Team Dunstone posing for the Silver Medal photo at the Brier in Kelowna/via Curling Canada

“What we can control is how we respond to this, and what our what our game plan is moving forward to give us the best opportunity to not let that happen again.”

A reflective Matt Dunstone, speaking to Radio NL a day after a loss in the final of the Brier in Kelowna on Sunday.

Making his way home to Kamloops on the Monday afternoon, just hours after giving up three in the 10th end for a 5-3 loss to Alberta’s Brad Jacobs in the final of the National Men’s Curling Championships, Dunstone suggested it’s going to take a little while to come away with a broader perspective on the loss.

“Obviously still trying to process a lot of what’s gone on the last 24 hours,” said Dunstone.  “But you know, those moments, those are so big for teams, win or lose.”

The 29-year old is no stranger to pressure.

He’s been in high-level curling competitions since he was a teenager, taking the National Junior Championships crown as the skip for Team Manitoba in 2013 at just 17-years old.

A few weeks later, the same 17-year old Dunstone would travel abroad as one of the original “guinea pigs” to test Russia’s capabilities to host the Winter Olympics in Sochi, taking bronze for Canada at the World Junior Championships in the Black Sea resort that year.

Despite being immersed in high-pressure curling situations for most of his adult life, the struggle Dunstone had with the loss on Sunday was clearly evident in speaking with the media after the fact.

Asked about whether his teammates felt the same way as he did after-the-fact, Dunstone conceded that he may be a bit too hard on himself.

“I think a lot of that just comes from the territory of skipping and being the leader on the team,” said Dunstone. “Usually, you get all the glory when you win. When you don’t, a lot of a lot of people look at you…”

Admittedly still trying to sort through the emotions of the loss in the final, Dunstone says his teammates were quick to rally as a group, and — despite giving himself his own lashes — says they had no interest in doing the same.

“I mean, it’s disappointing, I wasn’t good enough for the guys down the stretch. Just couple shots I’d like to have back to put us in a better position to win,” suggested Dunstone. “But you know, nothing but support. You win as a team, lose as a team, and nothing… nothing but love.”

Team Dunstone to continue on in current form

Asked whether there may be any changes in his line-up moving forward — as has become somewhat common within modern curling circles — Dunstone says he and the rest of the current foursome are staying together, noting they still have international ambitions, despite not being able to represent Canada next month at the World Championships in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

Potential line-up for the AMJ Players Championships in April in Toronto/via worldcurling.org

“We don’t have to do anything different.  A lot of what we’re already doing is obviously working, and that’s shown,” said Dunstone, whose team went into the Brier as the top Canadian side in the world rankings — number two globally behind only Scotland’s Bruce Mouat.

“It’s just a matter of picking a thing or two up, maybe, from that game [Brier final],” said Dunstone.  “Just really fine tuning a lot of the good things that we have going already,” said Dunstone.

Dunstone says the next test for the team is in early April at the AMJ Players Championships, which is played each year in the heart of the Old Maple Leaf Gardens in downtown Toronto.

“It’s a fun spot to play,” said Dunstone, who has yet to win the Player’s Championship event.   “I think they’ve had it there for probably 10 years now, and it’s a fun, fun way to close out the season.”

While Dunstone has not been able to pull together a Brier victory, nor a Players Championships, his newest addition to the team has been able to accomplish both — and more.

E.J Harnden, the new 2nd on Team Dunstone, is a veteran of Canadian curling circles, having won last year’s Players Championships as a second with Brad Gushue’s rink.

Harnden and his younger brother Ryan are no rookies, having spent most of their time with the Brad Jacobs rink — who happens to be their cousin.

The Jacobs’ rink victory on Sunday at the Brier was just his second Tankard, with the first coming a dozen years earlier in 2013.

Jacobs and the Harnden brothers would then combine for Olympic Gold together at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.

Team Dunstone 2nd E.J. Harnden (center-left) along with rest of Team Gushue after winning AMJ Players Championships in Toronto last year/via Grand Slam of Curling

While Ryan Harnden has been with Dunstone for the last three seasons, E.J. only joined in December after Team Dunstone and third B.J. Neufeld went in different directions in September.

With a massive amount of experience and talent on the front end, Dunstone says he feels they’re ready to take that next step forward.

“The break [through the rest of March] is going to be really nice over the next few weeks,” said Dunstone.  “But we’ll get together for a training camp in Toronto just before that event [AMJ Players Championships] gets going and then try and finish off the season with a win.”

“Then from there, we’ll begin to plan the next season,” he said.  “With the Olympic trials coming up, we’ll probably get off to a little bit of an earlier start, I would imagine kind of August’ish just to try and be sharp for November.”

While he leaves Kelowna disappointed, Dunstone says he was acutely aware that people in Kamloops were rooting for him and his team through the course of the Brier as one of their own.

“I’ve been there [Kamloops] for seven years now.  Moving there was the best decision I ever made,” said Dunstone.  “I’ve got nothing but love and appreciation and gratitude for everybody in Kamloops who cheered me on all season, all week, last night.”

“It’s an amazing community,” added Dunstone, who came into the community to be closer to his partner, fellow curler Erin Pincott, who is the 3rd on the Corryn Brown team that just recently represented BC at the Scotties.  “It’s a lot of beautiful people that I’ve become great friends with.”

“I just know no other place I’d rather call home.”