Game Notes – Brandon

BUCKING INTO BRANDON – This weekend, for the eighth consecutive year, PBR Canada’s elite Cup Series will buck into Brandon, Manitoba. The PBR Mazergroup Chute Out, the third elite tour event of the season, will be held at Assiniboine Credit Union Place on May 1-2. The Brandon event will begin nightly at 7:00 p.m. CDT.

RELATED: Click here for the complete Brandon Game Notes. 

THIS WEEKEND’S FORMAT – The PBR Mazergroup Chute Out will feature three rounds of bull riding and is a Tier 1 event. Each rider will get on one bull in Round 1 on Friday and Round 2 on Saturday. Round 1 will be set by a random draw, Round 2 will be determined by draft. The 10 bull riders with the best combined scores will then advance to the championship round on Saturday, where they will attempt one final bull in an effort to be crowned the event champion. This weekend, one rider will have the chance to earn 140 national points in the main event, in addition to ride score points.

TETZ CONTINUES TO ROLL – While there have been two Cup Series events held so far in 2026, there has only been one rider who has ridden supreme – Nick Tetz. After winning the season-launch event in Red Deer, Alberta, Tetz continued to dominate in Lethbridge, Alberta, winning his sixth consecutive event inside VisitLethbridge.com Arena in early March. Tetz got off to a quick start in Round 1, delivering the second-best score as he covered Counting Sheep for 85.7 points. Continuing his momentum, the Albertan phenom then bested Linebacker for 85.8 points in Round 2 to punch his ticket to the championship round as the event leader. With the first pick in the championship round draft, the two-time PBR Canada Champion elected to go head-to-head with Pyper. A decision which proved dividends, Tetz made the requisite 8 with ease, scored an event-best 89.9 points to cement his victory. Additionally on the event’s opening night, Tetz rode in the tour stop’s accompanying 5/5 Bucking Battle. Tetz topped Night Fury for 84.6 points to finish third in the special round. The flawless outing in Lethbridge allowed Tetz to improve to a then perfect 10-for-10 in Canada since the 2026 began. Leaving Lethbridge with 158.5 national points, Tetz extended his lead atop the national standings to a then 352 points over No. 2 Cody Coverchuk. In the nearly two month break from Cup Series action, there have been two Touring Pro Division events. While Tetz competed at the most recent event in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, he was shutout, going 0-for-1. His first buckoff of the season.

Across all levels of competition in Canada, Tetz has gone a torrid 10-for-11, riding an unrivaled 90.91% of his draws. Tetz leads PBR Canada in round wins (5) and event wins (3). Tetz will travel to Brandon, Manitoba for this weekend’s event, still ranked No. 1 in Canada, leading new No. 2 Marshall Senger by 284.5 points. Tetz has drawn a familiar opponent in Round 1, set to attempt Pay Day for the second time in his career.

LET’S TALK TOURING PRO DIVISION – While it has been nearly two months since the Cup Series was last in action, the Touring Pro Division continued to roll, holding two events. Here is a recap of those events:

Marwayne, Alberta (April 10): As the 2026 PBR season continued in Marwayne, Alberta, Ashton Sahli showed up and showed out, going a perfect 2-for-2 to win the Marwayne PBR and crack the Top 10 in the race for this season’s Canadian Championship. Sahli got off to a quick start in Round 1, delivering the top marks when he outlasted Lil Nasty for 86.6 points. The reserved Albertan then continued his momentum in Round 2, cementing his win when he delivered the high-marked ride of the event, topping World Wide for 87.2 points. Sahli’s golden finish earned him a crucial 62 national points. He surged from No. 19 to then No. 9 in the 2026 PBR Canada Championship race, climbing within 379.5 points of the top spot. Sahli will look to continue his climb this weekend in Brandon, Manitoba, chasing his first Cup Series win of the season. He has drawn Jet Black in Round 1 of competition.

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (April 25): As a sold-out crowd watched on inside Temple Gardens Centre in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Marshall Senger showed up and showed out, going a perfect 2-for-2 to win his career-first PBR Canada event, victorious at the Moose Jaw PBR Challenge, presented by PDL. Senger was electric in Round 1, topping Nacho for 83.8 points. Positioned fourth on the event leaderboard, the 20-year-old young gun then squared off against Black Mamba in the championship round. In what proved to be a perfect pairing, Senger topped the powerful animal athlete for 86.8 points to cement the event win. Courtesy of the golden showing, Senger garnered 114 national points. He surged from No. 13 to No. 2 in the race for the 2026 PBR Canada Championship. He now trails No. 1 Nick Tetz by 284.5 points. Senger will not be in action this weekend in Brandon, Manitoba, instead competing in the United States at the 2026 PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals where he will contend for one of the final berths to the PBR World Finals.

FIVE RIDERS TO WATCH – While it may be early in the race for the 2026 PBR Canada Championship and accompanying $100,000 bonus, the action has been intense. These riders may not have claimed victory yet this year, but they have been making moves to note:

Cody Coverchuk: This season Cody Coverchuk is looking to make history, keen to tie Aaron Roy with most national titles ever won by one rider as he chases his third Championship. After a fifth-place finish at the Cup Series event in Lethbridge, Alberta, Coverchuk added a pair of seventh-place finishes at the Touring Pro Division events in Marwayne, Alberta, and Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. As a result, Coverchuk will travel to Brandon ranked No. 3 in Canada, 316 points behind No. 1 Tetz. Coverchuk has gone 7-for-12 on Canadian soil thus far in 2026, having ridden 58.33% of his animal athlete opponents. This weekend in Brandon, Coverchuk has drawn a familiar opponent in Brimstone, set to attempt the animal athlete for the second time in his career.

Griffin Koester: For 21-year-old Griffin Koester, he is chasing his first berth to the PBR Canada National Finals this November and will travel to Brandon, Manitoba, ranked inside Canada’s Top 10. After finishing a career-best second at the Cup Series event in Lethbridge, Alberta, Koester added a sixth-place result at the Touring Pro Division event in Marwayne, Alberta. He is now ranked No. 9 in Canada, 353.5 points behind No. 1 Tetz. Koester also boasts a riding percentage in excess of 50% having gone 5-for-9 (55.56%). This weekend inside Assiniboine Credit Union Place, Koester will attempt Muffin Man in Round 1.

Garrett Green: Veteran contender Garrett Green has a lot of accolades to his name, but one title that has eluded him is that of PBR Canada Champion. Across the last three events, Green has steadily racked up points, and will make his journey to Brandon, Manitoba, this weekend ranked No. 6 in Canada, 327.5 points behind No. 1 Tetz. Following a third-place finish at the Cup Series event in Lethbridge, Alberta, Green added a 12^th-place finish in Marwayne, Alberta, and third-place result in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Green has one round win on his resume thus far in 2026, and has ridden at an electric pace, going 6-for-8 (75%). This weekend at the PBR Mazergroup Chute Out, Green has drawn Counting Sheep in Round 1.

Aaron Roy: This season, Aaron Roy is seeking history, chasing his unprecedented fourth national title. A 12^th-place finish at the most recent Cup Series event in Lethbridge, Alberta, followed by a runner-up finish at the Touring Pro Division event in Marwayne, Alberta, have led Roy to rise to No. 13 in the current Canadian standings, 380.5 points back of the top spot. Keen to continue his upward climb, Roy will face a rematch in World Wide in Round 1 of the PBR Mazergroup Chute Out.

Dakota Buttar: As one of Canada’s most consistent riders the past few seasons, Buttar is hoping that 2026 will be the year he earns his third Canadian Championship. Following a pair of 13-place finishes at the Cup Series event in Lethbridge, Alberta, and Touring Pro Division stop in Marwayne, Alberta, Buttar logged his best-finish of the season when he was second at the most recent Touring Pro Division event in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Via those efforts, Buttar has climbed to No. 4 in Canada, now within 319.5 points of No. 1 Nick Tetz. Buttar has gone 7-for-12 thus far in Canada in 2026, riding 58.33% of his draws. In Round 1 from Brandon. Manitoba, Buttar will climb aboard Patiently Waiting.

PAST BRANDON EVENT WINNERS – When the Cup Series last travelled to Brandon in May 2025, Jake Gardner rode supreme, going a perfect 3-for-3 to win the Mazergroup Chute Out. Gardner, who travelled to Brandon fresh of a win on the Touring Pro Division the day prior in nearby Dauphin, Manitoba, got off to a quick start in Round 1, delivering the second-best score when he rode Red Rust for 84 points. The British Columbia native then overtook the top spot on the event leaderboard courtesy of an 86-point ride in Round 2 aboard Kraken. With the first pick in the championship round bull draft, Gardner selected a familiar opponent in Patiently Waiting. Less than 48 hours prior, said bovine athlete propelled Gardner to the win in Dauphin. Nodding with confidence, Gardner repeated his past success, reaching the requisite 8 for 86 points to clinch the victory. The win, Gardner’s second consecutive across all levels of PBR competition in Canada and third of the 2025 season, allowed him to further his stronghold on the then No. 1 rank in the race for the 2025 PBR Canada Championship. Gardner left Brandon with 128.5 national points, growing his lead to 116 points over then No. 2 Dakota Buttar.

2025 Jake Gardner
2024 Weston Davidson
2023 Aaron Roy
2022 Blake Smith

FAMILIAR WATERS – Round 1 of the PBR Mazergroup Chute Out will feature seven rematches. The riders facing familiar opponents are:

• Aaron Roy will look to record his second qualified ride in as many attempts atop World Wide. The three-time PBR Canada Champion covered the bull for 83.8 points during Round 1 of this season’s Cup Series event in Red Deer, Alberta.
• Cody Coverchuk will be eager to continue his successful ways on Brimstone. Coverchuk made the requisite 8 for 81 points atop the animal athlete this past November at the Touring Pro Division event in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.
• Dusty Golden will attempt to even the score against Canadian Cut. Golden was bucked off in 3.56 seconds by the bull at the July 2025 Touring Pro Division event in Calgary, Alberta.
• Francisco Costa will be paired with Joker On A Jack for the second time. At the July 2025 Touring Pro Division event in Czar, Alberta, Costa rode the bovine for 86 points.
• Gilmar Santana has drawn a familiar opponent in Affairs In Order. The Brazilian sensation bested the bull for 86.5 points at the 2025 Cup Series event in Brandon, Manitoba.
• Nick Tetz will be in familiar waters in Round 1 in Brandon, Manitoba when he climbs aboard Pay Day. The two-time PBR Canada Champion outlasted the bovine for a score of 85 points this past November at the Touring Pro Division event in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.
• Tanner Eno will face the last rematch during the opening round of the PBR Mazergroup Chute Out. Eno will look to improve to 1-1 against Bon Jovi. At the March 2025 Cup Series event in Lethbridge, Alberta, Eno was tossed in a quick 2.76 seconds by the animal athlete.

NEXT UP – The 2026 PBR Canada Sup Series will next travel to Hamilton, Ontario, and TD Coliseum for the PBR Hamilton Classic on Saturday, May 30. Action will get underway at 7 p.m. ET.   

PROVIDING PROTECTION – The bullfighters on hand for this weekend’s event in Brandon, Manitoba, are Jesse Byrne, Tanner Byrne and Logan Kadlec.

 

BRANDON COMPETITORS BY COUNTRY

Brazil (2) – Francisco Costa, Gilmar Santana

Canada (24) – Trinity Bear, Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Tyler Craig, Weston Davidson, Lucas Dunand, Tanner Eno, Jordan Giguere, Dusty Golden, Garrett Green, Griffin Koester, Jeremy Maisonneuve, Tristen Manning, Brock Radford, Coy Robbins, Aaron Roy, Jayden Roy, Ashton Sahli, Carter Sahli, Cauy Schmidt, Chanse Switzer, Nick Tetz, Stefan Tonita, Lonnie West

United States (1) – Tyler Villarreal

BREAKDOWN BY PROVINCE –

Alberta – Tyler Craig, Lucas Dunand, Tanner Eno, Dusty Golden, Garrett Green, Griffin Koester, Tristen Manning, Brock Radford, Coy Robbins, Ashton Sahli, Carter Sahli, Cauy Schmidt, Nick Tetz, Lonnie West; Quebec – Jordan Giguere, Jeremy Maisonneuve, Jayden Roy; Saskatchewan – Trinity Bear, Dakota Buttar, Cody Coverchuk, Weston Davidson, Aaron Roy, Chanse Switzer, Stefan Tonita.