Laycock to skip home team at Brier
Steve Laycock will carry Saskatchewan’s colours at a homeprovince Brier.
Laycock defeated fellow Saskatoon Nutana Curling Club member and former teammate Colton Flasch 9-7 on Sunday at Estevan’s Affinity Place to win the Saskatchewan men’s championship.
“It was definitely a barnburner, for sure,” Laycock said.
Laycock, third Matthew Dunstone, second Kirk Muyres and lead Dallan Muyres punched their ticket to the Brier, slated for March 3-11 at the Brandt Centre, by holding off a lategame rally by Flasch.
“It never gets less exciting,” Laycock said after winning his fourth provincial title as a skip. “In fact, this one might have been as exciting as any of them, just because of how the game was going, and with the momentum swings we had out there.”
Flasch led 2-1 after two ends. Laycock blanked the third and fourth ends before counting five in the fifth end.
Laycock led 8-3 after seven ends before Flasch registered back-to-back deuces. In the 10th end, Laycock scored one with the hammer to claim the provincial Tankard.
“It’s an absolutely amazing feeling, and such a relief when that last rock finally stopped in the eight-foot,” Laycock said.
The 35-year-old Laycock will skip Saskatchewan at the Brier for the fourth time in five years. His team previously captured provincial titles in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Their best finish at the Brier was a bronze medal in 2015.
“Seven times to the Brier and this will be the first time playing in the home province,” said Laycock, who curled in the 2007, 2008 and 2011 Briers as a member of Pat Simmons’ team.
“I’ve seen what it’s like for the home teams, just the crowd support and the roars when you get a big end. Hopefully we can make the crowd roar a few times (in Regina).”
Flasch played with Laycock for six years, winning three provincial championships, before leaving in 2017.