Her roller-coaster non-season continues

The word came first, interestingly, from Winnipeg’s Team Kate Cameron.

“Team Cameron is thrilled to announce that 4x Scotties champion and 2x World Bronze Medallist, Briane Harris, will be joining our team at third position,” read a team posting.

“When Team Einarson parted ways with Briane, we were quick to pick her up knowing that her plethora of expertise, knowledge and experience will take us that extra mile.”

Team Einarson, also based in Manitoba, made their own post about an hour later.

“This past year has brought its challenges, and while we did our best to navigate the circumstances, sometimes difficult situations can shift the direction of a team,” read their statement.

“As we move forward, we want to take a moment to thank Briane for her time with us. We appreciate the effort and dedication she has shown along the way.

“While Briane and Team Einarson have decided to part ways, we truly wish her all the best in her next chapter.”

Harris’ addition at back end means that Taylor McDonald and Mackenzie Elias will be reunited at front end.

“It was a no brainer,” Cameron told The Curling News.

“We knew Briane could help us take that further step.”

Team Cameron was ranked sixth heading into the STOH in Thunder Bay but finished at 4-4 in their pool behind Einarson, Nova Scotia’s Christina Black and Ontario’s Danielle Inglis.

Einarson eventually lost the championship final to Team Canada’s Rachel Homan, who just captured another world title in Uijeongbu, Korea.

Harris and Team Einarson won four consecutive national championships between 2020 and 2023, and made waves on the eve of the 2024 championship, when it was revealed that Harris had committed a doping violation and was provisionally suspended from the sport.

Harris appealed and, after a lengthy waiting period that virtually sabotaged her 2024-25 season, was vindicated of the charges.

Team Einarson then committed to a fresh lineup, excluding Harris, shortly before the 2024 STOH in Thunder Bay.

Karlee Burgess was the latest in a long series of replacement recruits, jumping from Team Chelsea Carey to Einarson in early January.

Other players who have rotated in and out of Einarson’s lineup this season include former Jennifer Jones all-star Dawn McEwen, former Rachel Homan all-star Joanne Courtney, and recent mixed doubles Olympic Trials playoff contender Brittany Tran.

Harris’ appeal centred on a banned substance, Ligandrol, taken by her husband without Harris’ knowledge and passed to her via “intimate contact.” 

Harris spoke in detail with The Curling News—revealed in not one but two stories—after the successful appeal of her suspension.