Team Dunstone has announced their new player
Matt Dunstone has made his choice, and its E.J. Harnden.
Harnden, the recent Team Gushue castoff, will rejoin his brother Ryan at front end for Winnipeg’s Team Matt Dunstone following that squad’s dismissal of third stone B.J. Neufeld.
The elder Harnden will throw second stones, his natural position, while current second Colton Lott will move up to third position.
This is the lineup that forged a 7-1 won/loss record to capture the Red Deer Classic tour stop less than three weeks ago, when Neufeld had other commitments.
“I am honoured to be joining Team Dunstone,” said Harnden in a team release.
“I have always had a ton of respect for both Matt and Colton, and obviously, it will be special to be alongside Ryan again.
“This team has a great mix of experience, youth as well as talent. I also love the passion and energy everyone brings to the ice. I am truly looking forward to what lies ahead.”
The Harnden pickup was predicted by many, including The Curling News.
Lott has experience at third stone, and with Dunstone—the back-end pair won the 2013 Canadian Junior championship title and scored bronze at the World Juniors.
Curling fans have been amazed at the plethora of Canadian men’s teams that have fired and hired players since last April, when Team Bottcher’s Marc Kennedy, Brett Gallant and Ben Hebert walked away from their skip, Brendan Bottcher.
The maneuvering started up again with Team Koe in late September, and has affected multiple teams—with the exception of Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen.
A quick examination of Team Dunstone’s season shows three World Curling Tour victories, all of them on curling club ice. Their season won/loss record is 30-14, while their record at majors on arena ice is a below-par 8-10.
The rejigged Team Dunstone will compete at a tour event in Swift Current, Sask. from Dec. 13 to 16 to wrap up their calendar year.