One of the more intriguing team changes during the off-season involved Cameron Bryce's new multinational lineup.

The Scottish skip added Karsten Sturmay and Kerr Drummond to his roster that already included countrymen Scott Hyslop and Robin McCall. Sturmay was born in Canada and now lives in the U.K., while Drummond was born in Scotland and now lives in Canada. Having a five-man Scottish-Canadian roster gives them some lineup flexibility on tour, depending on which side of the pond they’re playing on.

Given that a multinational or "mercenary" team is such a rare concept, the closest comparison we've had of late is when spares join teams from other countries for brief runs in Grand Slam of Curling events, which has worked to some degree.

This is by no means a complete list, but let's take a look at the highlights in Eight Ends.

First End: David Nedohin on Team Ulsrud (2013 Players' Championship)

David Nedohin is best known as the last rock thrower with the famed Ferbey Four, but there was also the time when he donned the colourful pants with Norway's Team Ulsrud at the 2013 Players' Championship in Toronto. The Sherwood Park, Alta., native filled in for third Torger Nergård, who was away on paternity leave.

Team Ulsrud squeaked into the playoffs with a 2-2 record but lost 9-5 to Team Jacobs in the quarterfinals.

Do you think Nedohin still has the pants?

Second End: Cathy Overton-Clapham on Team Muirhead (2016 Players' Championship)

Cathy O is the super spare, earning the title during the mid-2010s. She joined Val Sweeting’s team at the last minute ahead of the 2014 Masters in Selkirk, Man., helping Sweeting capture her first Grand Slam women's title.

Overton-Clapham, from Winnipeg, then joined Scotland’s Team Muirhead for the 2016 Players' Championship in Toronto, filling in for injured third Anna Sloan. Muirhead won the Players' Championship for the third time in four years, defeating Team Jones 9-6 in the final, as Overton-Clapham captured another Grand Slam as a sub.

Third End: Cathy Overton-Clapham on Team Tirinzoni (2016-17 season)

Oh, we’re not done with Overton-Clapham just yet. She also filled in on Switzerland’s Team Tirinzoni during the 2016-17 season, subbing for injured third Manuela Siegrist.

Overton-Clapham competed in four Grand Slams with Team Tirinzoni and qualified for the playoffs in all of them, including back-to-back finals at the National and Canadian Open. Super spare, indeed.

There was a bit of a language barrier, apparently.

Honourable mention: Overton-Clapham also came off the coach’s bench for a game with Team Peterson of the United States at the 2023 Players’ Championship.

Fourth End: Pat Simmons on Team Shuster (2016 Players' Championship)

The 2016 Players' Championship also saw Pat Simmons, from Moose Jaw, Sask., join up with Team Shuster of the United States. With lead John Landsteiner unavailable, Matt Hamilton moved over a spot as the two-time Brier champ Simmons threw second.

Fatigue may have been a factor as Team Shuster had just competed in the World Men's Curling Championship in Switzerland and captured the bronze medal only two days before the start of the Players' Championship. Shuster missed the playoffs with a 1-4 record.

Fifth End: Jim Cotter on Team Edin (2019 Champions Cup)

The 2019 Champions Cup in Saskatoon conflicted with that year's World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and led to a handful of spare situations. We're going to get our mileage out of this one as it includes a few that crossed borders.

Jim Cotter, from Vernon, B.C., got the call to sub on Sweden’s Team Edin as third Oskar Eriksson was away competing with Anna Hasselborg (and winning the gold medal).

The future B.C. Curling Hall of Famer helped Edin post a perfect 4-0 record in round-robin play and defeat Team Epping 9-7 in the quarterfinals. The team fell just short in the semis, losing 6-5 to Team Koe. Kevin Koe scored two points for the win in the eighth end.

Fun fact: Team Edin also brought in New Brunswick's James Grattan during the 2012 Players' Championship when Niklas Edin was out due to injury. Grattan threw third as Sebastian Kraupp moved up to skip.

Sixth End: Eve Muirhead on Team Hasselborg (2019 Champions Cup)

Likewise, Team Hasselborg (minus Hasselborg) needed a skip, and who better than Scotland's Eve Muirhead to step in?

Team Hasselborg went on a run to the semifinals as well, qualifying for the playoffs with a 3-1 round-robin record and defeating Team Flaxey 8-2 in the quarterfinals. Oddly enough, Team Flaxey also had a spare at skip with Laura Walker filling in for Allison Flaxey. Yes, it was Team Hasselborg vs. Team Flaxey with neither Hasselborg nor Flaxey.

Team Hasselborg's run ended with a 5-4 loss to Team Einarson in the semis. Kerri Einarson completed the comeback with a three-ender in the eighth end.

Seventh End: John Morris on Team Shuster (2019 Champions Cup)

Another Can-Am Connection, this time John Morris, who captured two gold medals for Canada at the Winter Olympics, filled in for skip John Shuster, who earned bronze at the world mixed doubles with Cory Thiesse.

Team Shuster qualified for the playoffs at 3-1, with Morris's lone loss in pool play taking place against former teammate Cotter on Team Edin. Team Mouat ended Team Shuster’s run with an 8-4 decision in the quarterfinals.

"They’re awesome," Morris said at the time. "We’ve been great friends for many years, so it was kind of nice to get one team event in this year. I’m having a great time with them and just a lot of fun."

"Sometimes when you try too hard, and that’s kind of what we were doing the last few years in these Slams, and when you just come here and have fun and sort of let things be and go with your gut, sometimes you get better results," he added. "That’s kind of what we’ve been doing and having a great time."

Eighth End: Ryan Fry on Team Retornaz (2025 Canadian Open)

Last but certainly not least: bald power! Hey, that’s what the on-ice graphic read as Ryan Fry returned to the ice with Team Retornaz. Fry, who helped Canada capture Olympic gold in 2014 and was now coaching the Italian club, stepped in for the tiebreakers and quarterfinals stages of the Canadian Open in Saskatoon as third Amos Mosaner had to head home early due to prior commitments.

Team Retornaz eliminated Team Waddell 9-8 in the tiebreakers to clinch the eighth and final playoff spot. Unfortunately for them, that meant a quarterfinal date with undefeated top-seed Team Mouat. The Scottish squad came out on top 5-3.

"When you get out on the ice, it comes right back to you, and then you start thinking, oh, I miss it. Then you get off the ice, and you're like, yeah, maybe not as much as I thought," Fry said with a laugh. "But no, it was fun."

Fun fact: Fry shot 88.67 per cent over the two games — the highest percentage among all thirds in the event.