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?

The biggest announcement in the off-season may have been the change to the World Curling Tour.

Gone is the old system with mathematical formulas and unknowns on point structure per event for the rankings.

Welcome the new system.

Dare we say, the #TwineTime system?

Hear me out before you judge.

Lets do a quick summation of the changes to the #WCT Regulations, shall we?

• Tour events will be structured into 8 categories: Champions Series, Tour 1000, Tour 750, Tour 500, Tour 400, Tour 300, Tour 200 and Tour 100
• A tour event will be categorized based on the minimal prize purse. For example, a Tour 1000 event must offer a minimum prize purse of CHF (Swiss Franc) 69,000.00 or the equivalent of $96,600 CDN. A Tour 500 events must have a minimum purse of CHF 35,000.00 or $49,000 CDN.
• The allocation of points is pre-determined based on the category of the event. For example, winning a Tour 1000 event nets the team 1000 ranking points. Making the final of a Tour 1000 event earns 750 points. For comparison, winning a Tour 500 events earns 500 points while making the final earns 350.
• A tour event must be registered under the WCT Event calendar to be included under the new WCT Regulations and, thus, the distribution of points.
• The current schedule of registered events for men, women, mixed doubles, juniors and wheelchair can be found HERE.
• The WCT Ranking will be a 52-week rolling total. A teams ranking points will be based on the results earned by the team over the 52 weeks.
• National Championship, Continental Championship and World Championship events are not eligible for WCT Ranking points.
• Worth noting a WCT Executive has final call on which category each event will fall under.

The last point is a bit of an eyebrow raiser of course.

If a transparent system is in place, why would there be a need for the WCT Executive to have final call? They have the authority to move an event up a category or down a category? What criteria are they using, outside of what is publicly known, to make their final decision?

Plus, an interesting point under the Event Rules section stating, "11. The WCT Executive reserves the right to exclude, for good cause, any tournament from the official WCT World Ranking". 

WTF?

Hopefully, should this happen, there will be a transparent announcement regarding the decision and a transparent criteria used to support the decision. Fingers crossed...but not holding my breath.

A positive shout out to the WCT development team for including mixed doubles, juniors and wheelchair events into the overall system.

All curling disciplines should be provided equal opportunity and an equal and fair competitive system. This is a strong slide in the right direction towards inclusion and equality from a competitive lens.

Anyone want to argue the new #WCT system is not a direct correlation to the proposed #TwineTime system first discussed back in 2016?

Or how about drawing the comparisons to the #RankingsRedux blog post from August 2018?

I'll wait for you to make your argument....

People always say, "Show me the receipts!" Consider the receipts date stamped and presented for your review curling community.

Yes, I realize there are differences. And yes, I also realize this blog will get NO credit at all for pushing a similar system in this space over the past 5 years.

BUT, yes....I am still excited to see a VERY similar system put to play in the real world. Lets see how it goes.

If it goes well, everyone will rejoice and those who developed it will take credit.

If it fails miserably, the #TwineTime blog will get called out for it and told how wrong I have been all these years.

Oh the joy of it all....

We should also mention not all "tour" events are "WCT Events". If the event is not registered as part of the WCT, it will not qualify for WCT points and towards the WCT rankings.

We will see a great example of this on opening weekend with the event taking place in Leduc. This event will be the opening event of the Alberta Curling Series.

This new series operates under a 3 C mandate: Community, Celebration, Competition.

The intention is to bring together curlers across the province for annual events to not only #growthesport from a competitive perspective but also from a community perspective.

Events registered under the Alberta Curling Series will see benefits for the local host clubs, with a revenue share structure for entry fees and sponsorships/advertising going to the host club, the Alberta Curling Series and event purse itself.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out as it may contradict the WCT Events and/or cause potential issues for the WCT Rankings.

Will we see Alberta teams stay and play closer to home OR will they still venture out for those events registered under the WCT to possibly receive more money and increase their world ranking?

Will the two systems align with one another or provide competition against one another?

Time will tell.

For a full breakdown of how the Alberta Curling Series works, check out the details HERE.

Is this good for the sport or divisive for the sport? Should all tour events operate under the same regulations, especially towards defining a set world ranking system?

What about the World Curling Federation World Team Rankings? Yup, remember there is ALSO that ranking system in play.

Events registered under the WCT will count towards the WCF World Team Ranking. The WCF system also includes events like national championships and #GSOC events, events not included under the WCT ranking system.

For #GSOC qualification, as an example, the teams will receive invites based on their position on the WCF World Team Ranking.

Confused yet? Don't worry...so are the majority of curling fans.

WHY could we not get one system in place to make this easier?

So now we will be comparing the WCT ranking to the WCF World Team Ranking.

This really seems like a case of power struggle where both sides want "control" of a ranking system and believe their way is the only way. If conversations to come together break down, who is to blame?

At the end of the day, both sides are to blame. There really is no excuse for an international sport like curling to be using two different ranking systems. 

Lets see how Year One plays out perhaps before being too critical but the eyebrows have been raised already, take note!

Regardless, bring on the 2021/22 season!

#TourLifePredictions

MEN

Baden Masters (Tour 500)

Baden, SUI

2020 Champion: Team Edin

Format: 20 team RR with 4 pools of 5. Top 8 qualify.

Top Teams Entered: Team Edin, Team Schwaller, Team De Cruz, Team Retornaz, Team Hasselborg

#Fav:

Can he pick up where he left off? That is the question asked of Niklas Edin as we start the season. Team Edin hit the jackpot in a condensed season last year by capturing another world championship inside the #IceBubble. Even a pandemic cannot stop #KingNiklas!

But world championships aside, Edin LOVES this event. He may be Swedish but his competitive curling heart must live in the Swiss mountains somewhere. Edin has reached 5 of the last 6 championship finals. He has played in 4 straight championship finals. He has won this tournament three times (2015, 2017, 2020).

Edin was handed a tricky pool this year, drawing games vs. fellow world championship contender Team Totzek from Germany and Norway's Team Nedregotten. They also will face off against one of the two women's teams in the field: Switzerland's Team Schori.

Anything short of another finals appearance this year would be a disappointment.

#TeamUpset:

We see you Jaap van Dorp. And we are excited to see what you do this year.

The Dutch foursome reached the championship final of this event last year. Can they duplicate the feat or, even better, go one step further and claim the title?

The curling gods handed them a evenly matched group for their RR games. Italy's Team Retornaz is always a tough draw but watch for how van Dorp does against #NextGen talent Team Ramsfjell from Norway and Team Hoesli from Switzerland.

Keep your eyes on young Team Magnusson from Sweden, the heir apparent to the Edin throne. Edin has been a great mentor to skip Daniel Magnusson over the years and the results have been coming for Magnusson. He may not be ready to take out the king yet...but the days are getting closer.

#W2W4:

All eyes are going to be on the two women's teams competing in the Baden Masters field for the first time in the event's 21-year history. Team Hasselborg and Team Schori will create #HERstory when they step on the ice for their first games on Friday morning and Friday afternoon.

But lets also be clear, this is not the first time women's teams have entered and competed in a men's tournament. We have seen it happen a number of times over the past few years. In fact many European events have been open entry events for awhile, with female and male teams facing off on a regular basis. Is this #HERstoric moment more a North American media story? Perhaps.

Now if Hasselborg or Schori qualify and win the championship...well then we have something to discuss.

Don't discredit either team. Schori will have the tougher schedule, drawing Edin/Totzek/Nedregotten. Hasselborg does draw Schwaller though, that should be fun. And watch out for Czech Republic's Team Klima in the Hasselborg pool too.

The Baden Masters will also be live streamed on the WCT TV YouTube channel HERE.

Qualifiers: Team De Cruz, Team Edin, Team Retornaz, Team Schwaller, Team Magnusson, Team Totzek, Team van Dorp, Team Hasselborg

Championship: Team Edin def. Team De Cruz

Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic (NA)

Hokkaido, JPN

2019 Champion: Team Matsumura 

Format: 8 team RR with 2 pools of 4. Top 2 in each pool qualify.

Top Teams Entered: Team Matsumura, Team Morozumi

#Fav:

With the event was not held in 2020 due to COVID-19, Team Matsumura will step on the ice in 2021 trying to #DefendTheIce from the 2019 championship win.

Expect a comeback season in a way for Matsumura. The 2019 season was a bit of a gut punch for the team from Kitami. They lost the #PACC final, failing to qualify for the world championship. They played in the qualifier event, finished third and still failed to reach the world championship field.

Then COVID came. Curling was halted. And Matsumura can press the restart button.

When the world championship was resumed in 2021 inside the #IceBubble, Matsumura was thrown a bone as the last entry spot due to the field expanding. The reset button was pushed. 

Sure the team failed to snag an Olympic ticket and missed the playoffs with a respectable 6-7 record but without COVID wiping out the 2020 world championship, Matsumura may not have even been there.

The pandemic sucked. We all know that. But some teams, especially those who maybe were having slightly off results before the pandemic, can seize the day and use the reset to restart the Olympic push.

Plus they are defending champs so never discount a previous champ.

#TeamUpset:

Speaking of previous champs, keep your eyes on Go Aoki. Aoki really broke onto the scene representing Japan at the 2018 World Men's Curling Championship in Las Vegas as a 19 year old. In 2018, Aoki also won this very tournament, his first major tour victory.

Now 21 years old, he is back in this field with a slightly different team looking to become the first two-time champion in the brief 4 year history of the event. Aoki throws fourth stones for skip Hayato Sato and they will be in tough drawing Matsumura and an always challenging Team Yamaguchi in the RR.

#W2W4:

The new look Team Morozumi should draw special interest from curling fans. Yusuke Morozumi put together this new team for the 2019 season, joining forces with former Aoki vice Masaki Isai.

We didn't get to see too much of the new look team due to COVID. This is going to be a great litmus test for the team to see where they stand against quality Japanese counterparts.

They were placed in the opposite pool of the major title contenders, which could be a blessing in disguise. If they get some ice under the sliders and some Ws under their belts in the RR, they could be very dangerous in the playoffs.

Qualifiers: Team Matsumura, Team Morozumi, Team Yamaguchi, Team Team Hirata

Championship: Team Matsumura def. Team Morozumi

Alberta Curling Series - Leduc (NA)

Leduc, AB

2020 Champion: New Event

Format: 8 team RR with 2 pools of 4. Top 4 qualify for Page Playoff.

Top Teams Entered: Team Harty, Team Sturmay

#Fav:

Nobody was collecting hardware like Team Harty before the pandemic shut down. When you go back and look at the 2019/20 season, which team was hauling in the cash?

Team Harty.

The boys from Calgary picked up 4 tournament titles, winning championships in Edmonton, Airdrie, Calgary and Saskatoon. Not to mention a second place finish in Black Diamond and a 3rd place finish at another event in Calgary.

Imagine what might have been had their actually been an Alberta championship last season?!

#TeamUpset:

Outside of Team Harty and Team Sturmay, you may want to take the field as your #TeamUpset pick here. Team Libbus is probably the #3 team as a dark horse contender.

But if you want an outsider, why not go with Rob Maksymetz?

Maksymetz generally stays close to home, entering the local Alberta events. We saw him pick up a tour title in Grand Prairie back in 2018. He also had 2 SF finishes that season, one in Calgary and one in Dawson Creek, B.C.

Why can't lightning strike the ice in Leduc for Maksymetz? It is why we play the games after all.

#W2W4:

The Bottcher vs. Koe feud has been fun. It is great for the sport. It is great for Alberta Curling. But it is not so great for Alberta men's curling competition.

This is a chance for a few teams to get some competitive ice time in and gain early season momentum in hopes of playing spoiler to Team Koe at the Alberta championship later in the season.

Time for the other Alberta men's teams to show they are not an also-ran but are legit contenders to the throne.

Who takes the first slide?

Qualifiers: Team Harty, Team Sturmay, Team Libbus, Team Maksymetz

Championship: Team Harty def. Team Sturmay

WOMEN

Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic (NA)

Hokkaido, JPN

2019 Champion: Team Jiang

Format: 8 team RR with 2 pools of 4. Top 2 in each pool qualify.

Top Teams Entered: Team Fujisawa, Team Yoshimura, Team Nakajima

#Fav:

In the previous 4 iterations of this event, only 1 host nation team has claimed the title. Any guesses?

I'll wait while you think about it...or google search (cheat)...

And the answer is: Satsuki Fujisawa (2017).

Should there be any reason not to peg Team Fujisawa as the front runner to claim their second Hokkaido Bank Curling Classic championship this weekend?

They are also defending finalists, losing the 2019 championship to China's Team Jiang.

Similar to Team Matsumura, the pandemic could create an opportunity to hit the refresh button for this talented team as they head into a fight for the Olympic spot.

While they failed to win the Japanese championship last season, losing in the 10th end to rival Team Yoshimura, they did compete at the final two #GSOC events inside the #IceBubble, reaching the QF both times.

#TeamUpset:

The Big 3 are going to garner most of the attention this weekend: Team Fujisawa, Team Yoshimura, Team Nakajima. So who waves the #TeamUpset flag? The field?

The field may seem like a solid bet but one could go deeper and focus on Team Koana.

Tori Koana has won a Japanese championship (2018) and picked up two tour titles during the 2019 season before COVID put a halt to the rocks.

But if you want a real dark horse, check out Mari Motohashi. Many may be familiar with Motohashi, previously curling with Moe Meguro and a trip to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Motohashi stepped away from the competitive side of the sport in 2018 to focus more on coaching. The competitive bug took a bite out of her though and she is back on the ice with a new team. Perhaps not a threat for the title here given the tough field but this will be a good test for her and the new team against national contenders.

#W2W4:

This is going to the first event of the season where we still see the unfortunate ripple effects of an on-going pandemic. The event in Hokkaido often attracts top teams from the #PACC region but also top teams from Canada in the past. Not this year.

This year's field will be, similar to the men's event, a mini-Japanese championship. All 8 teams entered are from the host nation. They are very familiar with one another so this event will serve as the first opportunity to get a leg up on the season against national rivals.

Don't underestimate the quality of the event though because of no international representation. The Japanese women's program has developed into a major contending nation, with several strong teams.

This should be a fun event to keep your curling eyes on.

Qualifiers: Team Yoshimura, Team Fujisawa, Team Koana, Team Nakajima

Championship: Team Yoshimura def. Team Koana

Alberta Curling Series - Leduc (NA)

Leduc, AB

2020 Champion: New Event

Format: 12 team triple knockout with 6 qualifiers.

Top Teams Entered: Team Walker, Team Scheidegger, Team Brown

#Fav:

The champs are here!

Defending Alberta champions Team Walker hit the ice for the first time this season, fresh off a coming out party appearance at the 2021 Scotties inside the #IceBubble. Can the team follow up on the momentum of a bronze medal win?

This is a good season opener event for them too. Obviously the full team is not competing as lead Nadine Scotland is closing in on Happy Parent Day. But, even without one of the most positive teammates in the sport, Team Walker will still be a threat to win this title.

The triple knockout favours their experience while also allowing an opening draw bye to watch the opposition and get an early read on the ice.

This is also, mostly, an Alberta field so a good indicator for the champs on how the competition stacks up against them. The bullseye on their back got larger last season so we will see how they handle the pressure.

#TeamUpset:

Forget new season, who 'dis...how about new team, who 'dis?

This is what Kayla Skrlik brings to the ice this season. The 23 year old has been considered an up and coming #NextGen contender for the past few seasons. Is this finally the season she makes her move?

Skrlik is still curling with second Brittany Tran, who is fresh off an Alberta mixed doubles title last season. But the team has two new additions.

The big addition will be Geri-Lynn Ramsay at vice. Most will remember Ramsay from her 2010 Scotties appearance, then curling out of PEI with Team O'Rourke and reaching the final. Since her silver medal win, she has moved to Alberta and been curling with a few different players.

Ramsay's experience can go a far away in the development of this team. It will be interesting to see how they interact with one another and if this line up can become a winning formula.

Strong opening season test event for the new team.

#W2W4:

Welcome back #TeamOranje!

Ok so Team Scheidegger is not really Team Oranje and hasn't been for some time but damn those orange jackets looked so good on them. Maybe they should consider a uniform colour palette makeover?

Scheidegger is back in the house though and this team is ready to make their move back towards the top of the Alberta mountain. Babies are born. Families are healthy. Team Scheidegger is back in competition mode. Not a good sign if you are the opposition.

Should we expect some ice rust? Sure, it is only natural.

Should we still expect this team to make a push for the title? Most certainly.

Regardless of the result though, curling fans are going to be excited to see this team back on the ice.

Qualifiers: Team Walker, Team Brown, Team Scheidegger, Team Skrlik, Team Sherrer, Team Kezama 

Championship: Team Walker def. Team Brown

#StayTuned

Lets hope we get a full season and, more importantly, players can stay healthy while competing.

The #PowerRankings will make a long-awaited return next week with the Official Pre-Season Top 10 reveal.

Ok yes, I get it. The season actually starts this weekend so how can the pre-season poll be released next week? 

Well rockheads, because the blog is wrapping up a Pre-Season Poll vote for you...The Fan!

The pre-season poll will be a vote by the fans for the fans. The results will be revealed next week.

Have you voted? NO? Why not? Get your vote in NOW by visiting the poll HERE.

Also, there are some U-25 and junior events on the calendar this weekend in Oakville, ON and Morris, MB.

The first mixed doubles event of the season also hits the ice in Oakville.

LOTS of curling action to wet your ice on a season opening weekend.

To those competing, good luck and good curling! 

#ExtraEnd

ICYMI the blog recently published a post discussing Cannabis 'N Sport.

With the 2020 Summer Olympics just wrapping up in Tokyo and the 2020 Paralympics about to begin, the topic of cannabis use by athletes and whether it provides an unfair competitive advantage has become a hot topic.

Check out the blog post for my personal response as well as a brief education on cannabis.