The Adam Casey rink will be bringing eight-time PEI Tankard and two-time Canadian Mixed champion Robert Campbell to the Brier as their alternate (5th player). Their regular coach, Lincoln Peters, has just completed the necessary coaching certification levels for the Brier and will be coaching the team.
Photo (L-R): Adam Casey, third stone Josh Barry, second stone Anson Carmody, lead Robbie Doherty
The Tim Hortons Brier, which takes place February 28 – March 8 in Calgary will be preceded for the first time by a a pre-qualifying round to determine the final entry into the 12-team main draw.
Team Canada is joined in the main Brier draw by the 10 teams with the best combined records in the previous three Briers, meaning Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the Yukon will play off for the 12th and final berth. Nunavut declined an opportunity to participate.
Nova Scotia team:
Glen MacLeod won his second Nova Scotia title, but first as a skip, beating defending champ Jamie Murphy in the final. MacLeod, who calls the game and throws third rocks, is backed up by last-rock thrower Peter Burgess, second Colten Steele and lead Robby McLean.
Yukon team:
Whitehorse’s Bob Smallwood will make his third trip to the Tim Hortons Brier, and his first in Yukon colours, after winning the NWT/Yukon title in 1994 and 1995. His team includes third Wade Scoffin (who’s played in two Briers), second Steve Fecteau and lead Clint Ireland (who played in the 2008 Brier).
Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and the Yukon will play a single round-robin at the Scotiabank Saddledome, with the teams with the two best records advancing to the play-in game, which will be contested Saturday, Feb. 28, at 4:30 p.m. Atlantic Time, concurrent with the opening draw of the Tim Hortons Brier round-robin.
Here is the schedule for the pre-qualifying tournament (all times Atlantic – subtract 3 hours for Calgary time)
Thursday, Feb. 26
10 p.m. — P.E.I. vs. Yukon
Friday, Feb. 27
11 a.m. — Yukon vs. Nova Scotia
6:30 p.m. — Nova Scotia vs. P.E.I.
Saturday, Feb. 28
4:30 p.m. — Pre-qualifying final (“play-in game”)
(with info from the CCA)