Olympic gold medallist and three-time Brier champ Harnden to retire at end of season

Canada's Ryan Harnden, left, and E.J. Harnden, right, sweep ahead of the rock during the men's curling gold medal game against Britain at the 2014 Winter Olympics on Feb. 21, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

TORONTO — E.J. Harnden first fell in love with curling while watching his father compete at a hometown Brier in 1990 at the Sault Memorial Gardens.

“I was just hooked,” Harnden said Monday. “I was just like, ‘This is something I want to do.’”

The experience helped set him on a path that would include an Olympic gold medal and three national titles over a 15-year run as one of the sport’s best front-end players.

Harnden, who plays second for Matt Dunstone’s Winnipeg-based team, announced Sunday on social media that this will be his last competitive season.

A married father of two, the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., native wants to spend more time with his family.

“I still love competing but I knew deep down that this was going to be my last full season of curling,” he said.

Harnden’s announcement was made just over a week before the last Grand Slam event of his career. He’ll also make his 17th and final Montana’s Brier appearance in a couple months.

“I’ve reflected a little bit, but I think a lot of that will come after the season is over,” he said. “I have a lot of gratitude and a lot of amazing memories that obviously I will hold with me, but I don’t really want to lean into that until these next couple of events are over.”

With younger brother Ryan Harnden at lead, the “Brush Brothers” made their debut at the Brier in 2008 with father Eric Harnden at skip.

The siblings broke through at nationals two years later with cousin Brad Jacobs throwing last rock, qualifying for the Page 1-2 playoff game before falling to eventual champion Kevin Koe in the semifinal.

Fitness and weight training were becoming more of a priority in the Roaring Game at the time, and the Harnden brothers were among those leading the way.

“That’s what has allowed myself to be I think one of the top sweepers in the game for a long period of time and being able to sustain that,” Harnden said. “On the flip side of it, I’m 42 years old.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a lot of that wear and tear now.”

The Harndens, Jacobs and third Ryan Fry raised the tankard in 2013 to kick-start a remarkable 12-month period that included a Pre-Trials win, a Canadian Curling Trials title and Olympic gold at the 2014 Sochi Games in Russia.

“E.J. has the most competitive spirit and killer instinct of anyone I’ve ever played with, and it brought that out of myself and our teammates,” Jacobs said in a text message. “He held himself to a high standard and demanded excellence of himself, and that permeated throughout the team.”

Harnden played with Jacobs through the 2021-22 campaign before joining forces with skip Brad Gushue and his team from St. John’s, N.L. They won Brier titles together in 2023 and ’24 and took world silver each year.

Gushue and Harnden parted ways just over a year ago. Harnden eventually reunited with his brother on Dunstone’s team, which currently holds the top position in the Canadian rankings.

“It’s very safe to say that he has changed the game for the better with his strength, athleticism, enthusiasm, intensity and sweeping ability,” Dunstone said via text. “He’ll go down as one of -- if not the best -- sweeper that this sport has ever seen.”

Dunstone’s rink reached the final at the Brier and the Trials this year but fell to Jacobs on both occasions.

Harnden said he took a moment before the Trials final to reminisce with coach and former teammate Caleb Flaxey about all the big games he’d played over this four-year cycle.

“Whether you win or lose, you’ve got to give yourself that opportunity, and I’ve been a part of that,” Harnden said. “I thought, ‘That’s pretty cool. It’s hard to top that over a quad.’”

Harnden shot 87 per cent over his career at the Brier, Trials and Canada Cup competitions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2025.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press