Colton Lott is soaking up his Olympic curling trials experience

What a week it’s been for Colton Lott.

The Manitoba curler went from playing in his usual mixed doubles league in Winnipeg Beach, Man. on Wednesday night with his fiance to have a shot at going to the Olympics three days later in Saskatoon.

An ordinary week turned into the opportunity of a lifetime with one phone call.

“After the game I was getting her to videotape me throwing some stones and she saw a message on Instagram pop up. Matty (Dunstone was) asking her to get me to give him a call,” Lott said.

Lott went to his phone off the ice and saw the missed calls from his old friend and teammate. Lott called Dunstone back to learn he was being invited to join Dunstone’s team at the Canadian Olympic trials, not as an alternate but as a third.

Within 45 minutes Lott was making arrangements to arrive in Saskatoon for the 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Trials as soon as he could, but not before taking care of an important priority.

“I got that lovely haircut because I was at my parents’ place — my mom’s a hairdresser,” he said with a chuckle. “Then I booked a flight for 7:40 a.m. the next morning.”

Team Dunstone took to Twitter late Thursday afternoon to announce third Braeden Moskowy “is unable to compete at this time, due to personal reasons.”

For Team Dunstone, four years of hard work were compiled to even qualify for the 2021 Tim Hortons Curling Trials. Suddenly, the skip was left scrambling to find a replacement for Moskowy with 72 hours to go before the biggest tournament of his career.

Dunstone chose Lott because of the familiarity. The pair won Canadian junior titles in 2013 and 2016 together and have remained close ever since.

“It was wonderful. Playing in front of the fans again, especially in this big of an arena, it’s just the best,” Lott said fresh after his first game on Saturday. “Being able to throw stones, make shots and hear the crowd roar. It has been awesome.”

Lott’s arrival caught the curling world by storm. His sudden arrival forced him to wear a spare Kirk Muyres jersey for the team’s first practice together on Friday.

Lott said jelling with Muyres and Dustin Kidby has been “lovely.”

That could describe Lott’s journey through the trials thus far. It’s rare to see him without a smile or taking a look around to soak in the moment.

“It’s just so exciting. I’m enjoying every little bit of it,” he said.

The nerves and excitement aren’t getting the better of Lott thus far either. He has curled 91 and 90 per cent in his two games of the trials to be one of the team’s best curlers.

It’s earning some early praise from his skip.

“He was the best player on the sheet tonight outside of Mikey (McEwen),” Dunstone said following the team’s first game on Saturday.

“I thought he played great. He put us in great spots to score points, and that’s all you can ask for.”

Even though he is from Manitoba, Lott is relishing the experience to not only play on Canadian curling’s biggest stage, but to play in front of a hometown crowd cheering on the Dunstone rink — Saskatchewan’s only representatives in the field.

“I’m very comfortable. Playing with these boys and being able to wear these colours. I’m just ready to keep ‘er going,” he said.