One of the most interesting stories in Canadian curling over the last couple of weeks have been the change of teams. There has been a significant amount of activity. It is not much of a surprise because we are at the end of an Olympic cycle and another one is commencing.
Let’s start with reigning Brier finalist and two-time World Champion Kevin Koe. It has been announced that Koe will have a new third starting next season. Johnson Tao of Richmond, British Columbia, who is taking business at the University of Alberta, and was on the Golden Bears curling team, is replacing Tyler Tardi.
Tardi of Cloverdale, British Columbia, is now skipping the Saskatchewan team that was previously skipped by Mike McEwen. However, even though McEwen is from Winnipeg, he is remaining in Saskatchewan, and has teamed up with Rylan Kleiter.
A completely new curling team is being created. Brendan Bottcher is returning to Alberta after playing with Brad Gushue, and is now skipping a team that includes third Jacob Horgan, second Tanner Horgan and lead Geoff Walker. It should be noted that Walker has been Gushue’s lead the last 15 years, and the Horgan brothers were with John Epping of Sudbury, Ontario. Epping has now teamed up with third B.J. Neufeld, and are based out of Manitoba.
Meanwhile, E.J. Harnden is retiring from Team Dunstone following the 2026 World Men’s Curling Championships in Ogden, Utah. Other curlers retiring include Quebec’s Jean-Michel Menard, Martin Crete and Jean-Francois Trepanier, Manitoba’s Reid Carruthers, and Saskatchewan’s Jolene Campbell. Teams that are completely breaking up include Northern Ontario’s Krista Scharf, Manitoba’s Kate Cameron, Ontario’s Sam Mooibroek and Alberta’s Kayla Skrlik.
