earns Team Knapp the right to represent Saskatchewan at the Montana's Brier in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, from February 27 to March 8, 2026. They will be joined by another Saskatchewan rink, skipped by Mike McEwen, which has pre-qualified for the national championship.
Road to the Championship
The path to the title was a test of resilience. Knapp finished the round-robin with a strong 7-1 record, second only to Kleiter's perfect 8-0 performance. In the 1 vs. 2 playoff game, Knapp edged Kleiter 6-5 to earn a direct berth to the final.
Kleiter battled through the semifinal, defeating Steve Laycock's Swift Current rink to earn a rematch with Knapp for the Tankard. The final was a tightly contested affair until the later ends. After blanking the first end, the teams traded singles, and the game was tied 4-4 after eight ends.
The turning point came in the ninth end when Knapp scored a crucial two points to take a 6-4 lead. In the tenth, needing two to force an extra end, Kleiter's attempted runback with his final stone missed, resulting in a three-point steal for Knapp and the 9-4 victory.
An Evolved Team Returns to the National Stage
This will mark Knapp's second appearance at the Brier. His 2023 debut saw a respectable 4-4 round-robin record, just shy of the playoffs. The lineup has seen strategic changes since then.
While Knapp and Armstrong remain as skip and third, the team now features two-time Brier bronze medallist Dustin Kidby at second—who was an alternate in 2023—and newcomer Mat Ring at lead, who will make his first Brier appearance. Knapp's brother, Trent, who played lead in 2023, now serves as the alternate. The team is coached by veteran Brian McCusker.
The win also avenges a loss to Kleiter in the 3 vs. 4 playoff game during the 2025 provincial championship, which Kleiter went on to win.
Women's Champion Crowned
On the women's side, Jolene Campbell's Regina rink won the provincial title and will represent Saskatchewan at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Mississauga, Ontario, from January 23 to February 1, 2026. Campbell defeated fellow Regina skip Jana Tisdale in the final.
With their provincial titles secured, both Team Knapp and Team Campbell now turn their focus to the national stage, aiming to bring championship glory back to Saskatchewan.
