Team Dunstone Advances to Playoffs with Strong Round-Robin Performance
Canada's Team Dunstone has secured a playoff spot at the 2026 LGT World Men's Curling Championship with an impressive 8-2 record through the round-robin stage. The team, led by skip Matt Dunstone, entered Thursday's final day of preliminary competition holding second place in the standings, positioning themselves strongly for the knockout rounds.
The Harnden Brothers: Serious Sweepers with a Playful Spirit
While the Harnden brothers - second E.J. Harnden and lead Ryan Harnden - are known for their exceptional sweeping abilities that can "make a rock dance" with precise friction on pebbled ice, their off-ice contributions are equally valuable to team chemistry. Dubbed the 'Broom Brothers,' the siblings have developed a reputation for keeping team morale high through lighthearted pranks that have become a trademark of their curling careers.
"All the pranks and stuff that they pull on us on the road," began skip Matt Dunstone, who acknowledged the brothers' playful approach to team bonding.
Creative Pranks Foster Team Unity
Third Colton Lott detailed some of the Harndens' favorite tactics: "I guess a very mean prank that they love to do is if we're staying in a hotel room, they'll either take our clothes and just hide them. Or they'll take some of the coffee stuff - all the stuff that's all ready to go in the room - and shove it in our blanket and pillow cases and all that kind of fun. Then we find it way later when we're going to bed."
E.J. Harnden added another favorite prank to the list: "Don't forget the thermostat. They like to crank up the heat in the room."
This tradition of playful hazing isn't new for the Harnden brothers, who developed their prankster reputation during their championship-winning years with skip Brad Jacobs, their cousin. Dunstone noted with amusement that even veteran curlers haven't been immune to their antics.
Final Round-Robin Matchups
Team Dunstone faced Germany's Marc Muskatewitz in an afternoon match on Thursday, followed by an evening game against Norway's Andreas Hårstad to complete their round-robin schedule. The team's strong performance throughout the championship has positioned them as serious contenders for the world title.
Rock League: Curling's New Professional Era
As the world championship unfolds, the curling world is preparing for the launch of Rock League, a groundbreaking professional circuit created by The Curling Group. The new league represents the first mixed-gender professional curling competition and begins Monday with matches broadcast on CBC Gem and RockChannel.com.
The inaugural season features six franchises representing different global regions:
- Alpine Curling Club (Europe)
- Frontier Curling Club (USA)
- Maple United (Canada)
- Northern United (Europe)
- Shield Curling Club (Canada)
- Typhoon Curling Club (Asia-Pacific)
Each franchise will field five men's curlers and five women's curlers competing in various formats including men's team matches, women's team matches, mixed team competitions, and mixed-doubles action. The league's structure has been compared to a Ryder Cup-style format adapted for curling, marking a significant evolution in the sport's professional landscape.
As Team Dunstone focuses on their playoff run at the world championship, the broader curling community is watching both the traditional championship format and the emerging professional league that promises to reshape the sport's future.
