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Manitoba's Brier rookies were just a little anxious as Brent Scales and his Swan River crew prepared to drive to Saskatoon tomorrow. But they are determined to wear the Buffalo proudly at the Canadian championship, which starts Saturday.
"We're going in it to try to win, for sure," declared third Gord Hardy. "We're not just going in representing Manitoba as first-timers and happy to be there.
"Hopefully, we can bring another Canadian championship to Manitoba."
And they were encouraged by the showing of Brandon's Lois Fowler, who was not given a chance at the national Scott Tournament of Hearts. Fowler finished 7-4 and made the playoffs.
"Lois played well," said Hardy, 29. "Hopefully, we'll do as well or better."
Like Fowler, Scales has been given little hope to win and is expected to be in a fight just to make the playoffs. But Scales has not only been competitive among the country's best in the past but he has played with some of Manitoba's top curlers. That includes former world champions Ken Tresoor and Steve Gould and two-time provincial champ Doug Harrison, the team's fifth man. That foursome was among the top World Curling Tour teams in the late '90s.
Scales also played with former provincial champion Dale Duguid and Dave Boehmer as part of Merv Bodnarchuk's mercenaries a few years ago.
"He's a good shooter," Harrison said. "He may be lacking in experience and calling the game. But he learns fast."
Scales also came close to winning the Manitoba title in 2003 (finalist) and 1996. And he learned quick enough to beat former world and two-time Brier champ Jeff Stoughton in this year's final.
"(Stoughton's) one of the best curlers in the world and to beat him in the final gives us all confidence," said lead Todd Trevellyan, who won a provincial junior title with Kevin MacKenzie in 1994.
And Scales is not the type to quake in fear when facing the likes of Alberta's reigning world champion Randy Ferbey, Ontario's Olympic silver medallist Mike Harris or New Brunswick's legendary Russ Howard.
"He won't be afraid of anyone," Harrison said. "Nothing seems to rattle him and he should do OK."
Ferbey, however, has had their number on the WCT this season.
"But if you play a team enough, you're going to beat them some time," said Scales, 36. "I've played all those teams. It definitely is a little intimidating at first but it does get easier. You just have to know what to expect.
"But you've got to give yourself a chance. They can't play great all the time and you've got to take advantage of their mistakes. Hopefully, we play well and make enough smart decisions to make the playoffs. That's always the goal."
And he is hoping to lay in the weeds again.
"When we got seeded at the (Safeway) Select (11th), my first thought was that it was too low," Scales said. "My second was, 'Good, nobody will pay attention to us,' and that's the way it worked out."
But his own squad will have to get over their rookie jitters early.
"Once we get there and see all those people, we'll be a little nervous," predicted second Grant Spicer, 33. "But that will be over in a few ends."
In fact, it could be over after the Ford Hot Shots competition, which starts Friday.
"Our first goal is to do well in the Hot Shots and set a good standard for the whole week," Hardy said.