Stoughton will be nervous, in a good way

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This article was published 10/04/2011 (5522 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA — He has won three Briers and will be playing tonight in his third world curling championship final.

But that doesn’t mean Team Canada skip Jeff Stoughton isn’t feeling the nerves just like everyone else.

The Winnipeg skip, who will play Scotland’s Tommy Brewster at the Brandt Centre in the final of the 2011 World Men’s Curling Championship (TSN, 6 p.m.), was asked during a media availability Saturday night if he was feeling any nerves.

“Not yet,” smiled Stoughton, before making it clear the opposite was true. “If you’re not nervous, that’s ridiculous. If anyone says they’re not nervous, they’re lying.

“I will be up (today) at six in the morning, trying to rest but tossing and turning. I will put the TV on for some distraction. But absolutely, it’s what you want to be. You should be nervous before a game, that’s what it’s all about.”

Stoughton said he will do his best today to distract himself — checking emails, watching The Masters and then having what sounds like will be a love-in with his teammates at lunch.

“We’ll have a lunch (today) and talk about how nervous we all are and how great we all are. And how much we love each other — ‘Oh, you’re the best… no you are,’ ” Stoughton laughed.

Where Stoughton’s previous experience in big games will play a role is when the team steps on the ice tonight and the skip knows what to expect. “Certainly the nerves are going to be there and the crowd support has been so wonderful — it’s quite a feeling.

“It’s different and that’s what you have to watch for the first couple ends. Because you really are excited and nervous all at the same time. It’s quite a feeling — it’s interesting.”

It’s the third time Stoughton has been in the final and the third time he has played Scotland. He beat Warwick Smith in 1996 and lost the 1999 final to Hammy McMillan.

The Scotland-Canada matchup also ensures that someone is going to have a lousy birthday. Brewster turns 37 today, while Team Canada third Jon Mead turns 44.

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Canada will be overwhelming favourites heading into the final, having already beaten the Scots twice in the past five days — 7-3 during the round-robin on Tuesday and 5-2 in the Page playoff 1-2 game on Friday night.

Stoughton was asked if his record against Scotland might work against him, presenting him with the difficult task of having to beat a team three straight times.

“I don’t think it’s an issue,” said Stoughton, noting he won Briers in 1996 and 1999 by doing just that against Alberta’s Kevin Martin and Quebec’s Guy Hemmings respectively.

“I think it should be on the other foot — that they’re going to have a tough time beating us and they should be more worried than we are.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca