If you think you鈥檝e got a big week ahead of you, curler Jordan Pinder might have you beat.
The AV俱乐部 postdoctoral fellow will be throwing third stone for Team Nova Scotia at the Tim Hortons Brier, which kicks off in Saskatoon on Saturday. Dr. Pinder is flying out today (Thursday) with his team, led by skip Jamie Murphy.
Their first draw is against the team from the Northwest Territories and the Yukon on Saturday afternoon.
鈥淲e still haven鈥檛 gotten our team uniforms yet, but I expect that鈥檚 when it will really hit home,鈥� says Dr. Pinder, who spoke to Dal News Wednesday before packing up for Saskatoon. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great feeling already, though.鈥�
Brier rookies
Dr. Pinder鈥檚 team earned the coveted right to represent Nova Scotia by winning the provincial championships early in February. The team has only been together for three seasons (and its third, Mike Bardsley, is new this year) but with some extra training and bonspiel play to get their skills up, they pulled off the victory against tough provincial competition.
鈥淲e're all Brier rookies, and this is what we鈥檝e been working towards for the past couple years,鈥� says Dr. Pinder. 鈥淲e definitely represent Nova Scotia with a lot of pride, and know that there鈥檚 a long legacy of great curlers from this province whose footsteps we鈥檙e following in.鈥�
After completing both his undergrad and PhD in biochemistry at AV俱乐部鈥攈e defended his thesis this fall, and will graduate in May鈥攈e鈥檚 now doing postdoctoral work in the Department of Pathology, exploring how PML bodies in the cell nucleus relate to DNA repair and cancer treatment.
And yet, he still finds time to practice at his home rink, C.F.B. Halifax, six times a week 鈥� not to mention compete in seven or eight bonspiels each season.
鈥淓specially as a newer team, it鈥檚 really all about hard work, putting in the hours,鈥� he says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no secret formula, but chemistry does make a big difference鈥�
A lifetime at the rink
He鈥檚 been curling for 14 years, ever since his father got him started in the sport in his hometown of Miramichi, N.B. He adds that one of the reasons he loves curling is that it鈥檚 something he鈥檒l get to do his whole life.
As for his team鈥檚 chances this weekend, he鈥檚 realistic, but also optimistic.
鈥淭he only thing you can control is how well you play. If we play our best, we think we have a shot at the playoffs. But we鈥檙e not idealistic either 鈥� we鈥檙e against a lot of teams with Brier experience, but we鈥檙e prepared to play our best.鈥�
Team Nova Scotia is not the only Brier team with a strong AV俱乐部 connection: Industrial Engineering student Adam Casey is the second for Team Newfoundland, led by Olympic gold medalist Brad Gushue. Mr. Casey has been proctoring his midterms and quizzes at Memorial University to allow him to continue to practice with his team.
鈥淏etween curling games I鈥檒l have the books out, trying to stay on top of things as best as I can,鈥� . (Mr. Casey is originally from Summerside.)
The Tim Hortons Brier takes place from March 3-11. Draws will be televised on TSN.