Friday 3 December 2021

OQE2021 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Punching Final Tickets to Beijing

Plus #Trials2021 Parting Rocks


The rocks keep spinning as we get closer to the end of 2021.

Olympic trials. Continental championships. Grand slam of curling events. And now the FINAL chance at Olympic qualification.

If we thought we saw stress on the ice over the past few weeks, imagine what we will see in Leeuwarden, Netherlands over the next few weeks.

For those athletes representing their nation in Leeuwarden, this is it. This is the last chance to earn your spot in the 2022 Winter Olympics field in Beijing, China.

14 mixed doubles teams. 9 men's teams. 9 women's teams.

And only 2 mixed doubles Olympic spots. Only 3 men's and women's Olympic spots.

Happy Holidays indeed!

Saturday 20 November 2021

#ECC2021 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: European Curling Championships Preview

Granite stones are ready to slide down the "Rocky Hill" ice



Do you know how Lillehammer, Norway got its name?

The town was originally named after an old farm "Hamar" or "Hamarr" in old Norse dialect.

However, a neighbouring town was also known as "Hamar" causing a bit of confusion as to which town is which.

Hamar, the host city for the upcoming 2021 European Curling Championships, needed to differentiate itself from the "other Hamar" so it started to be known as "Little Hamar".

Little Hamar adapted over time to become known as Litlihamarr and eventually Lillehammer as we know it today.

"Hamarr" also stands for "Rocky Hill" so over the next 8 days the granite stones will slide down the ice at Rocky Hill.

There is your history lesson for the day rock heads!

Thursday 18 November 2021

#Trials2021 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Canadian Olympic Curling Trials Preview

The "City of Bridges" will connect Canada's best to Beijing, China



Oh Saskatoon. What memories I have of the "City of Bridges".

I spent my university days attending the University of Saskatchewan and cheering on the Huskies.

I enjoyed my college weekends at hot spot clubs like Champs and Whiskey Jacks and The Odeon.

And I attended my first Brier at Saskatchewan Place, now known as the SaskTel Centre.

Now I will write another chapter of firsts to my curling blog resume in attending the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials.

18 of the top men's and women's teams from across our great nation will collect in 'Toon Town looking to become the next #TeamCanada.

Who is there? Who will emerge victorious?

Time to go #BetweenTheSheets for a full preview. Consider this the warm up rock before the official first rock is thrown Saturday afternoon.

Friday 12 November 2021

USA Olympic Curling Trials Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: USA Olympic Curling Trials Preview

The "Gateway to the West" becomes the "Gateway to Beijing"


Nebraska is not just about prairie winds this upcoming week folks.

The flat prairie land, in the heart of Midwest USA, opens its doors in Omaha for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Curling.

Curling is a sport that thrives on flat land so Nebraska seems to be the logical choice to host this prestigious event. The largest city in the state did host this exact same event back in 2017 to great success so why not do it again?

No real analytics needed for this one. Win this event and you are off to Beijing, China for the 2022 Winter Olympics representing the red, white and blue.

There are no second chances this week. #WinAndIn or lose and have Olympic aspiration dreams for another 4 years.

Bring. It. On.

Monday 1 November 2021

#NationalGSOC Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Boost National Preview 

Who Connects with a TKO in Chestermere? 


Guess who's back in the house?

The Grand Slam of Curling is back in the house.

Already?

Only 9 days removed from crowning our recent slam champions, we return for the second major of the season with The BOOST National in Chestermere, Alberta.

And within those 9 days we happened to focus our curling rocks on the Canadian Olympic Pre-Trials in Liverpool, N.S., which just wrapped up on Halloween.

Amazing how we go months with no curling and then boom, boom, boom like a Gunner runback triple to quickly have more curling then we may even know what to do with.

Monday 25 October 2021

Pre-Trials Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Pre-Trials Preview

The Road to the Roar goes through Liverpool, N.S. 


After the many twists and turns known as the Curling Canada Olympic Trials process, the pathway is pretty clear now.

There is one road open for those teams still in the hunt for an Olympic Trials spot and it is led by a lighthouse.

Follow the light. Navigate the path. Punch a ticket to Saskatoon.

Easy enough, no?

Welcome to the Curling Canada Olympic Pre-Trials. Better known as the Road to the Roar.

Friday 22 October 2021

WWhCC2021 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: World Wheelchair Curling Championship Preview

Welcome to the Ice Cube...Who returns for the 2022 Paralympic Games?


Helllooooo World Championship curling!

With all the focus on Olympic/Paralympic Games qualification events and trials, how about we shift our focus to crowing our first world champions of the 2021/22 curling season?

The best wheelchair curling athletes from around the world will hit up the #IceCube in Beijing from October 23 - 30 in search of claiming a world championship for their home nation.

12 teams enter the "cube". 1 will emerge as champion.

Tuesday 19 October 2021

Masters Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: A TKO From Oakville
The GSOC returns with The Masters


Is it real?

This is not a dream, right?

Someone pinch me just to make sure I am awake and living in the real world.

Will the REAL #GSOC please stand up?

After all these months of #COVID19 wrecking havoc on our lives, in multiple ways, we are finally going to see the return of the Grand Slam of Curling!

Bring on the first major of the curling season: The Masters.

Friday 8 October 2021

Time For Thanks

#BetweenTheSheets: Time For Thanks

Reflect and give thanks this Thanksgiving weekend


Fall is here. Leaves change colours. Nights get colder. Days get a bit darker.

People run out to buy as much pumpkin spice whatever's as possible.

But there is more to Fall than seasonal change and fun flavouring in coffee and food.

This is the time of year for us to truly take time and give thanks for the wonderfulness around us.

COVID-19 is still a thing. It is still here. It is still real. It is still frustrating.

This weekend is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada so lets leave the negativity behind, for at least one weekend, and show appreciation for all that we love and care for.

We "Give Thanks" for Thanksgiving.

Wednesday 6 October 2021

POQE Preview

 #BetweenTheSheets: The Road To 2022 Continues

The Pre-Olympic Qualification Event hits the ice in Turkey

The Road to 2022 continues, this time taking a detour to Erzurum, Turkey.

Erzurum is located in Eastern Turkey with a population of more than 360,000 people.

The city is not unfamiliar with hosting large sporting events. Erzurum hosted the 2011 Winter Universiade, where some familiar names walked away with gold medals on the curling ice (Korea's Chang-min Kim and Scotland's Anna Sloan).

The city will now make their mark on the road to Beijing 2022 for the Pre-Olympic Qualification Event.

Monday 4 October 2021

What Is My Ranking?

#BetweenTheSheets: What Is My Ranking?

Does anyone understand these "new" ranking procedures?


The road to the top can often be one filled with left turns, traffic circles, U-turns and yields.

How does a team navigate the road to find themselves moving up the rankings and reaching their destination of becoming the top ranked team in the world?

We *thought* the Road to #1 was a bit more clear heading into this season with a revamped rankings system in place.

A few months in and we are still left shrugging our shoulders and having no real idea how these rankings work.

What is happening?

Wednesday 22 September 2021

The Path to the Road to the Roar

#BetweenTheSheets: The Path To The Road To The Roar

Ready to start sliding towards the Olympic Trials in Saskatoon?


It is a beautiful Fall day. You grab your favourite water bottle. Put on your favourite walking outfit. And you hit the trails to get some much needed exercise.

You find your entry to the path and start walking. Birds chirping. Sun shining. Small breeze. Everything is relaxing and perfect.

Then you hit a detour.

The path makes you turn left.

You shrug your shoulders and continue along the path as directed.

Another detour.

You now are going right.

"Ok, this is weird," you tell yourself but it is a nice day and you are out enjoying yourself so you venture on.

Another detour. Again?!

Another left. Followed by another left. Followed by two right's.

Now you look around and in true "The Simple Life" Paris Hilton-style you ask yourself, "Where the hell am I?"

Confused on where you are? How many turns have your taken? How many detours are there?

Welcome to the 2021 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials process.

Thursday 9 September 2021

#BetweenTheSheets: Rocks Will Spin From West To East

Curling fans have big events to watch in Edmonton and Oakville


Curling fans love September.

Sure the nice summer weather starts to drift away and our days start getting a bit shorter but curling ice is placed and competitive events hit our calendars.

This is one of the top, and most competitive, weekends on the curling season calendar.

Huge events in Edmonton and Oakville featuring top contending teams from across Canada and around the world.

And teams are prepping for an Olympic season.

Ring the bell....the drama is about to begin.

Dreams will be made...and dreams will be shattered.

And it all begins with this weekend *officially*

Monday 23 August 2021

#PowerRankings Pre-Season

#BetweenTheSheets: The Fan Choice Top 10 Reveal

Who sits atop the #PowerRankings Mountain to start the season? 


Curling is back!

We may only be 3/4 of the way through August and, technically, still in summer but the curling rocks and rings have returned already.

What an opening weekend of action too.

We saw some #TeamUpset stories emerge in Baden and Leduc.

We saw what may be considered a surprising champion in Hokkaido.

And a mixed doubles event proving anyone can beat anyone and this is why we play the games.

BUT before we sort our rocks from the weekend, lets get to the BIG REVEAL.

The Fans Choice #PowerRankings!

Thursday 19 August 2021

New Season, Who 'Dis?

#BetweenTheSheets: New Season, Who 'Dis?

Ready for a Return to Curl?


Welcome back curling.

Welcome back World Curling Tour events.

Welcome back to the house rockheads.

Can you believe we are finally here?

Rocks are being polished. Brooms are being packed. Jerseys are being washed.

And NEW changes have arrived.

It truly is....New Season, Who 'Dis?

Friday 30 July 2021

Cannabis 'N Sport

#BetweenTheSheets: Cannabis 'N Sport

Performance threat or just blowin' smoke?


With the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan well under way, a hot topic among the sports world leading into the games was cannabis use.

The story of American sprinter, and podium threat, Sha'Carri Richardson made international news.

Richardson won the 100-meter event at the U.S. track and field trials a month before the games. Richardson was then disqualified from competing and sentenced to a one month suspension (the month of the Tokyo Olympics) when she received a positive drug test for cannabis.

We will spare the jokes of how cannabis disqualified a medal contender from a trials event held in Oregon, one of the most liberal states when it comes to cannabis consumption.

As a result, she will be sitting at home watching the games rather than competing for gold.

The international story created a buzz across the sports world and resurfacing the age-old question, "Should cannabis be included on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited substance list?"

Sunday 16 May 2021

#WMDCC2021 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: World Mixed Doubles Curling 

Championship Preview

20 nations enter the final #IceBubble of the season

Are you ready to say goodbye to the 2021 curling season rock heads?

I know you are ready to say goodbye to #COVIDcurling at the very least.

The World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship will bring a close to a season like none we have seen before. And lets hope it stays that way.

The #IceBubble has left Calgary.

It has floated over the entire nation of Canada, drifted over the Atlantic Ocean and has now set up show in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Bring on the final championship event of the season.

Monday 10 May 2021

#WWCC2021 Parting Rocks

#BetweenTheSheets: Bye Bye #IceBubble

World Women's Curling Championship Parting Rocks


RIP #IceBubble

February 19, 2021 - May 9, 2021

For 79 days you brought air into the curling community and now we must say good bye to you.

Welcome to the #IceBubble Eulogy!

You brought us tears of joy and tears of heartbreak.

You brought us broom taps and broom slams.

You brought us curling in masks.

You brought us positive COVID-19 cases and schedule delays.

You brought us testing....lots and lots of testing.

But, most importantly, you brought us the sport of curling.

Before we say "Good Bye" we must first say "Thank You".

Wednesday 5 May 2021

#WWCC2021 Power Rankings - Day 7

 #BetweenTheSheets: Elimination Day

Make your move on #MovingDay but can you survive #EliminationDay?


Welcome to #EliminationDay!

This may be my favourite day of a championship event.

A few teams start clinching playoff spots and eyeing up high seeds for the playoffs.

A few others use momentum from #MovingDay to continue climbing the standings and keep those playoff and Olympic aspirations alive.

And a few others....well thanks for playing.

It sounds harsh but this is sports. We are not handing out participation ribbons here.

We are handing out a world championship and 6 (or 5) spots in the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Those with a weak stomach need not watch.

Tuesday 4 May 2021

#WWCC2021 Power Rankings - Day 6

#BetweenTheSheets: Defense Wins Championships?

Is the best offense for Moving Day a strong defense?



The NCAA football coaching legend Paul William "Bear" Bryant said it best: "Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships."

Bear Bryant obviously knew what he was talking about.

During his tenure as head coach of the University of Alabama (1958 - 1982), Bryant led the Crimson Tide to 6 national championships, 13 Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships and remains the youngest coach to win 300 games and have 30 winning seasons.

Amazing!

Bryant also understood the philosophy of success in sports. He recognized sports are a money-making business. You need to make money. You need to sell tickets. You need to win games.

His quote still holds true today. Sports fans pay to see offense but stay fans to be part of a championship.

But does Bryant's philosophy transfer over from the gridiron to the ice house?

Monday 3 May 2021

#WWCC2021 Power Rankings - Day 5

#BetweenTheSheets: The Rules of Fandom

An update to the #PowerRankings mountain

TwineTime at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Being a sports fan is hard work.

When you team is winning, the euphoric feeling you get is unparalleled.

When your team is losing, there is no worse feeling in the world.

Fans can win and lose with grace. Fan can win and lose with tact. Fans can win and lose with respect.

And then there are THOSE fans who can do none of the above, win or lose.

Those fans need a lesson in fandom.

Thursday 29 April 2021

#WWCC2021 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: WWCC2021 Preview

Bring on the final #IceBubble event


The #IceBubble is getting ready to burst.

No, not because of COVID-19 cases or positives or false positives or anything pandemic related.

Because the World Women's Curling Championship is the final event to enter the bubble.

A year ago the curling houses closed. Now we sit at the beginning of May celebrating the Return of Curling and the end of the #IceBubble.

5 events completed. 1 event remains.

It is almost sad in a way, no?

Monday 19 April 2021

#PlayersChampionship Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Players' Championship Preview

Or Champions Cup 2.0? Maybe a format change was needed here?


What are we doing here folks?

Yes we are preparing for the second slam event of the season. The second slam during the pandemic. A return to curl on slam ice.

But, really. What are we doing?

Is the Players' Championship just Champions Cup 2.0? Champions Cup Redo? Champions Cup: The Remix?

Or was the Champions Cup just the Players' Championship tune-up? The Players' Championship warm-up event?

What is happening here?

Wednesday 14 April 2021

#ChampionsCup Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Champions Cup Preview
An event in name only, what happened to the criteria?




Welcome to the Grand Slam of Curling season....redux. Or shortened? Or modified?

What exactly are we calling this #GSOC "season"?

Maybe we don't need to call it anything and just enjoy some extra curling inside the #IceBubble?

The Humpty's Champions Cup is the first slam event to hit the ice, starting Thursday and concluding the following Monday.

But is this REALLY a #ChampionsCup? Is this not just an event in name only?

Monday 12 April 2021

#WMCC2021 Parting Rocks

#BetweenTheSheets: Welcome to the S Club Podium Party

World Men's Curling Championship Parting Rocks


What. A. Championship.

We had close games. We had upsets. We had 10 athletes curl perfect games.

We also had drama. We had a slight pin hole let the air out of the #IceBubble.

An international championship taking place during a global pandemic, who would have thought?

But we also saw resiliency and adaptability. And the rocks continued to spin.

At the end of the day, it was a Euro S Club Podium Party!

Sweden. Scotland. Switzerland.

S Club, get down tonight! There ain't no party like an S Club Party.

Just ask our 3 medal winners.

The #IceBubble created history, in many ways. 2021 marked the first time the Final Four at a world championship was an all-European Final Four.

Amazing really, isn't it? With so many European teams competing each year, it seems like this would not be a historic moment. But alas, it was.

When Scotland eliminated Canada and Switzerland knocked off USA in the two Qualifying Games, we were left with 4 European nations in contention for the title.

The last time Europe swept the podium was in 2014 when Norway (Team Ulsrud) won gold. Who won silver? Sweden skipped by Oskar Eriksson. Who won bronze? Switzerland skipped by Peter De Cruz.

No European Curling Championships, no problem for European nations as they sweep the podium and the Top 4. Congratulations to Sweden, Scotland and Switzerland.

Humble brag moment but pretty sure those were the same 3 podium teams predicted by this very blog in the preview post, including the gold medal participants. Where are you now haters who say I know nothing about the sport? LOL J/K (kind of).

Before we continue, lets tackle the elephant on the ice. Everyone wants to talk about the COVID testing. The positive tests. The negative tests. The unknown.

But, lets be real, if you are looking for commentary on the topic of testing, there are many traditional journalists out there happy to take on that story and focus on it.

This blog is making the decision to not engage in the topic. Will it lose me some followers or clicks? Perhaps. And so be it. Everyone reads the news they are interested in.

And this may be a bit of surprise as this blog has a history of not shying away from controversial topics (ie: rankings, social consciousness, Dear White People).

But this is about health and well-being of those involved. For one, I do not believe in discussing the "who" related to positive testing. It does not matter to me. It should not matter to you. Whether a false positive or whatever the situation ends up being, it is still someone's health and personal test and it is none of our business.

Would you want your health record and tests to be shared with the world? Probably not. So why should you want the same out of an athlete competing at this championship? Don't ask "who". 

As for the response, the World Curling Federation (WCF) and Curling Canada (CC) worked with Alberta Health Services in setting up the #IceBubble protocols. Guidelines were established and approved. An incident happened, everyone responded.

Both WCF and CC released announcement updates on the situation when information was available to share, while also respecting those affected. They provided media availability for a press conference to get updates and ask questions.

Yes, #TwineTime was invited to participate. No, I chose not to. There were enough people around the virtual table. The blog has never been one to shuffle elbows to get a seat at the table. But thank you to WCF and CC for extending the invite. It is appreciated!

On a personal note, my day job is COVID-19 focused. Day in, day out. I am in meetings talking about COVID response. I am answering calls and texts and emails about various protocols and restrictions. I think I really just could not handle another COVID-focused issue when curling and operation of this blog is meant to be a positive mental health release.

Did I drop the ball as a curling blogger? Possibly. And if people think that, my apologies.

But I also would rather focus on the competition itself. The action I was able to watch and able to provide commentary on.

Sitting around asking COVID questions and raising speculation and sensationalizing the issue just wasn't a high priority for this blog. As I said, there are MANY others who can provide the info you are looking for.

So how about we talk about curling. The actual sport of curling. Sound good?

Before we dive into the parting rocks, lets first congratulate those 6 nations who punched their ticket to the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Due to the playoff appearance of their national representatives, the following nations will be heading to Beijing, China: Sweden, RCF, USA, Canada, Scotland and Switzerland.

The remaining nations will head off to the Olympic Qualification Event (#OQE) in December, assuming the event is still possible. Lets hope COVID does not cancel this event. 

The extra pressure was on 13 teams competing. They all not only were competing for a world championship but an Olympic berth. And in the conditions we are living under. Props to all the teams for stepping up and playing their best.

Congratulations to those 6 nations who join hosts China in the Olympic field.

Ok, lets shine up those 8 #WMCC2021 parting rocks.

#PartingRocks

🥌 #TheVikingWay - He started slow. Murmurs started on social media wondering if this would be the year he would be knocked off his thrown. And then he started winning. And winning. And winning. Eventually Niklas Edin would win all the way through Sunday night to pick up another world championship. #HIStory was made. For #KingNiklas, this was his 5th world title. He now holds the record for most world championships. He also pulled the #3peat, another accomplishment never done before. If you doubted the GOAT label before, you surely cannot be doubting it anymore. And he won the title wearing a hat?! When did you last see Niklas Edin wear a hat during a major international championship? Even with the hat, which many on SM said looked like over-sized glasses due to the tape job, he was the same Niklas Edin we all love to watch and cheer for. Team Edin deserved this title. They finished the RR in first place. Sure they lost their opener to Switzerland but champions rebound and roll on. Sweden did just that. They rebounded and rolled on, outlasting their competition once again. Congratulations Team Edin.

🥌 #ScottishPride - Oh so close to knocking off the King and taking the throne. What a win it would have been for Team Mouat. Extra special for lead Hammy McMillan Jr. whose dad won a world title representing Scotland 22 years ago to the day. But alas, the King held his throne for another year. There is nothing to hang the heads about though for the young Scottish lads. They won a silver medal. They rebounded from losses during the week. They knocked off a tough Team Canada in the Q-game and got the better of the surprise RCF in the SF. They played great all week and they WON this silver medal. It may not feel like a great consolation when you come so close to the big prize but this team has now competed in 3 straight world championships, made the playoffs each time and have a silver and bronze medal to show for their efforts. Many teams and players would kill for just one world championship appearance, for one world medal. Congratulations Team Mouat. You will be back!

🥌 #BronzeBoys - Speaking of #HIStory, how about Switzerland's Peter De Cruz. When the final draw came to a stop and Switzerland picked up their single point in 10 to win the bronze medal game vs. RCF, De Cruz took a piece of the record book. De Cruz has now won 4 world bronze medals, tying him with the great Norwegian skip Eigil Ramsfjell. Add to the fact De Cruz has only competed in 4 world championships and has not only reached the playoffs each time BUT also the podium. An amazing accomplishment. For this team, it may be bitter sweet. The bronze monkey is still on their back. Bronze medals win at world championships, European championships and the Olympic Games is nice but you want to get over that SF hurdle. This team has consistently proven to be one of the best in the world. You have to think it will happen sooner rather than later. To add to the mixed bag of results, the team clinched a spot in Beijing for Switzerland; however, because they did not finish Top 2 they now will have to win a play-off vs. Team Schwaller to determine who will represent the Swiss at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Talk about an emotional rollercoaster ride. Regardless, that can be for another day. Today, congratulations Team De Cruz. We look forward to seeing you back on world championship ice again.

🥌 #TeamUpset - There were many great "upset" moments this week inside the #IceBubble. Norway jumping out to a 7-1 start and sitting atop the table for the beginning of the week. Italy making another playoff push and showing "They Belong". Korea winning their first ever game vs. Team Canada at a world championship. But we all know the ultimate #TeamUpset story: RCF! Also known in this blog as #TeamVoldemort. If you are unsure why, it is explained HERE. Who saw this coming? The previous best result for "the nation which cannot be named" was 9th place in 2018 and 2019. 2021 was only the 8th world championship appearance for "the nation", making their debut in 2013. Skip Sergey Glukhov has been here before. 2021 marked his 4th world's appearance. He was part of the team in 2018 who had the best record "the nation" have ever posted as well: 5-7. There was something different about Glukhov this week. He was confident. He was making amazing shots. He was calling great games. He was the story of the tournament. #TeamVoldemort broke many records for "the nation" in winning 11 RR games to finish 2nd, making the playoffs with a coveted SF bye and reaching the Top 4. They also knocked off Team Canada for the first time. An incredible run and performance. We often talk about seeing the same teams/nations win year in and year out. Not this year. Congratulations Team Glukhov on an amazing week and reminding the world on any day in any draw, any team can beat any other team.

🥌 #PACC - A world championship to forget for the Pacific-Asia representatives. Japan and Korea failed to lock down an Olympic spot. China, the Olympic hosts, finished 14th. China's last place finish cost the region a direct entry spot in the 2022 world championship field. The 3 nations finished with a combined record of 10-29. Yikes! Not the momentum the region wanted heading into a "home" Olympics. Japan and Korea do have the second chance at the #OQE. Of course, if the event cannot happen, at least Japan finished 9th so, should the remaining 3 spots need to be awarded and not competed for, teams 7 - 9 here should get those berths (Italy, Norway, Japan). We have seen the PACC region grow over the past few years but this was a minor slide back in the hack. Lets see how they respond and rebound heading into next season.

🥌 #NA4NA - This was a #HIStoric moment for North Americans teams...just not in a good way. It was NA for NA. For the first time in the history of the world men's curling championship, neither Canada or USA advanced to the Final Four. For Canada, they have only missed a Top 4 finish once in the 62-year history of this event. Canada finished 9th in 1976. On the flip side, who won gold in 1976? Team USA. When Canada struggled, USA thrived and vice versa. But in 2021, the #IceBubble claimed the lives of both North American teams. It was a bit surprising. On the plus, at least both nations clinched spots in the 2022 Winter Olympics. 

🥌 #AllStars - WCF events do not hand out All Star awards but #TwineTime is happy to do so. After a great 10 days of curling, here are your All Star award winners, as designated by this fan at least:

The #TwineTime First Team All Stars:

S: Bruce Mouat (SCO) - 85%

V: Oskar Eriksson (SWE) - 89% 

2: Rasmus Wrana (SWE) - 89%

L: Christoffer Sundgren (SWE) - 92%

The #TwineTime Second Team All Stars:

S: Brenden Bottcher (CAN) - 85%

V: Grant Hardie (SCO) - 86%

2: Brad Thiessen (CAN) - 87%

L: - Hammy McMillan Jr. (SCO) - 92%

The #TwineTime Overall Team All Star:

Sweden (Team Edin) - 89%

Congratulations to our 2021 All Stars!.

🥌 #ThankYou - This was a tough event. 14 teams is not a problem, the bubble had that experience. Adding international teams can be a bit more challenging due to every nation having different rules and COVID-19 numbers and protocols. But, props to all 14 teams. Props to all the athletes. Props to coaches and fifth players. Curling fans from around the world thank you for your dedication to the sport and for helping create an outstanding event during a pandemic. We wish you all safe travels home!

And major thanks to WCF, Curling Canada, TSN, WCTV, volunteers, organizers, Alberta Health Services and everyone else involved in creating and maintaining the #IceBubble. Yes it did not go perfect during playoff weekend but we adapt and show resiliency in the response. Thank You! Curling continued because of all of you.

#StayTuned

The #IceBubble continues. We welcome the Grand Slam of Curling into the bubble for back-to-back events.

We start with the Champions Cup this week and the Players' Championship the following week.

The blog will return later in the week for a #GSOC Champions Cup preview.

Enjoy your week and stay safe!

Thursday 8 April 2021

#WMCC2021 Power Rankings - Day 7

#BetweenTheSheets: Placement Day

Friday concludes the RR and finalizes the playoff bracket


From Moving Day to Elimination Day to Placement Day.

The stress level for teams goes from hot to hotter to red hot in a span of 48 hours.

But did Thursday actually "eliminate" any teams? Or did we just see teams clinch spots in the playoff round?

What a wacky adventure ride this championship has become.

When the rocks cleared the ice Thursday night, we didn't eliminate any teams. Rather we eliminated the available playoff spots remaining.

Wednesday 7 April 2021

#WMCC2021 Power Rankings - Day 6

 #BetweenTheSheets: Welcome to Elimination Day

Can you live to see another day?


If you make it to Thursday at a world championship and you have not been eliminated, congratulations.

You have put together a stellar week of curling and this is where you want to be.

Unfortunately, as is usually the case, you work is far from over.

Surviving #MovingDay is great. Welcome to #EliminationDay!

Tuesday 6 April 2021

#WMCC2021 Power Rankings - Day 5

#BetweenTheSheets: Watching The Olympic (Ice) Bubble

Are you close to an Olympic ticket or did your bubble burst?


The narrative heading into the 2021 World Men's Curling Championship was how many losses could you afford to put on the board to keep you in the playoff hunt and, ultimately, punch your ticket into the Winter Olympics field.

As we move past the half-way point of the competition, has the narrative really changed?

Maybe a small fraction as we start to see separation in the standings.

Some teams have been eliminated from earning direct Olympic berth.

A few teams look to be in a pretty comfortable position.

And some are going to have to step up their game...and maybe need a little help.

Lets look at the Olympic #IceBubble.

Monday 5 April 2021

#WMCC2021 Power Rankings - Day 4

#BetweenTheSheets: Expect The Unexpected

Be Alert!! This is why we play the games


What. A. Day.

No more undefeated teams.

No more winless teams.

#HIStory was made with a win.

And when the last rock finished spinning, what were we left with?

#ExpectTheUnexpected.

Seems like a perfect mantra for a world championship event during a pandemic, no?

Sunday 4 April 2021

#WMCC2021 Power Rankings - Day 3

 #BetweenTheSheets: Opening Weekend Power Rankings

Olympics aspirations already gone for some teams?


9 draws are in the record books at the 2021 World Men's Curling Championship inside the #IceBubble and the standings may look a little unexpected.

We have only one team undefeated.

We have three teams still looking for their first win.

And we possibly have one team already eliminated from Winter Olympic qualification.

What a weekend!

Thursday 1 April 2021

#WMCC2021 Preview

 #BetweenTheSheets: WMCC2021 Preview

From March Madness to April Fool's

Sports can be cruel. It is a fact of life. 

Especially this time of year.

We go from the hype and excitement of #MarchMadness to the reality check of #AprilFools.

14 teams will enter the #IceBubble with world championship aspirations and Olympic dreams.

By Championship Sunday, for the majority of the players, those dreams will be dashed.

As I said, sports can be cruel. Happy April Fool's Day!

Friday 26 March 2021

#CMDCC2021 Parting Rocks

 #BetweenTheSheets: Canadian Mixed Doubles Parting Rocks

We say goodbye to another Canadian championship event

Photo Credit: Curling Canada

The Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championships spun its final "X" marked rock on Thursday night with the crowning of a new champion.

Kerri Einarson and Brad Gushue defeated Kadriana Sahaidak and Colton Lott in the final to claim the title.

Einarson/Gushue will now head to Scotland in May to compete as #TeamCanada at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship. They will try to win Canada's second world mixed doubles championship and, perhaps more importantly, punch Canada's ticket into the mixed doubles field at the upcoming Winter Olympic Games.

No pressure, of course.

Thursday 18 March 2021

#CMDCC2021 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Double Trouble in the #IceBubble

Ready for Mixed Doubles March Madness?


 The #IceBubble Championships continue.

We celebrated a #DefendTheIce moment at the Scotties.

We saw resiliency reign supreme at the Brier.

What do you have in store for us Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship?

Monday 15 March 2021

#Brier2021 Parting Rocks

#BetweenTheSheets: Brier 2021 Parting Rocks

Resiliency rocks the #IceBubble

Photo: Team Bottcher Facebook Page

If you watched the Brier final and saw Team Bottcher finally embrace and smile at the conclusion of a Brier final and not feel something, what is wrong with you?

After three successive trips to the final and three successive silver medals placed around their necks, the Alberta boys finally were able to win the one extra game needed to be called Brier Champions.

And in a year of uncertainty, was this not the most fitting ending for the 2021 Brier?

Thursday 11 March 2021

#Brier2021 Power Rankings - Day 7

 #BetweenTheSheets: Welcome to Elimination Day

To survive the day will take a full TEAM effort


What did #MovingDay accomplish at the Brier?

Well a few teams will be packing up their luggage knowing Thursday is their final day inside the #IceBubble.

One team confirmed they are sticking around a few more days for sure.

The rest? Well outside of clinching spots in possible TB games, Moving Day just moved more teams into the logjam and made the Champ Pool possibilities more interesting.

And, really, isn't that EXACTLY what we wanted to happen on Moving Day?

Wednesday 10 March 2021

#Brier2021 Power Rankings - Day 6

#BetweenTheSheets: All Aboard, The Skipper Is The Captain

And this boat is ready for #MovingDay


Yesterday the Power Rankings focused on the first mate of the ship, the Vice position. 

The rankings looked at the third position players to see which was applying a #ViceGrip to their opposition and which was perhaps sending the team on an unwanted detour.

Time to look at the captain of the ship: The Skipper.

All eyes on me. Who leads this team? As our little buddy above is pointing out, "I do. I am the skip!"

Tuesday 9 March 2021

#Brier2021 Power Rankings - Day 5

 #BetweenTheSheets: Who Can Apply The Vice Grip?

The vice position can make or break a game...and your Brier hopes


Ah the vice position. It can resonate as its name says in the mind of a skip. 

Play well and your skipper has a clear head, clear shots and an easier path to victory.

Play poorly and....well just look at the facial expression of our purple-faced friend above. A bad game from a vice can put the vice grips on a skipper and the teams chances at picking up a win.

How are our vice boys doing inside the #IceBubble?

Sunday 7 March 2021

#Brier2021 Power Rankings - Day 3

 #BetweenTheSheets: The Champs Are Here

Pool A implodes, Pool B champions hold strong



It has been a Tale of Two Pools through the opening days of action inside the #IceBubble.

While one pool is in a dog fight to see if anyone wants to actually finish in first, the other is being run by past champions chasing #HIStory.

We have had upsets. We have had blowouts. We have had blank ends....oh have we had blank ends.

But, most important, we have Brier action on TV and curling back in our lives after a short break.

Friday 5 March 2021

#Brier2021 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: The Boys Enter The Bubble

Bring on the Tim Horton's Brier - #IceBubble Edition

The Tankard brings all the boys to the yard....or, in this case, the #IceBubble.

Canada's top female competitors stepped in the bubble over the past few weeks and sent shivers up the spines of curling fans around the world.

The ladies brought the competition, no questions asked.

Now we ask, "What you got for us gentlemen?"

Pressure on. Bring it on boys!

Monday 1 March 2021

#STOH2021 Parting Rocks

 #BetweenTheSheets: 8 Parting Rocks

Congrats to ALL competitors on bringing back curling

Photo Credit: Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press

What. A. Scotties.

We had 18 teams, a first.

We had no fans, another first.

The teams competed in an #IceBubble environment, never before seen for the sport.

The athletes who represented all the provinces/territories and the three realms of Wild Card Land created #HERstory with every slide out of the hack, rock thrown and lack of high-five after each game.

It was quite the event to watch. It must have been quite the event to participate in.

Thursday 25 February 2021

#STOH2021 Power Rankings - Day 6

#BetweenTheSheets: More Questions, Less Answers

Traditional Elimination Day pebbled the ice more than cleared it up



Elimination Day held up to its name. We did eliminate a few more teams from the competition.

At the conclusion of Wednesday's games, we know we will be saying goodbye to Nova Scotia, Northern Ontario, Newfoundland and Wildcard 2. They join previously eliminated teams Nunavut and Yukon.

But only 6 teams eliminated from 18 as we head into the final day of RR action. Quite impressive.

And only 2 teams officially into the Championship Pool. Equally impressive.

Thursday will bring de factor elimination games and high stress for those 10 teams still chasing Championship Pool qualification.

Wednesday 24 February 2021

#STOH2021 Power Rankings - Day 5

#BetweenTheSheets: Beep, Beep! Your U-Haul is Here

Did anyone pack the truck on Moving Day?



Yowie Wowie! Moving Day looked more like traffic on Deerfoot Trail at 5:00 p.m. on a Friday than Highway 1 driving to Regina.

Don't get those references? Sorry. Google traffic issues on each and figure it out.

Tuesday is traditionally known as Moving Day as teams can move up (or down) the standings and position themselves for Championship Pool advancement.

Except if you play in Pool B at the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Does anyone want to win this pool?

Tuesday 23 February 2021

#STOH2021 Power Rankings Day 4

 #BetweenTheSheets: Beware Power Ranking Mountain

The climb is nice but the fall can be painful




So....how happy are we to have curling back in the house?

There was SO MUCH chatter before the Scotties about format and qualification or ice rust for lack of playing and this, that and the other. But when the first rock was thrown Friday night, we threw all of that over the bumper and just focused on the action on the ice.

And how great did that feel? At times you sit on your couch, grab a choice beverage and for a few hours each day you almost forget there is a pandemic happening all around us.

Yes there are no fans in the stands. Yes it is quiet in the arena. But we have live action curling to watch and teams to cheer for. Hello normalcy, we have missed yee!

Friday 19 February 2021

#STOH2021 Preview

 #BetweenTheSheet: Welcome to the #IceBubble

18 teams enter. 1 will survive. Are. You. Ready?


🎶 Guess who's back? 🎶

🎶 Back again 🎶

🎶 #TwineTime's back 🎶

🎶 Tell a friend 🎶


Is it real? Is curling really back? Is the blog actually stepping back on the virtual media ice again?

*Checks the pulse* Yup, this is not a dream and I am alive.

Curling. Is. Back.

#TwineTime. Is. Back.

So....what's new?