Alberta's Kevin Martin became just the 14th skip to win a Canadian men's curling championship with an unbeaten record on Sunday night at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.

Martin's half-Edmonton, half-Calgary team — third John Morris, second Marc Kennedy and lead Ben Hebert — defeated defending national and world champion Glenn Howard of Ontario 5-4 in the final of the Tim Hortons Brier.

Martin made a draw to bite the button in the 10th end to win his third Brier title, and his first since 1997. It was the first Brier victory for his teammates.

“That’s what we wanted — an out-turn draw for the win," said Martin. "It’s what you dream about.”

Alberta's 13-0 overall record matched Randy Ferbey's total in his 2003 triumph at Halifax.

It was a game of misses early on. Martin took a point in the third end when he was attempting to roll out for a blank. In the third end, Howard had a draw for two but crashed on a guard to score one.

Martin then drew for a crucial pair in the fourth end when Howard's last-rock hit attempt wrecked on a guard.

The teams traded singles in the fifth and sixth ends before a pair of blanks, followed by Howard making an open hit to score a game-tying deuce in the ninth end. That set the stage for Martin's Brier-winning draw in the 10th end.

Morris was named winner of the Hec Gervais playoff MVP award after a media vote, while Howard was given the Shot of the Week award for his raise takeout through a tight port in Friday's Page three-four game victory over B.C.'s Bob Ursel.

Martin and Co. will represent Canada at the world men's curling championship, April 5 to 13 in Grand Forks, N.D.

“It feels good," said Martin. "Those young guys are really excited and ready to go. It will be exciting.”

Also, the team will share $144,000 in Sport Canada funding over the next two years as well as berths into the 2008 Continental Cup in Camrose and the 2009 Canada Cup in Yorkton, Sask.

Both finalists received $40,000 in cresting money.

A total of 9,223 fans took in Sunday's final, raising the total attendance for the '08 Brier 165,075 — the seventh highest total in Brier history.