Team Brown (image credit - Team Brown/Twitter)
SCOTTIES TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS

Kamloops’ Brown rink earns wildcard berth to Scotties

Jan 29, 2024 | 6:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — For the third time in her career, Kamloops’s Corryn Brown and her rink out of the Kamloops Curling club are heading to the Scotties. Brown is joined by third Erin Pincott, newcomer and second Jenn Armstrong and lead Sam Fisher.

The Scotties may not be in Kamloops like last year, but the 2024 Tournament of Hearts will still have some local flair, with Brown’s rink earning a wild card berth.

“[We] would have loved to represent B.C., that is always kind of the ultimate goal. It’s always a huge honour to wear that crest on our backs. But, it would have been really devastating to not have our season be rewarded, so we are really excited that our consistency did pay off this season and we can still go there to represent even though it isn’t for B.C.,” Brown told CFJC Sports.

It is both the third time Brown has reached the Hearts, and the third different way her rink has earned a spot in the national championship.

“[We] definitely don’t have the same kind of nerves as [our] first Scotties, so we feel a bit more comfortable to be there but we know we have some unfinished business from the last few years. We know we can compete with the best. We are really excited to go out and show them what we can do,” added Brown.

While Clancy Grandy will represent B.C. after defeating Brown on Sunday (Jan. 28), earning a wild card birth reflects consistency from the new look Brown rink all season.

“We’ve obviously had a really good season. We qualified in 7 of 8 events this year, so we are really excited about that,” said Brown. “And Jenn has been fitting in really well, and we have been able to up our game, especially with the soft-touch shot. Jenn plays a lot of mixed doubles so that kind of finesse draw game has been huge and we have been able to be slightly more aggressive in our style, which I think has won us a ton of games as well.”

A rematch versus Grandy will have to wait for a potential medal round game, but Brown will see the defending four-time champion.

“They are a great team and they have showed that the last four years and they have been really consistent, but I think we can’t take any team lightly out there. The Scotties is an interesting beast — sometimes some teams that you don’t really expect will come out and go on a roll. We can’t take any time lightly out there and I don’t think any team will take us lightly either,” said Brown.

It all begins for Brown and company on Friday, February 16, when they face Northern Ontario in the opening draw.