麻豆社区

Three teams threw their names into the proverbial hat at the Yukon Curling Associations Territorial Men鈥檚 Championships at the Whitehorse Curling Club this past weekend. At stake for the winner, was a shot to represent the Yukon at the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier.

After going 4-0 during the championship, Team Scoffin punched their ticket to Kingston, Ont. when the Brier begins Feb. 29. Skip Thomas Scoffin, third Brett Winfield, second Trygg Jensen and lead Joe Wallingham will all don the Yukon across their chest.

Scoffin said that although his rink went undefeated, the draws were still closely contested.

鈥淭hey were close battles this weekend,鈥� said Scoffin. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 take any days off and we played how we wanted to play.鈥�

For Scoffin, it will be his second time at the Brier. Last year, he didn鈥檛 make it to playdowns but said the team continued to improve because of the close-knit curling community in the Yukon.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a tight community,鈥� said Scoffin. 鈥淲e compete against the other teams during league play. We are always pushing each other to get better.鈥�

Scoffin said the Yukon team will be the youngest at the Brier. The goal he said, is for the team to continue to gain experience.

鈥淚鈥檓 confident we got a good team and we鈥檒l improve on past performances,鈥� said Scoffin. 鈥淲e are not expecting to win. It鈥檚 a super-high calibre at the Brier and we will compete every game.

鈥淭he goals are geared toward performance. This is the biggest stage in Canadian curling and we鈥檒l use it as a stepping-stone to gain experience.鈥�

Although they will be the youngest team in Kingston, Scoffin isn鈥檛 concerned about the other team鈥檚 experience.

鈥淐urling is a sport you can play for a while,鈥� said Scoffin. 鈥淲e are excited to be there and not worried about the age difference.鈥�

Scoffin said the Yukon team is relishing the opportunity to play some of the best rinks the country has to offer.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always fun to have the chance to play the best teams in the country,鈥� said Scoffin. 鈥淥ne thing about curling is you are never out of it, anyone has a chance to win.鈥�

The pools are yet to be decided but Scoffin said he would like to face the Northwest Territories team.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always fun to play Jamie Koe鈥檚 rink,鈥� said Scoffin. 鈥淒avid Aho is a former teammate of mine.鈥�

With the championships now in the rearview mirror, Scoffin said the rink is diligently practicing.

鈥淚t鈥檚 lots of practice and lots of hours at the rink getting prepared,鈥� said Scoffin. 鈥淭here are no free spaces on the bingo card and we want to bring our best.鈥�

One aspect of the Brier the team is focusing in on, Scoffin said, is the atmosphere surrounding it.

鈥淲e started to chat about that, how it鈥檚 the biggest stage in Canadian curling,鈥� said Scoffin. 鈥淲e are excited about it. I remember my first game of my first Brier being very nervous playing in front of a packed house.鈥�

Scoffin said they will look to harness those nerves to put in good performances.

鈥淭here is some strategy to change pressure into focus,鈥� said Scoffin. 鈥淭hat will come as we get used to the atmosphere. We don鈥檛 shy away from pressure. We perform our best in those situations.鈥�

Scoffin said it is great to be able to the represent the Yukon on a stage such as the Brier.

鈥淚t鈥檚 always an honour to wear the Yukon colours and have the flag on your back,鈥� said Scoffin. 鈥淚t鈥檚 special to get to a national event.鈥�