Scotland’s top three men’s teams will be in action at the AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic in Canada this week, but they will all have unfamiliar looks for the high class event in Cornwall, Ontario (September 10-14).
As they did when winning the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard across the province earlier in the week, Team Whyte have Craig Waddell in their line-up as he continues to replace long-term injury absentee Duncan McFadzean while older brother Kyle joins Team Mouat, with Cameron Bryce temporarily replacing him as skip of a Waddell-less Team Waddell. 
That re-shuffle is partly caused by the absence of Bruce Mouat which, as his vice skip Grant Hardie noted, provides an opportunity to build team dynamics in a season in which they are building towards the Winter Olympics.
“Not having Bruce with us is obviously not ideal, but he has got a very close friend’s wedding which has been pencilled in the diary for a long time so we always knew we would be making this trip without him this year,” he said.
“But it is also a good opportunity to bring Kyle in as he is obviously going to be our fifth man at the Olympics and you just never know what kind of circumstances you might have to face, so it will be good to have a number of games under the belt with him in the line-up and see how he fits in with us.
“He is a very versatile player and has skipped the last couple of years but has also played at third and second previously, so we think he will fit in pretty nicely and it will be a bit more of a change for me skipping and throwing last stones again.
“It has been a wee while since I have last done that, but again it is also a good opportunity for me and I am quite excited about that too.”
For all their success in Canada over the years, this title is one that has eluded them so far and they face a formidable challenge from the outset. They meet compatriots Team Whyte, fresh from that victory at the Oakville Tankard in their opener, then Switzerland’s world number nine ranked Team Hoesli, the only team to have beaten them this season, in their second match at the 24-team event.
“September in Ontario is always a trip that we look forward to, it is normally a good couple of events here to start the year,” said Hardie. 
“The Shorty Jenkins is a top quality event and we are really excited to be playing in it again.
“It’s a very tough start, so we need to hit the ground running pretty early with this one and it is going to be a very good test.
“We know what a great unit we are with Bruce in our line-up, but it will be good to see how we can all step up and adapt in our new roles without him.
“On the back of last year, which was just such an incredible season we now want to keep that momentum going all the way to February so even though Bruce isn’t with us we still want to put in a good showing at the Shorty as it is an event we all like, but one we have never won, so hopefully we can adapt, play well, get some good games under our belt and hopefully the results will go our way.
“Bruce will then fly out and we have a couple of days to get ready for the first Slam so that will be our next big target after this one.”
AMJ Campbell Shorty Jenkins Classic Results.
Team Mouat
Grant Hardie
Kyle Waddell
Bobby Lammie
Hammy McMillan
Team Whyte
Ross Whyte
Robin Brydone
Craig Waddell
Euan Kyle
Team Waddell
Cameron Bryce
Mark Watt
Angus Bryce
Blair Haswell
Images: British Curling / PPA
