Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., curler off to world championships after Brier win
Curler E.J. Harnden will represent Canada in Switzerland on March 30
Even though the team from northern Ontario didn't win the 2024 Brier in Regina this year, a northerner is still getting his named engraved on the Tankard trophy again.
E.J. Harnden of Sault Ste. Marie won his third Brier this past weekend, serving as second for Team Gushue, led by Brad Gushue, out of Newfoundland.
This marks Harnden's second win with the Gushue rink and he said this time around was equally as special as the first.
"Any time you get to to step on top of the podium and raise that trophy, it's extremely special," he said.
Back in 2013, he also won with his cousin, Brad Jacobs, representing northern Ontario.
It really increases the chances of of someone from Sault Ste. Marie winning the Brier with Ryan, Brad and myself all there in the playoffs.- E.J. Harnden, curler from Sault Ste. Marie
For most of his professional career, Harnden played on the same team as his brother Ryan and with his cousin Jacobs, who served as skip.
When Jacobs announced in 2022 he would take a break from competitive curling, the Harnden brothers became free agents.
Ryan joined Matt Dunstone's rink in Manitoba. E.J. joined Canadian champion Brad Gushue and his rink out of St. John's.
Last year, the brothers played head to head against each other, with the Gushue team ultimately taking the win.
Harnden admitted that playing against his brother in the first year was tough, but by the second year, he started getting a little used to it.
"If it's not going to be myself being a part of the winning team, I'd love it to be either Ryan or Brad. So at the end of the day, we're all supporting each other"
Despite their professional rivalry, Harnden stressed their personal relationship off the ice hasn't changed.
He reminisced about curling for the northern Ontario team with his brothers, but acknowledged there's a slim chance of them reuniting as a team.
"At least it really increases the chances of someone from Sault Ste. Marie winning the Brier with Ryan, Brad and myself all there in the playoffs," he said jokingly
Random drug tests, big part of being on Team Canada
In a interview with CBC, Morning North host Markus Schwabe asked Harnden about recent news on the women's side of curling.
Briane Harris was disqualified from competing at the women's championship and suspended for four years after testing positive for a banned substance.
Harnden said random drug testing is a crucial part of being on the team and emphasized it is something he is constantly mindful of.
"I have to provide my whereabouts, where I'm sleeping, where I'm waking up every single day." he said.
"So that if and when they decide to randomly show up, that I'm where I say I am and providing the sample."
In 2013, his teammate, Matt Dumontelle, tested positive for steroids following the world gold-medal game.
Despite this, Harnden acknowledged he doesn't believe doping is as prevalent in curling as it is in other sports.
"I don't think it is something that you see or hear about, which is maybe why sometimes if it does happen or if there's you know something that's going on, it is a bit of a shock."
Harnden is preparing to represent Canada at the world championships in Switzerland at the end of this month.
However, he is taking some time off at his home in Sault Ste. Marie to recharge before the big event.
"Body, mind everything is a little bit tired still from going through the grind of the Brier." he said.
"More than anything, for me, it was right back into work and obviously spending as much time as possible with my family of two young kids. I just really want to make sure I'm maximizing the time with my wife and kids while I'm here."
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With files from Markus Schwabe