Aaron Sluchinski joins Kevin Koe after parting ways with team

Kevin Koe added former skip Aaron Sluchinski to his Calgary-based team on Tuesday.

The news came hours after Sluchinski announced he was parting ways with his teammates to pursue other opportunities.

🚨 Team Update: We are extremely excited to announce that Aaron Sluchinski will join Team Koe!

Aaron is the reigning Alberta Men’s Champion and we look forward to the knowledge and experience he will bring to the team. #curling pic.twitter.com/tKHbBejZ9n
— TeamKevinKoe (@TeamKevinKoe) October 8, 2024

Sluchinski, from Airdrie, Alta., replaces second Jacques Gauthier, who was let go from Team Koe two weeks ago.

Gauthier, also a former skip, joined last season after Brad Thiessen stepped back from the sport.

Team Koe won two events on tour but also missed the playoffs in all five Grand Slam of Curling events and lost to Sluchinski in the Alberta final during provincial playdowns last season. Koe made it into the Montana’s Brier based on ranking points, however, his team struggled and posted a disappointing 2-6 record through pool play, including a loss to Sluchinski in the opening draw of the tournament.

The team also includes lead Karrick Martin and third Tyler Tardi, who is Gauthier’s cousin.

Koe, Tardi and Martin played as a trio for the PointsBet Invitational and HearingLife Tour Challenge following Gauthier’s departure.

Team Koe, ranked 15th in the world, reached the Elite 8 in the PointsBet Invitational and missed the playoffs in the HearingLife Tour Challenge with a 2-3 record.