Team Einarson reveals Scotties roster without Briane Harris
The countdown to the Scotties Tournament of Hearts is on, and Team Einarson has just announced their lineup for the upcoming competition. One notable absence from the team is Briane Harris, who had been a key member of the team for years. Harris had won four consecutive Scotties as a lead with the team before being suspended due to a doping violation.
After being off the ice for 11 months, Harris finally received her Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal ruling earlier this month, and was cleared to play after being found not at fault. Despite being six months pregnant, Harris expressed a strong desire to rejoin the team and compete in the Scotties.
In a recent interview with CBC Sports, skip Kerri Einarson opened up about the difficult decision to leave Harris off the roster. Einarson shared her emotional turmoil over the situation, stating, “It’s been extremely tough for all of us having to make this really, really difficult choice. We had to make this decision coming into the new year.”
To make matters more challenging, second Shannon Birchard is currently sidelined with a knee injury, forcing the team to find replacements throughout the season. The finalized lineup now includes Krysten Karwacki at lead, newly acquired Karlee Burgess at second, Val Sweeting at third, and Einarson as skip. A fifth player has also been added to the team, with their identity set to be revealed at a later date.
When asked if Harris was considered for the alternate position, Einarson explained that due to timing constraints, they had to finalize their roster before the appeal ruling came through. Einarson stated, “We couldn’t wait. We had to get our roster in. We need jerseys. We couldn’t hold off. We needed to mentally prepare for that.”
Harris declined to comment on the decision when contacted by CBC Sports, but Einarson revealed that she had spoken with Harris to inform her of the team’s choice. Einarson emphasized that the decision was for this season only and that they are open to revisiting their lineup after the current season.
Team Einarson had been aiming to secure their fifth consecutive Scotties title, but Harris’s suspension and subsequent appeal process threw a wrench into their plans. The delay in the appeal ruling led to a series of tough decisions for the team, with Einarson expressing disappointment over the drawn-out process.
Despite the challenges, Team Einarson is gearing up for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, set to take place from February 14 to February 23 in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Stay tuned for updates on the team’s performance as they strive to reclaim their championship title.
