#BetweenTheSheet: Welcome to the #IceBubble...Again!
18 teams enter. 1 will survive.
Ready to crown our next national champion?
Before we dive into the field, including team by team previews, seeding and predictions, there are a few hot topics we need to discuss.
Format Change...Again?!
Yay, another format change. How exciting?!Seeding
The format change brings up the same argument we see every year: Pool Disparity.
What if one pool is "tougher" than the other? A #PoolOfDeath if you will.
Every year we have this discussion. Every year one pool is perceived to be "harder" than the other.
At least under the old format, to make the playoffs you still would need to survive at least 4 teams from the other pool.
What do you have to do now? Beat one, at most, and off you go to the page playoff to possibly play the same team(s) you just played in the RR?
I am not sure why curling still prefers to use CTRS to finalize the pools. CTRS is far from perfect.
And, even if it was, we are still seeing a pool imbalance discussion every year.
Plus the delay in knowing the pools each year is a bit frustrating. It really should not be this complicated.
Why not adopt the same system used by the International Ice Hockey Federation?
They seed the nations for the following world championship based on the final standings from the previous world championship.
If you win the title, you are seeded #1 next year. If you finish sixth, well there is your seed.
The pool structure is already determined. Pool A is seeds 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16 and 17 while Pool B is seeds 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15 and 18.
If curling adopted the IIHF format based on the 2021 Scotties final standings, here is how the pools would compare for 2022:
Pool A (Current): WC1, WC2, WC3, SK, NOnt, NB, PEI, NL, NU
Pool A (IIHF): CAN, MB, WC3, WC1, NWT, NB, NS, NOnt, NU
Pool B (Current): AB, CAN, MB, ONT, NWT, NS, BC, QC, YK
Pool B (IIHF): ONT, AB, SK, QC, BC, PEI, WC2, NL, YK
The teams highlighted in RED are the teams who would be in different pools this year if the IIHF system was in play.
The big swap we noticed right away is the WC teams are no longer all together in Pool A.
Also, the Final 4 from 2021 (CAN, ONT, AB, MB) are no longer together in Pool B.
Look, I get it. The argument would be "well the teams are different and they change every year".
And my response is, "So?"
The nations competing at IIHF world championships are very different every year as well yet there seems to be less "debate" over the pools every year than there is in curling.
Should we ever live in a world where there Final 4 from a year ago are placed in the same pool the next year?
If Team Canada, Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba are the perennial favourites, shouldn't we want them in different pools to kick off the RR? Even if they are different teams from a year ago, they are still going to be formidable championship challengers.
And the argument of "What if one province has a disappointing Scotties? The province should be "punished" for their pool standing next year when it could be a different team representing them?"
And my response is, "Yes!"
This is a national championship after all. Teams competing are here to represent your province/territory.
Sorry curlers, it is not ALL about you as individuals and teams. It is also about the coat of arms and provincial/territorial name on your back.
Fans will always cheer for their province/territory. They will cheer from their home pride.
Even when *gasp* it is a team they may not actually "like" or cheer for on tour.
The Scotties and Brier are bigger than the athletes, teams and fans. It is a national championship for the sport and an opportunity to showcase why your province/territory is better than everyone else.
Pride wins out!
Equality
Last but far from least, lets talk about equality.
I cannot believe we are sitting in 2022 and this remains an issue with the sport. But here we are and yes it does.
Look at this great tweet from Team Galusha prior to leaving for Thunder Bay.
Folks, we still live in a world where a female team about to compete at a national championship needs to make this statement as a reminder.
The statement is 100% on point.
Why are we, as a collective fan base, allowing critique of women's curling based on looks and smiles and "screaming" during games?
As the You Can Play motto goes, if you can play, you can play.
Let. Them. Play.
Do you constantly walk around your work smiling all the time, especially in a stressful situation?
Do you always have your hair game on point? Dressed to impress?
I know you don't. Don't lie. I don't either.
We know people don't always smile while working. We know people are wearing Lulu's to the office.
Do you go and gossip about your colleagues saying "they don't smile enough"? Probably not.
Why should we allow this type of behaviour towards our athletes?
Nobody wants to hear your commentary on how an athlete/team looks on the ice.
Now this is not to say we cannot be critical of our athletes. This is a blog after all and not a friendship circle.
Here is the quick breakdown of what you CAN and CANNOT comment on:
CAN
🥌 Shot selection
🥌 Results
🥌 Great shots / Missed shots
CANNOT
🥌 Personal attributes
🥌 Personal lives
It really seems simple, does it not?
Comment on the game, on the ice. Do not comment on the personal.
People may argue about commenting on the game itself as well but this is sport after all. We see it all the time, athletes included, debating calls and timeouts and results in all sports.
Curling is no different and should not be treated any different. Debate the sport, not the player.
I will open up one small grey area: social consciousness.
This blog has been VERY open with social consciousness. I do believe athletes are provided a forum for social conscious issues, a forum most of us will never have nor experience (nor want sometimes).
Standing up in support of #BLM or Anti-Racism or Gender Equality or LGBTQ2S+ is IMPORTANT.
Representation Matters. We see it in all sports. Curling needs to continue to find its voice and athletes can lead the charge.
Team Galusha's statement is a great example of this. They are making a statement in support of Gender Equality and Canadian Women & Sport.
This is how athletes can use their platforms for social good.
And we should be encouraging our favourite teams/athletes to continue to do so.
What if you found out your fav player was homophobic? Would you still want to support that player?
Sure this may seem drastic and off-ice opinions maybe should not come into play; however, if those off-ice opinions and actions are supporting/removing basic human rights from another person, why should we tolerate it?
There is a grey area here but an important one.
When it comes to the statement made by Team Galusha, the statement is a PLUS.
The reason behind having to make the statement is a MINUS.
#BeBetter!
Ok enough of the off the ice chatter. Lets talk about the 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts event itself.
Bring on the FULL PREVIEW!!
#PowerRankings
The Power Rankings return!
Ok, not entirely. We are going to use a Power Rankings system to break down our competing teams.
The teams are provided a "seed" based on their ranking.
Lets first look at the 18 seeds and then break down pool play and predictions.
1. #WC1 - Team Fleury: Top seed. Top ranked team in the world. All the stats suggest this should be their year. But can they rebound from the tough loss at the Olympic trials AND the disappointing finish to the Manitoba Scotties? Skipper will be in friendly home environment though, even without fans at the beginning of the week.4. #WC2 - Team Carey: Can Chelsea Carey pull the unthinkable and win her 3rd Scotties...with her 3rd different team...from her 3rd different province? Her Scotties record seems to point to "Yes!" Now based out of Saskatchewan, she will look to bring Sasky their first Scotties title since Amber Holland in 2011. Who was the alternate on that 2011 winning team? Team Carey vice Jolene Campbell.
7. #CurlON - Team Duncan: See #WC3 above for off-ice drama. At the end of the day, Team Duncan is the right pick for this spot to represent Ontario. Do not get it twisted in thinking they are only here because Homan was named to the MD Olympic team. They have had an outstanding season and fully deserve to be competing at the 2022 Scotties. Duncan was here in 2018, reaching the Championship Pool and ultimately finishing 8th overall. This team could be the #TeamUpset championship contender pick.
8. #TeamGreen - Team Barker: You know who wants Scotties redemption? Moose Jaw's Penny Barker! Barker makes her 2nd trip to the Scotties after previously competing in 2017. In St. Catherine's, the team finished 1-10 and last place. On the positive, there is only one way to go now and that is up. Different team. More experience. And playing great this season. Remember they did compete at the Pre-Trials. Watch out for this dark horse challenger.
9. #FearTheMoose - Team McCarville: The home town team will certainly be the sentimental favourite. Sure fans will not be in the building, at least not until the final weekend of play at best, but you can believe everyone in Thunder Bay will be virtually cheering on Team McCarville every time they step on the ice. We know the Krista McCarville story. Always a threat. Bronze medal finish at the Olympic trials. This may be her year. Remember she has played a Scotties final before (2016), losing to Chelsea Carey.
10. #PolarPower - Team Galusha: Team McCarville will be the home fav but the consensus national fan fav will belong with the #PolarPower. Team Galusha has had, arguably, their best season. Winning on tour, competing at the Pre-Trials and looking to be ready to take the giant slide towards a possible playoff spot. It is almost unfortunate the format changed this year. Under the old format, Galusha probably had a stronger chance. But never count her out. Note, Galusha will remain throwing lead stones but will still skip the team with Jo-Ann Rizzo tossing the final rocks.
15. #Labelleprovince - Team St-Georges: The Rookies of the Year in 2021 are back! After reaching the Championship Pool last year and finishing 7th overall with a 6-6 record, Laurie St-Georges and her Quebec foursome are back and looking to do some more damage in their 2nd Scotties appearance. An instant crowd favourite yet still have not competed at the Scotties in front of any crowds. Shocking and kind of sad right? The fans love St-Georges and her team. The positivity and fun they have on the ice draws comparisons to Japan's Team Fujisawa. And look how successful they are! We can only hope they reach the playoffs just to finally get to play, possibly, in front of some fans in the arena. But will they suffer the dreaded sophomore slump?
16. #TheRock - Team Hill: The team from The Rock may not be considered a playoff threat but do not underestimate them either. Skip Sarah Hill will make her 2nd Scotties appearance after skipping the team last year. Similar to St-Georges, you have to feel for Hill as she also has not had the full Scotties experience of skipping on Scotties ice in front of cheering fans. Last year the team finished 2-6. Can they improve on their record in 2022? Vice Kellie Sharpe has a ton of Scotties experience, previously playing vice for Heather Strong (1998 - 2000) and skipping her own team in 2019.
#TwineTimePredictions
Pool A
1. #WC1 (1)
2. #FearTheMoose (9)
3. #WC2 (4)
4. #TeamAcadia (12)
5. #WC3 (5)
6. #TeamGreen (8)
7. #TheIslanders (13)
8. #TheRock (16)
9. #TeamArctic (17)
Pool B
1. #TeamCanada (3)
2. #ABStrong (2)
3. #CurlON (7)
4. #BuffaloHunt (6)
5. #TeamPacific (14)
6. #PolarPower (10)
7. #Labelleprovince (15)
8. #TeamBluenose (11)
9. #PurplePower (18)
Playoff Qualifiers: #WC1, #TeamCanada, #FearTheMoose, #ABStrong #WC2, #CurlON
Page Playoff Qualifiers: #WC1, #TeamCanada, #FearTheMoose, #ABStrong
#STOH2021 CHAMPIONSHIP: #WC1 (Team Fleury) def. #FearTheMoose (TeamMcCarville)
The final I predicted while at the Olympic Trials in November...and I am sticking to it.
Imagine if we are fortunate enough to have fans back in the stands for closing weekend, treated to an all-Northern Ontario (skipper-based) final? A rebirth of an old rivalry? Fleury vs. McCarville?!?
Plus Northern Ontario remains one of the representatives yet to win a Scotties title. Their best result was the silver medal finish for McCarville in 2016.
Imagine Northern Ontario claiming gold AND silver? Ok technically one medal would be awarded to "wildcard" and that wildcard team actually represents Manitoba. Details, shmetails!
This may be more of a "heart" pick than a "head" pick but sometimes you need to listen to your heart...and hope those curling gods are listening as well.
#Beijing2022
While the Scotties take the ice in Thunder Bay, the Winter Olympics slide out of the hack at the same time in Beijing, China.
The mixed doubles competition will begin on February 2 with the Opening Ceremonies scheduled for February 4 and the men's and women's team competition tossing first rocks on February 9.
Getting into the Olympic spirit? Want to add some extra excitement into the game? Interested in giving back to a great non-profit organization who provides so many opportunities for young kids and families in Southern Alberta, including tickets to curling events?
Join the 2022 Winter Olympics 50/50 Pool!!
The game is simple. Predict the winners of each draw for the men's and women's RR (a total of 90 games!!). Predict the final RR standings. Predict the playoff bracket and podium finishers.
$20 entry fee with 50% going to the Top 3 finishers and 50% going directly to Kids Up Front Calgary.
Full details on the pool can be found HERE, including how to access the entry form.
You may remember a similar pool being offered for the 2018 Winter Olympics. HERE is a quick reminder of the success of the pool.
Daily updates to the standings will be posted in the #TwineTime Facebook Group.
A blog update will be shared at the completion of each section as well for those who do not have facebook accounts.
Share the pool with your fellow curling family members, friends, teammates, colleagues and local curling club.
Lets come together and cheer on the athletes competing in Beijing, give back to a great organization and possibly win yourself a little extra cash as well.
#StayTuned
The blog will be back to summarize the opening weekend of #STOH2022 action...and perhaps with a VERY special guest making a return to the podcast world?
Any guesses?
PLUS do not forget the Sandra Schmirler Foundation telethon continues, this year taking place on Sunday January 30.
Every year the blog donates to the great cause and challenges every reader of this post to donate as well. Any amount can make a difference.
And, if you are able to donate and feel comfortable doing so, post on SM your support and tag the Sandra Schmirler Foundation in your post. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.
For more information on the telethon, including how to donate, visit the website HERE.
The blog will return with a special 2022 Winter Olympics mixed doubles preview next week as well.
To those competing in Thunder Bay and Beijing, the world is watching. Good luck and good curling.
The ice is yours...
Scotties format change explained in this podcast: https://2girlsandagame.libsyn.com/countdown-to-scotties about 39:23 into it.
ReplyDelete