(by Kyle Jahns)
The Tim Hortons Brier, presented by Mosaic, comes to Regina’s Brandt Centre at Evraz Place this March 3-11. Get to know the teams that will be competing for the Tim Hortons Brier crown this year.
Nova Scotia
Jamie Murphy continues his dominance in Nova Scotia, earning his fifth provincial men’s title in seven years. Murphy defeated 2004 Tim Hortons Brier champion Mark Dacey 9-5 in the Nova Scotia Deloitte Tankard.
Murphy, of the Halifax Curling Club, returns with nearly the same line-up as last season. Joining him once again is second Scott Saccary and lead Philip Crowell. Paul Flemming will make his eighth appearance at the national championship as the team’s third.
Last year Murphy’s Nova Scotia team prevailed in the pre-qualifying tournament and finished the round robin with a 4-7 record. In 2016 Murphy lost in the pre-qualifying final to Jamie Koe of the Northwest Territories. In 2014 Murphy was bested in all 11 round robin games while in 2012 – his Tim Hortons Brier Debut – he finished with a 4-7 record.
Prince Edward Island
Eddie MacKenzie returns to the Tim Hortons Brier for the sixth time in his career after winning the Prince Edward Island provincial men’s curling championship. He defeated Phil Gorveatt in the modified triple knockout championship.
MacKenzie won the A and C-sides of the event, but John Likely was the victor in the B event.
This meant MacKenzie, third Josh Barry, second Christopher Gallant and lead Sean Ledgerwood only needed to beat Likely once in the playoffs, while Likely needed two straight wins against MacKenzie. Team MacKenzie did just that with a convincing 12-4 victory against Likely.
Last year MacKenzie played in the pre-qualifying tournament, but did not advance to the main draw. In 2014 he led his team to a 4-7 round robin record and also skipped PEI in 2013 and 2011.
His debut men’s national championship appearance was in 1994 when he played third for Mike Gaudet.
Yukon
Thomas Scoffin is making his Tim Hortons Brier debut with Yukon. The accomplished junior curler led his team through a well-contested Yukon Men’s Curling Championship.
Scoffin, third Tom Appelman, second Wade Scoffin (Thomas’s father) and lead Steve Fecteau defeated defending champion Jon Solberg 8-5 in the final. But getting to the final was not an easy feat. Scoffin advanced to the playoffs through the modified triple knockout’s C event.
They doubled Bob Smallwood 8-4 in semifinal, which set up the final game against Solberg.
Scoffin played in seven Canadian Junior Curling Championships. Six of them were with Yukon, but his most successful one was in 2013 when he skipped Alberta. He led his team to the final, only to lose to Manitoba’s Matt Dunstone (who will also make his Tim Hortons Brier debut this year, with Saskatchewan). Scoffin also represented Canada at the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics where his mixed team won bronze, and in 2015, he skipped his University of Alberta Golden Bears to the CIS CCA University (now USports) gold medal.
2018 Tim Hortons Brier single draw and full-event packages are now available for purchase. Don’t miss out and get yours today at: http://www.curling.ca/2018brier/tickets/