Canada's 'Broom Brothers' Embrace Final Curling Worlds Together in Utah
Canadian curling's celebrated 'Broom Brothers,' Ryan and E.J. Harnden, are savoring what they call 'bonus' time at the 2026 LGT World Men's Curling Championship in Ogden, Utah. This marks their last competitive week together before E.J. Harnden retires from the sport, capping a storied partnership that has thrilled fans across the nation.
A Sentimental Journey for the Harnden Siblings
Ryan Harnden, 39, expressed gratitude for this unexpected opportunity, stating, "Yeah, seems like a bonus for us." He reflected on their performance at the recent Montana's Brier in St. John's, Newfoundland, where they focused on the game rather than the emotional weight of their impending separation. "I thought we did a wonderful job there at the Brier of not thinking too much about the end result of it being our last Brier together and our last games together," Ryan said. "I thought about it a lot leading up to the Brier but was able to kind of push it aside."
However, in Ogden, the finality is palpable. After this week, E.J., 42, will hang up his slider, ending an era in Canadian curling. Despite this, E.J. remains upbeat, emphasizing that the worlds feel like a bonus. "I feel amazing — couldn't feel better, to be honest," he declared. "Going into the worlds, I have a ton of excitement and there's no real emotions. I'm going to take the same mindset that I did going into the Brier and into the worlds, which is nothing's changing. And I'm going to play the same way like I always would."
Lightness and Excitement Define Their Final Chapter
E.J. Harnden elaborated on his positive outlook, noting a renewed sense of enthusiasm. "I have had this conversation with a few people over the last number of weeks and number of days," he continued. "The worlds just feels like it's a bonus. There's just a very sort of lightness that I feel and excitement that I feel. I haven't felt this way in a number of years."
He highlighted the perfect script for his retirement, having won a Canadian championship alongside his brother Ryan and teammates Matt Dunstone and Colton Lott. "I could not have written this any better to be able to win a Canadian championship in my last year of competitive curling alongside my brother, Ryan, and sharing that with Matt and Colton for their first Canadian championship." A victory at the worlds would provide an even more spectacular finale, potentially placing them atop both Canadian and global curling.
Team Dunstone's Resurgence in Utah
Meanwhile, Team Dunstone, featuring the Harnden brothers, faced challenges over the weekend with consecutive losses to Scotland's Ross Whyte and USA's John Shuster. After a strong 2-0 start on Friday, they fell 8-3 on Saturday and 9-3 on Sunday, making Monday's games crucial for their championship hopes.
The team responded with authority, securing a 9-2 win over Poland's Konrad Stych in the morning session. Capitalizing on a rare mistake by Stych in the fifth end, Canada scored two points, then stole three in the sixth and two more in the seventh to dominate the match. This victory propelled Dunstone to a 3-2 record, with an evening game against Japan's Yanagisawa Riku offering a chance to build momentum.
The star-studded front-end, led by the Harnden brothers, played a pivotal role in this rebound, showcasing the skill and camaraderie that have defined their careers. As they navigate this final week together, the 'Broom Brothers' aim to leave a lasting legacy on the ice, blending competitive fire with heartfelt appreciation for their shared journey.
