麻豆社区

Thomas Scoffin鈥檚 Yukon rink is feeling confident going into the 2022 Tim Horton鈥檚 Brier.

The Brier is running from March 4-13 at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge. TSN is the broadcaster for the event.

The Star reached Scoffin, 27, in Lethbridge. His crew got in Wednesday afternoon in order to complete the required COVID protocols.

The Scoffin rink includes third Trygg Jensen, 24, second Joseph Wallingham 25 and lead Evan Latos (Lat-ish), 27. Scoffin鈥檚 father Wade is the alternate. The elder Scoffin is a certified coach who is 鈥渁cting in both capacities for this week,鈥� according to the younger Scoffin.

Scoffin said his team is looking good heading into the Brier.

鈥淲e鈥檙e feeling good. Obviously, it鈥檚 been a unique ... couple of years. We鈥檙e excited to be here ... we鈥檝e been fortunate enough that we were able to get on the ice for the past couple of weeks here and throw a lot of rocks just to make sure we鈥檙e ready. It was kind of dicey at times with different COVID restrictions, but we鈥檙e happy to be here.鈥�

Scoffin has been to two previous Briers, in 2018 (Regina) and 2020 (Kingston). He went 2-6 in 2018, in which father Wade threw second rocks, and 0-7 in 2020. Jensen and Wallingham were with Scoffin in 2020. Latos is a Brier rookie.

鈥淓xperience is huge,鈥� stated Scoffin.

鈥淓specially at an event like the Brier. That being said, the Brier is obviously totally different from anything that we鈥檝e ever played in before, so those first couple games 鈥� I鈥檒l never forget my first game at the Brier ... it鈥檚 quite the experience. So I鈥檒l definitely rely on that.

鈥淚t鈥檚 nice that Joe and Trygg have that year under their belt as well at the Brier. It鈥檚 a crazy atmosphere. It鈥檚 super-fun. It鈥檚 one of the greatest shows on earth in terms of curling events, so it鈥檚 always just an absolute blast to be here, but having a bit of an expectation going in is certainly helpful, and glad we can help Evan out with that as well, in his first Brier.鈥�

Scoffin says it鈥檚 great to have his dad with him at the Brier.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool. Obviously, in my first Brier, having a chance to play with him on the team was awesome, something that a lot of people don鈥檛 get to experience, so definitely very fortunate to have him around. He鈥檚 got a lot of experience with Briers under his belt as well, so definitely stuff we can draw on.

Scoffin acknowledges that there鈥檚 a very tough field at this year鈥檚 Brier.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a super-deep field. Curling over the last four or five years, especially ... at the elite level, has just taken off. Those top teams are improving at an incredible rate. The shotmaking, it just keeps getting better and better every year, so we just expect that the teams we are playing are going to be at the top of their game. We don鈥檛 expect to get very many misses, so we鈥檒l have to keep 鈥榚m close, and play a tight game ... there鈥檚 no expectation for us coming into this event. Obviously, some of the top teams in the world are here. It鈥檚 probably one of, if not the deepest field that we鈥檝e seen at a Brier.鈥�

The Scoffin foursome favour a balanced approach to the game, but can adapt if necessary.

鈥淲e can play any style we want. We鈥檙e a pretty strong team from a tactics perspective. We鈥檙e very confident in our strategy and shotmaking. Ultimately, it just comes down to execution for us.鈥�

Scoffin isn鈥檛 intimidated by the deep field of foes facing his rink, including Brad Gushue.

鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 say it鈥檚 intimidation. Obviously, we know that they鈥檙e one of the best teams in the world and we鈥檝e had a number of games against teams like that. I鈥檝e been lucky enough over my curling career that I grew up playing against a lot of these guys. I know them well .

鈥淲e know going into the game that we鈥檙e going to have to play one of the best games of our lives to come out on top, but that being said, there鈥檚 no expectation. There鈥檚 no pressure on us there, right? We actually kind of use that to our benefit. If we can keep things close coming down to the wire in the last couple of ends, then all the pressure鈥檚 on them.

For the first time in two years, full capacity will be allowed at the brier.

鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible to play in front of a packed house,鈥� related Scoffin.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 like 6,000 people that this barn holds. We鈥檝e done it a couple times before. There鈥檚 nothing like it. It鈥檚 so cool to play in front of the fans. Really looking forward to that.鈥�

鈥淯ltimately, once you get down on ice level, you don鈥檛 really notice it. You kind of just get in the zone.鈥�

Scoffin adds that 鈥渨e鈥檙e just excited to be back, to be playing, to be competing.鈥�