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MADE IT HAPPEN – Thomas Scoffin prepares a shot at the Subway Junior Men's Provincial curling championship at the Thistle Curling Club in Edmonton, Alta. Photo by Ian Kucerak/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

Scoffin rink wins Alberta junior men's curling title

Thomas Scoffin has been to this dance before.

By Freelancer on January 14, 2013

EDMONTON – Thomas Scoffin has been to this dance before.

This time though, he's bringing along a pair of twins who can really doh-see-doh.

Scoffin won his first Alberta junior men's curling title in a hard-fought 5-4 decision over Michael Roy of Airdrie Sunday at the Thistle Club.

The first-year sports and recreation student at the U of A is hoping the seventh time's lucky for him. Scoffin made six previous appearances at the Canadian juniors as skip of the Yukon Territory.

"This is an amazing feeling,” said Scoffin, who set a Canadian junior record as the youngest skip ever as a 12-year-old in 2007.

"It's a little bit different for me. I've been there before (24-48 all-time record).”

Skipping a team into the big show out of Alberta, understandably, is a different level.

Scoffin did not have to throw his last rock as Roy needed to draw the button to send the game into extra ends, but was a bit heavy.

"I've never won it in this fashion,” said Scoffin. "All you can ask is you know it's going to be a close game — a draw to the four-foot in the end. He was so close, he almost made me make it. I'm really happy about that.”

The team he left back in Whitehorse, including longtime mates Mitch Young and Will Mahoney, has already qualified for the Canadians in Fort McMurray early next month.

Coming to Edmonton's pressure-cooker curling atmosphere and coming out as Alberta champ made it all worthwhile.

"We've had a successful season so far and we had high hopes for this weekend,” said Scoffin. "Winning this event is never easy. There's always added pressure, especially in the final game where it's a do-or-die situation. We're ecstatic we got it done today.”

The fact Scoffin was able to team up with front-enders Bryce and Landon Bucholz helped his transition to Alberta curling. The twins helped Brendan Bottcher win the 2012 world junior championship and their experience helped steady the foursome, which includes third Dylan Gousseau.

"Excitement, just like last year,” said Bryce, who's making his third trip to the Canadians. "It's good to get back. We've repeated provincials and hopefully now we can repeat nationals.

"It's hard in Alberta because there's so many good teams. It's tough, that's all I can say. We had a good week.”

Wearing the Alberta silks never gets tired, said Landon.

"Every time we've won the provincials, it's equal,” he said. "It's just so exciting to get there. We've got new teammates and Dylan, we've never seen him get this excited in his whole life. That's super exciting.”

The twins will have a special designation at this year's event — a red ribbon they can wear on their left sleeves.

"If you win the national, you get a red ribbon that says ‘National Champions.' If you go back, you put your purple hearts and your red ribbons on the jackets — so that'd be kinda cool.”

Rumour has it that there's already a buzz in Fort McMurray about hosting the Canadian juniors and as Alberta champs, the spotlight will definitely be on this foursome.

"Yeah, that'd be good,” said Landon. "Actually, I heard it's going to be unreal up there.”

Yep, and the five-hour trip up Highway 63 could be the start of another great adventure.

By CON GRIWKOWSKY

Edmonton Sun

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