Canada's Dunstone and Lott Maintain Championship Fire as Long-Time Curling Teammates
If skip Matt Dunstone is known as 'The Sheriff' on the ice, then third Colton Lott proudly serves as 'The Deputy' in their curling partnership. These Canadian curling superstars have been virtually inseparable for the better part of fifteen years, forming one of the sport's most enduring and successful partnerships.
A Brotherhood Forged on Ice
"I couldn't be happier curling with him," said Lott, the 30-year-old native of Selkirk, Manitoba. "Then, off the ice, Matt's like a brother to me." This deep personal connection translates directly to their competitive success, creating what Lott describes as "that curling friendship bond that we have" which he finds "kind of indescribable in a way."
The two are currently competing at the 2026 World Men's Curling Championship in Ogden, Utah, where they're joined by world-renowned front-enders E.J. and Ryan Harnden, collectively known as the 'Broom Brothers.' Together, this Canadian squad is on a mission to bring home a world title that has eluded Canadian men since Brad Gushue's 2017 victory in Edmonton.
Finding Their Rhythm at the Worlds
After experiencing a weekend speed-bump in the tournament, Dunstone and Lott have rediscovered their championship form with three consecutive victories. Their Tuesday morning performance featured an 8-4 decision over China's Xiaoming Xu, who fell to 3-4 with the loss. This set up a crucial Tuesday evening matchup against undefeated Sweden (7-0), skipped by curling legend Niklas Edin.
"When I went and stepped in, you could just feel the fire right away," Lott explained about their on-ice chemistry. "We're just always on the same page, always clicking. And, especially when we play, it's very seamless and easy and a flow that is really nice."
Dominant Performances Under Pressure
Their Monday night performance against Japan's Yanagisawa Riku demonstrated just how formidable this Canadian team can be. Lott executed at a remarkable 97% rate while Dunstone scored 91%, highlighted by two sharp second-end shots from the skip that propelled Canada to an 8-3 victory.
"That was huge," Lott told reporters about Dunstone's early execution against Japan. "It was such a momentum swing, and it just put us in the driver's seat from then on. We saw the Matt (Monday night) who won the Brier—the phenomenal Matt we always see."
Tuesday morning brought more of that phenomenal performance from Dunstone, who delivered a pair of clutch shots in the ninth end to turn what had been a draw into a decisive four-end game-ender.
A Partnership Years in the Making
The Dunstone-Lott partnership traces back to their junior curling days, where they spent four successful seasons together representing Manitoba. During those formative years, they played with two different front ends—first Daniel Grant and Brand MacCuish, followed by Kyle Doering and Rob Gordon.
Now at age 30, both athletes have matured into world-class competitors while maintaining that special chemistry that first developed in their teenage years. "It's just that curling friendship bond that we have," Lott reiterated, emphasizing the intangible connection that makes their partnership so effective under pressure at the highest levels of international competition.
As Canada continues its pursuit of a world championship in Utah, the Dunstone-Lott partnership remains central to the team's success, proving that some competitive fires only burn brighter with time.
