Curling Brier: E.J. Harnden Savors a Last Ride as Koe and Calvert Reshape the Race
ST. JOHN’S — On the ice in St. John’s, a familiar figure pauses between shots, taking the moment in as if trying to store it. That sense of an ending — part celebration, part farewell — hangs over this curling brier because E. J. Harnden has said this will be the last one of his career.
What does E. J. Harnden’s final appearance mean for the teams in St. John’s?
It means more than one match or one week. E. J. Harnden, 42, told teammates and observers he is trying “really hard to just stay in the moment” while acknowledging “there’ll be a lot of tears when it all ends at the end of this ride. ” The Harnden brothers, E. J. and Ryan, from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, carry history with them: they won a Brier in 2013 and Olympic gold in 2014 playing second and lead respectively for Brad Jacobs. E. J. announced in December that this season is his last as a competitive curler, and he said he would not change his mind even if his team skipped by Matt Dunstone wins and earns the right to return as defending champions.
Ryan Harnden, 39, added a personal note: “It’s tough, but being his brother, I know he’s ready. ” He also spoke of visualizing a moment where the two brothers take their time leaving the ice, “hopefully at the end of the week we’re Brier champions and we’ve got one more event to go. ” The emotional weight is balanced by performance: E. J. ’s shooting percentage of 88 per cent ranked second to Brett Gallant among seconds in St. John’s, and his shotmaking — including a runback double takeout that set up a crucial lie for Dunstone — suggests a competitor still at a high level.
How are playoff spots unfolding at the Curling Brier?
Playoff positioning has been decisive for some teams and precarious for others. Kevin Koe’s Alberta rink secured a playoff spot by running its winning streak to six and topping Pool B, re-entering the playoff conversation after two years on the outside. Koe, a four-time Brier champion, said, “It feels great. It’s been a couple Briers since we’ve been even really kind of close. ” His shooting numbers — cited as high — and teammates’ support closed out a convincing win over Northern Ontario’s Sandy MacEwan.
At the same time, Braden Calvert’s rookie Manitoba team injected intrigue by beating Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen to keep its own playoff hopes alive. Calvert said, “We kind of knew going into today that this was a must-win game and treated it like that. It was nice to come out so sharp. ” Matt Dunstone’s rink, with Colton Lott at vice and the Harnden brothers on the front end, remained in pool contention as well, with Dunstone noting a key matchup ahead against McEwen and stressing the need to “take care of business in the morning. ” The top three teams in each pool of nine after preliminary play advance to Friday’s playoffs, with ties resolved first by head-to-head record and then by cumulative pre-game draw rankings.
Who will carry the human stories forward from St. John’s?
There are multiple storylines converging: retirement, veteran resurgence and rookie ambition. E. J. ’s planned retirement and the Harnden brothers’ search for one last shared high are threaded through team dynamics. Kevin Koe’s veteran steadiness is being noticed by peers — E. J. called it “a beautiful thing to see the fire Kevin still has” — while Braden Calvert’s young team has shown the kind of urgency that keeps pools unsettled. Dunstone’s squad sits in a position to push for another playoff berth, and players such as Thomas Scoffin and James Grattan remain part of a broader race that has yet to sort itself out.
Sunday’s victor in St. John’s will go on to represent Canada at the men’s world championship in Ogden, Utah, a prize that keeps competitive focus razor-sharp even as individual careers are reaching turning points.
Back at the sheet where E. J. lingers after a practice sweep, there is both calm and compression — a moment held against a season that might be the last. He has said, “That’s the way I want to end my career, is knowing that I can still play. ” As the week unfolds at the curling brier, teammates, rivals and fans will watch to see whether that ending arrives in triumph, in quiet satisfaction, or with the unmeasured emotion that only an ending can bring.
