The Masters is Coming...and the Ladies Are Ready!
I admit I have been very one-sided in only talking about the men's action on the World Curling Tour but this weekend is the Masters and I will do my best to breakdown both the men's and women's draw. This is a huge event with the best teams in the world hitting the ice, both deserve equal attention on #TwineTime. As a quick reminder on the format, the draw consists of the Top 15 teams (men and women). Teams are placed into 3 pools of 5 with the top 8 OVERALL teams advancing to the playoffs. In theory one pool could produce multiple teams qualifying while another pool may only see 1 or 2 teams qualify.
To read my tale of the tape on the men's side, visit HERE!
Let's start with the ladies...
WOMEN
Pool A
Team Jennifer Jones (WCT Ranking: 1) - The Olympic champs are rolling right
along and look just as strong. Similar to the comments made about Team
Jacobs this season, these Gold medalists do not appear to have any
Olympic-hangover either. Their draw isn't a cake walk at this event but
there is no reason to think they shouldn't win their pool
Projection: 4-0
Projection: 4-0
Team Val Sweeting (7) - The addition of Andrea Crawford (originally from New
Brunswick) was a question mark at the beginning of the season as to how
she will mesh with this team. So far I would consider it a positive
partnership. Andrea and Val have opposite personalities that seem to
gel quite well together. This team started the season strong with two
finals appearances but has missed qualification their past two events.
Which team shows up in Selkirk?
Projection: 2-2
Projection: 2-2
Team Anna Sidorova (6) - Haven't seen too much of the bronze medalists from
last year's world championships this year. They have qualified in their
two previous events but this is a Grand Slam field. A bit unknown on
how they will do coming over from Russia and playing. This team could
finish anywhere from 3-1 to 1-3 in this field. The positive is they
play Team Jones in their final game so they will already know what they
need to do....and Jones may already have a playoff spot locked up by
then.
Projection: 2-2
Projection: 2-2
Team Heather Nedohin (11) - The addition of Amy Nixon seems to be working
for this team. They have qualified at both of their previous events.
This is a very deep field though so they could be in tough this weekend.
Projection: 2-2
Projection: 2-2
Team Alison Flaxey (15) - Most will probably write this team off in this
event, given the field they will compete against. Not the best results
heading into the Masters either. However, never count out a underdog
team not expected to compete. Any team can beat anyone on any day.
Having said that, unfortunately I do not see this team picking up a win
in this pool.
Projection: 0-4
Projection: 0-4
Pool B
Team Rachel Homen (2) - Two-time defending Canadian champ and two-time
defending Masters champ. In fact, this event has only had one winner in
its history and they are back for more. Hard to really bet against
this team. Even with the new line-up this year, they are still rolling
along and curling at a high percentage. Should have no trouble
qualifying.
Projection: 4-0
Projection: 4-0
Team Sherry Middaugh (9) - Well if you are looking for a team outside the
top 2 coming in on a hot streak, Team Middaugh is the team to look at.
Qualified at their past three events, including a win and runner-up
finish, this team is ready to take on a very competitive field. I think
they match up quite well with the teams in their pool and have a very
good chance at qualifying.
Projection:2-2
Projection:2-2
Team Silvana Tirinzoni (5) - A Swiss team capable of winning the entire
weekend? Heck, in this field there are more than one. Team Tirinzoni
have won two of their three events this season (with a SF appearance
being their other result). They know how to score points. They know
how to win on tour. They have confidence. This is a very dangerous
team who can easily be playing on Sunday.
Projection: 3-1
Projection: 3-1
Team Chelsea Carey (16) - Still not sure what to make out of this team.
Chelsea made the big move to Edmonton after a 3rd place finish at the
Scotties, formed a new team and started the season strong with an event
win in Edmonton. Unfortunately, that seems like a season ago. They
have not qualified at their past three events. Given the strength of
this field and how successful their competition have been in comparison,
it could be a long weekend for Team Carey.
Projection: 1-3
Projection: 1-3
Team
Alina Patz (12) - The second Swiss team in the field started the season
strong, similar to Team Carey. A runner-up finish to open the season
followed by a top 5 finish seemed like this team was ready to take on
the tour. Unfortunate results in Sweden and at home in Switzerland have
this team left wondering how to right the ship. Can they put up a
fight in their games? Probably. Can they secure the wins needed to
qualify? Probably not.
Projection: 0-4
Projection: 0-4
Pool C
Team Eve Muirhead (3) - Been a bit of an up and down start to the season for
a fan favorite from Scotland. A runner-up finish to start the season
was followed by a disappointing result in Sweden but a qualified result
in Basel. This is a strong international pool they find themselves in
so they will be VERY familiar with their opponents. They lost in the
final last year to Homan and would love to get some revenge. They may
not have looked convincing this season so far but never count them out.
Projection: 3-1
Projection: 3-1
Team
Margaretha Sigfridsson (4) - Ah Team Sweden! Always a threat. Always
curling high percentage. I think this is one team both Team Jones and
Team Homan were happy to avoid in pool play. This is a team that can
play some cat and mouse with wide open ends but then put a ton of rocks
in play and end up scoring a 4 spot on you quickly. Watch out for them.
Projection: 3-1
Projection: 3-1
Team Binia Feltscher (8) - Another Swiss team in the field. Oh and the
defending world champions. Underdogs, I don't think so. Dark horse,
perhaps. Although, how many expected them to win the world championship
last year? This team seems quite happy with the dark horse, under the
radar role...they may even embrace it. To be fair, can you really ever
call the world champs a dark horse? In this field, and in this pool,
oddly enough yes. Plus they did just win in Basel.
Projection: 3-1
Projection: 3-1
Team
Sherry Anderson (10) - With Stef Lawton taking some time away from the
ice, Sherry Anderson takes over. An experienced skip with an
experienced team, the ladies from Saskatchewan can never be counted
out. They show up at tour events every year and come away with very
strong results. They are always a threat. Unfortunately the new
line-up has not yielded the same results from previous years. This team
has yet to qualify in any of their events. They will be hard pressed
to do the same here.
Projection: 1-3
Projection: 1-3
Team Kristy McDonald (25) - The unknown in the pool. A good recent result
in Portage will give this team confidence heading into the Grand Slam
event. Unfortunately, they are in a pool of international death with
Olympic and World Champion caliber opponents. They will be over-matched
all weekend. They will have home province support though, which could
help.
Projection: 0-4
Qualified Teams: Team Jones, Team Homan, Team Tirinzoni, Team Muirhead, Team Sigfridsson, Team Feltscher, Team Middaugh, Team Sweeting
Women's Championship: Team Homan over Team Jones - The European teams are coming on strong at this event but come on, this is the final we all want and expect. Team Homan stay undefeated at this event and pick up another Grand Slam victory.
Projection: 0-4
Qualified Teams: Team Jones, Team Homan, Team Tirinzoni, Team Muirhead, Team Sigfridsson, Team Feltscher, Team Middaugh, Team Sweeting
Women's Championship: Team Homan over Team Jones - The European teams are coming on strong at this event but come on, this is the final we all want and expect. Team Homan stay undefeated at this event and pick up another Grand Slam victory.
No comments:
Post a Comment