The Corryn Brown rink will represent B.C. at the 2021 Scotties in Calgary from Feb. 19-28 (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

SCOTTIES TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS

Despite limited playing time, Brown rink from Kamloops feels better prepared to tackle Scotties

Feb 3, 2021 | 4:29 PM

KAMLOOPS — Corryn Brown knows her Kamloops rink missed some opportunities at last year’s Scotties — their first experience at the women’s national curling championship.

In a game against Jennifer Jones, Brown built a 6-1 lead early, but gave up three in the fifth end, four in the sixth and a deuce in the 10th end to lose 11-10. Similarly, Brown and Team B.C. went toe-to-toe with Rachel Homan. She had the chance for a double to win in the 10th, but gave up a steal of one instead to lose 9-7.

“Thinking back to a game like the Homan games where we had a shot to win or [against] Jones we had a big lead, so just not making those small mistakes that are costly. Against teams like that, if you make mistakes they’re going to capitalize.”

In its second Scotties experience — this time without fans in the Calgary bubble — they hope they can make the championship shots to win the tight games. They’ll have to be even more sharp this year to have a chance with only three teams making the playoffs, instead of the traditional four-team page playoff.

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“Yeah, for sure. It doesn’t leave as much room for error, so it just makes every game that much more important,” said Brown. “I think it’ll be key to bear down, especially towards the end because one loss here and there can make or break you making the playoffs or not.”

Brown finished the round robin with a 4-3 record to advance to the championship pool, but the Kamloops crew finished 5-6. Despite some tough losses at the 2020 Scotties, the team got a sense it can compete with some of the best.

“We had great games against Homan, Jones, [Northern Ontario’s Krista] McCarville — really having that confidence playing those top teams in Canada, knowing that we can compete,” said third Erin Pincott. “I think we’ll have a lot of confidence going into the Scotties this year seeing those same teams again.”

The Brown rink will look a little different going into the bubble. Out is Ashley Klymchuk, now a mother of four-month-old twins, and in is Sam Fisher, a familar name on the Kamloops curling scene who has been reunited with Brown and Pincott.

“It feels pretty seamless for myself. It’s easy to come in and play with Erin and Corryn. I’ve played with them for years,” said Fisher, who took a two-year break to go to school to become a respiratory therapist.

Brown added, “We’re pretty thankful for the decision we made in the summer to pick up Sam because in a year like this with COVID, it’ll be kind of tough to build those team dynamics with someone that you might not be playing with that much. We’ve only played six games together this season.”

Brown opens the Scotties on Saturday, Feb. 20 against Quebec.