Claim: Due to three teams being tied for first place, a playoff was forced, resulting in Manitoba went on to win the 1971 Macdonald Brier championship.
Evidence: The 1971 Macdonald Brier, Canada's national men's curling championship was held March 1–6 at the 2,800 seat Pavilion de la Jeunesse in Quebec City, Quebec. After the round robin, three teams (Manitoba, Northern Ontario and Saskatchewan) were tied for first place with identical 8-3 records, forcing a playoff. Northern Ontario's Bill Tetley rink won the first playoff match over Saskatchewan's Bob Pickering, but lost to a rested Team Manitoba in the final, 11-6. Manitoba Don Duguid 8 2 Northern Ontario Bill Tetley 8 2 Saskatchewan Bob Pickering 8 2 A two-round playoff was necessitated as three teams had tied for top spot in the event. Quebec City, Quebec March 1–6 Manitoba