29 Apr 2023 – NZ Curling stalwarts Hans Frauenlob and Dan Mustapic have both confirmed that the recently completed World Senior Men's Championship was their final international competition.

Hans was the first of the duo to wear the New Zealand colours, at the 1997 Pacific Curling Championships. His 203 international games covered 10 Pacific / Pacific-Asia Championships – with 4 gold medals – four World Men's Championships, and New Zealand's first (and so far only) Winter Olympics appearance at Torino in 2006.

He paired up with Natalie Thurlow for a creditable 5th place at the 2013 World Mixed Doubles Championship, and also competed in eight World Senior Championships and the WCF-accredited Winter Games NZ.

Hans is not leaving the sport altogether. He remains on the WCF's Competitions and Rules Committee, and hopes to continue his well-regarded curling commentary spots.

Dan Mustapic's international career started three years later, at the 2000 Pacific Championships in Sydney, and he played alongside Frauenlob for most of his 129 games. He earned two golds from his 6 Pacific Championships, and was Han's teammate at three World Men's Championships and at Torino. He partnered Marisa Jones at the 2015 World Mixed Doubles, and his 5 World Senior Championships include a silver medal in 2013 and bronze in 2015.

Both of those medals were earned alongside Frauenlob.

In a quirk of fate, the pair threw the team's two draw shots in their last game together vs Latvia – and both had identical 30.2 cm results.

They played alongside Dave Watt, Iain Craig, and Lorne DePape at the 2023 World Senior Championships in Guangneung, Korea. The side had a 3-4 win-loss record to finish fifth in their p[ool and 13th overall.

The NZ Women's team of Joanna Olszewski, Liz Matthews, Pauline Farra, Sandra Thomas, and Merran Anderson had a 1-6 record and to finish seventh in their group and 14th overall.