E. J. Harnden Canadian curler Date of Birth: 14.04.1983 Country: Canada

Biography of Eric Harnden

Eric Harnden Jr. is a Canadian curler who is currently competing as the second player in Brad Jacobs' team. He has participated in numerous major tournaments and even won a gold medal at the Olympic Games. Eric is the son of three-time Northern Ontario champion Eric Harnden Sr. He initially started his curling career as a skip in his junior years and later joined his father's team as the third player. Together with Ryan Flaxey and Caleb Flaxey, they won the Northern Ontario Championship and represented the province at the 2008 Tim Hortons Brier, where they finished with a record of 3-8.

After one season with his father's team, Eric joined Brad Jacobs' team in 2008, where he has remained ever since. Initially playing as the third, he transitioned to the second position when Ryan Fry joined the team. The first season with Eric did not go as planned, as they were defeated by Mike Jakubo's team in the provincial championship. However, the following year brought more success. They participated in The National, a Grand Slam tournament, and then won the provincial championship, earning them a spot at the Tim Hortons Brier, where they finished in second place after the round-robin games. Unfortunately, they were unable to win in the playoffs and settled for third place.

In the 2010-2011 season, Brad Jacobs' team competed in two Grand Slam tournaments. They participated in the World Cup of Curling and the 2011 Players' Championship. Eric did not play in the latter tournament as he was temporarily replaced by Ted Appelman. They once again won the provincial championship and had a decent performance at the Tim Hortons Brier, finishing in fifth place. The 2011-2012 season saw Eric and his team play in two more Grand Slam tournaments. They reached the playoffs at the BDO Canadian Open but were eliminated in the quarterfinals. At the Northern Ontario Championship, they emerged victorious once again, but at the Brier, they finished in fifth place once more.

The 2012-2013 season was a record-breaking one for Eric Harnden and his team. They welcomed a new player, Ryan Fry from Manitoba, which led to Eric transitioning to the second position. They made it to the playoffs in all three Grand Slam tournaments they participated in, reaching the final in the Canadian Open. They won their fourth consecutive provincial championship and went on to win the Brier, securing their first victory in 28 years for Northern Ontario. Shortly after, Eric and his team represented Canada at the World Championship, winning a silver medal. They achieved an even more impressive result at the Olympic Games in Sochi, winning the gold medal.