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.

At the time, Kelowna was the smallest city to have hosted the Brier. 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.

Team Alberta, 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. Prince Edward Island finished in third with a 7–3 record, which at the time was PEI's best Brier finish.

Ice conditions at the event were considered poor, with the ice on Thursday being so bad that "sweeping power was nullified".

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 , which was also held in Kelowna.

Teams The teams are listed as follows: British ColumbiaManitobaNew BrunswickCalgary CC, Calgary Skip: Ron Northcott Third: Jim Shields Second: Bernie Sparkes Lead Fred StoreyRichmond WC, Richmond Skip: Bob McCubbin Third: Jack Tucker Second: Ed Trimble Lead: Keith IssacDauphin CC, Dauphin Skip: Burke Parker Third: Lloyd Yerama Second: Roy Berry Lead: Jack YuillFredericton CC, Fredericton Skip: Jim Ayer Third: Ron Ketch Second: Jim Anderson Lead: Frank AyerNewfoundlandNorthern OntarioNova ScotiaOntarioSt. John's CC, St. John's Skip: Bill Piercey Third: Frank M. Stent Second: Thomas A. Warren Lead: William C. RoyGeraldton CC, Geraldton Skip: Herbert Pile Third: Len Tremblay Second: Ross Davis Lead: D. Wayne DowneyMayflower CC, Halifax Skip: Don Flemming Third: Chuck Piper Jr. Second: Gregory Jeans Lead: David ConradSt. Thomas CC, St. Thomas Skip: Don Gilbert Third: Al Zikman Second: Jimmy Waite Lead: Dick DonaldPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewanCharlottetown CC, Charlottetown Skip: Alan Smith Third: Doug Bell Second: Bob Dillon Lead: Merrill WiggingtonCFB Bagotville CC, Chicoutimi Skip: Bill Tracy Third: Earl Carson Second: Alan R. Sully Lead: Ed WoodAvonlea CC, Avonlea Skip: Bob Pickering Third: Jack Keys Second: Garnet Campbell Lead: Gary Ford

Map of teams

Round Robin standings The final standings were as follows: KeyBrier champion ProvinceSkipWLPFPA Ron Northcott 9 1 119 70 Bob Pickering 8 2 98 67 Alan Smith 7 3 96 84 Jim Ayer 6 4 89 77 Don Gilbert 6 4 80 78 Bob McCubbin 5 5 85 88 Burke Parker 4 6 95 92 Don Flemming 4 6 74 85 Bill Tracy 3 7 79 97 Bill Piercey 2 8 75 118 Herbert Pile 1 9 71 105

Round-robin results Draw 1 Monday, March 4, 4:00pm

Draw 2 Monday, March 4, 11:00pm

Draw 3 Tuesday, March 5, 12:00pm

Draw 4 Tuesday, March 5, 5:30pm

Draw 5 Wednesday, March 6, 5:30pm

Draw 6 Wednesday, March 6, 11:00pm

Draw 7 Thursday, March 7, 12:00pm

Draw 8 Thursday, March 7, 5:30pm

Draw 9 Thursday, March 7, 11:00pm

Draw 10 Friday, March 8, 12:00pm

Draw 11 Friday, March 8, 5:30pm

Awards All-Star Team The media selected the following curlers as All-Stars:BRIER INDIVIDUAL AWARDS & ALL-STAR TEAMS

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.

Position Name Team Skip Ron Northcott (2) Alberta Third Jack Keys Saskatchewan Second Bernie Sparkes (3) Alberta Lead Fred Storey (2) Alberta

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.

Name Team Position Charles Piper Jr. Third

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. 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 Video: (YouTube-channel «Curling Canada»)