B.C.’s Corryn Brown rink ready for a different look and feel Scotties

The largest field ever isn’t the only thing that is different about this Scotties.

It’s being played in a no-fans bubble at the McPhail Centre at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary.

With the B.C. Scotties, which was to have been played at the end of last month in Kamloops cancelled, 2020 champion Corryn Brown is back for her second Canadian Scotties.

Team Brown arrived in Calgary yesterday afternoon.

It was straight to the McPhail Centre for a COVID test, and then to isolation at their separate hotel rooms.

The only time members of the rink will see each other will be at their first practice tonight, and then it’s back to isolation.

“Some of us are working, some are getting up to date on reading.” says Corryn Brown. “It’s definately lonely. Lot’s of time to fill, but I think we’re all managing well.”

Curl Canada has set out tough rules to make sure everyone abides by the COVID restrictions.

Breaking of the rules could lead to a suspension for a year or more, and with so much at stake.

“You would come back as Team Canada the following year (2022) to the Scotties.” says Brown. “So obviously that’s a benefit. Also there is funding, as well as a trials (Olympic) spot. I think the trials spot is the most coveted thing right now.”

And the winner in Calgary pockets prize money of $100,000.

Team Brown will play in the nine rink Pool B.

Which means one rink will have a bye in every draw.

B.C. has that bye in draw one —- meaning every other rink in the pool will have played once before Team Brown meets Quebec on Saturday night.

“We’re going to do as much as we can to watch some of the other draws to get an idea of how the ice is running. And hope that we can get enough information to neutralize that advantage once we get out there.”

The format is a round robin in the pool.

From there the top four in each pool go to the championship pool, and play four more games against the teams from the other pool.

Here’s the crunch — preliminary pool records are carried forward, and from there the top three teams make the playoffs — first goes straight to the gold medal game, while two and three play a semi final — no four team page playoff.

“It definitely limits the amount of losses than you can have.” says Brown. “Generally that fourth team (in page playoff) could have three or four losses. If your coming into the championship round with two losses, you’re going to be backs against the wall.”

As much as the Scotties is a competition, it’s also a big social event.

None of that this time.

No up close and personal, no Heartstop Lounge, and no live fans — it will definitely have a different look and feel.

“We where there briefly (at the McPhail Centre) kind of looked at the setup. It looks pretty great. We’re only allowed on one side of the seating. On the opposing side is where they have all the cutouts (of fans) that were purchased by people to have in the stands. My Dad actually got one, and one of our sponsors Kevin Wallace got one. So we’ll be searching for them in the crowd.”

by Earl Seitz

B.C.’s Corryn Brown rink ready for a different look and feel Scotties

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