Power Rankings - W11

#BetweenTheSheet: Power Rankings

How did the BOOST National shake up the mountain?

The season is officially under way when we conclude a Grand Slam of Curling event, yes?

We certainly saw some great curling in North Bay over the past week.

We saw a few upsets. We see you Team Hoesli and Team Keiser!!

But in the end, we saw very familiar slam champions once again prevail over the competition.

New season, new teams, similar results?!

Before we dive into the results and update the Power Rankings, a quick discussion on slam event formats.

The BOOST National featured a format with 16 teams drawn into 4 pools of 4.

What was different this time was the teams actually never played the teams in their pool. They were drawn against the 4 teams from another pool (i.e. Pool A vs. Pool D, Pool B vs. Pool C).

This was obviously done to ensure every team still played 4 games and eliminated the inevitable question of "how do we decide who plays whom in the fourth game after the teams already played their own pool opposition?"

Did it work? Sure.

Was it the best solution? Debatable.

Can I offer an alternate solution? Hear me out....

What if we still had the 4 pools of 4. All 16 teams seeded. And let the seeding be known.

We are coming off a fan-centric #PBInvitational bracket-style event that went over well with fans. Teams know their ranking. Why not just be transparent with the seeding and feed into the energy of the event?

A 12 seed knocking off the 5 seed? Yay, a bit of #TeamUpset and some fun.

Imagine those wins by Team Hoesli and/or Team Keiser when you add in their seed for the event and include the seed of the opposition they defeated. The story grows and adds an extra element of excitement.

So we keep the 4 pools of 4. The 16 teams are seeded. The pools are evenly distributed:

Pool A: #1, #8, #9, #16

Pool B: #2, #7, #10, #15

Pool C: #3, #6, #11, #14

Pool D: #4, #5, #12, #13

When it comes to schedule, have the teams play against their 3 pool opponents for the opening 3 games.

Here comes the rub from above...what about the fourth game?

Why does it have to be a RR game? What if it was a playoff/knockout game?

What if ALL 16 TEAMS made the playoffs and the final draw, in essence the fourth RR game, was now the Sweep 16 bracket round?

It would not mess up the current schedule. The final day is all the same fourth game draws, except now they are playoff elimination games rather than final RR games. The games have extra meaning.

And we eliminate the no-fun 0-3 vs. 0-3 battle we often see.

Plus, every team is technically still alive going for the championship heading into the final draw, now the Sweep 16 draw.

Winners advance to the Elite 8 in the playoff bracket and the playoff schedule remains the same as it is now.

Sure, people may say "Well what if the 0-3 team defeats the 3-0 team in the Sweep 16? Do we really want to see an 0-3 team advance through the playoff bracket?"

The response: Why not? What are we SO afraid of?

Look, these are not average teams. These are the Top 16 teams IN THE WORLD! All of them are capable of winning a slam. If any of them win, we are going to be happy. 

It is not like the concern is a team ranked #80 in the world is defeating the #1 ranked team in the world and then "stealing" the slam title. Although, how fun of a story would that be??!!

What if a bunch of teams are 3-0 or 2-1 or 1-2 or 0-3? How do we break the tie for seeding in the Sweep 16 / last RR game?

The same way we do now for TB. Last stone draw.

Nothing really changes from a scheduling and/or format perspective.

PLUS, we get another Bracket Challenge and all 16 teams who qualify for a slam are guaranteed a playoff game.

I cannot see many teams/athletes being upset with that, can you?

I want the pools to mean something. I believe teams should have to play the teams they are pooled with.

I think this slight alternation to the structure, eliminating the fourth RR game and replacing it with a Sweep 16 playoff game, can be exciting for the fans and the teams.

What say you rock heads? Agree? Or am I out to lunch and this idea is stupid?

Don't worry, it wouldn't be the first time this blog has posed a new idea and told it was dumb....and it won't be the last.

But I do think I have something worth considering here.

Hmmm, similar to the ranking points debate I started in 2016. Look where that is now?

Junior Slam Series. Ontario Curling Tour. Nordic Curling Tour. All using a very similar system.

Fans can foster change folks. Always remember your voice in this sport matters too.

We all love curling. We all want curling to thrive. And we all agree we can adapt the sport to #growthesport.

Alright, here is what you may have missed last weekend.

#TheRunback

Men

🥌 BOOST National - Team Gushue (NL) def. Team Edin (SWE). Both finalists were undefeated heading into the championship match, going 4-0 in the RR before navigating the playoff bracket. Gushue knocked off #NextGen Team Brunner (QF) and Team Dropkin (SF) before defeating rivals Edin to claim the title.

🥌 S3 Group Curling Stadium Series - Team Laycock (SK) def. Team Yanagisawa (JPN). Both finalists were 6-0 heading into the final, each qualifying for the playoffs via the A-side. Laycock defeated fellow SK challengers Team Bernath (QF) and Team Knapp (SF) en route to the final.

🥌 McKee Homes Fall Curling Classic - Team Sturmay (AB) def. Team Parent (AB). Sturmay went a perfect 6-0 to claim the title, including defeating Parent in the RR and final. Sturmay knocked off fellow AB challengers Team Adams (QF) and Team Sluchinki (SF) in the playoffs.

🥌 Match Town Trophy - Team Nyman (SWE) def. Team Bryce (SCO). Nyman concluded the Nordic Curling Tour event with a 6-1 record to claim the title on home nation ice, including a redemption win over Bryce in the final after losing in the RR. Nyman now leads the overall Nordic Curling Tour standings with 22 points. Bryce moves into a tie for 2nd overall with Team Edin (20 points).

Women

🥌 BOOST National - Team Tirinzoni (SUI) def. Team Einarson (MB). Tirinzoni was perfect for the week, finishing 7-0 to claim the season-opening slam. Tirinzoni knocked off Team Jones (QF) and Team Lawes (SF) during their playoff run.

🥌 S3 Group Curling Stadium Series - Team Constantini (ITA) def. Team Ha (KOR). Constantini went 6-1 overall in claiming the title in Swift Current, qualifying for the playoffs via the B-side. Ha was undefeated entering the final, including defeating Constantini in an A-side SF match. Constantini's playoff run included victories over Team Yoshimura (JPN) and Team Ackerman (SK).

🥌 Match Town Trophy - Team Schwaller (SUI) def. Team Mesloe (NOR). Schwaller was a perfect 7-0 in claiming the title, including defeating Mesloe in the RR and final. Schwaller is now tied for 4th overall (16 points, with Team Lawes) in the Nordic Curling Tour overall standings while Mesloe is tied for 2nd (18 points, with Team Rorvik). Team Hasselborg leads the standings (20 points).

Mixed Doubles

🥌 Mixed Doubles Bern - Team Rupp/Wunderlin (SUI) def. Team Westman/Ahlberg (SWE). Rupp/Wunderlin took the #CSideGrind road to the playoffs but, once there, they never lost a game to take home the title. Westman/Ahlberg suffered their only loss of the event in the final, qualifying via the A-side.  Team Kaare/Lill (EST) took home the bronze medal after defeating Team Schoell/Sutor (GER).

Another weekend of results. Another weekend seeing a full international parade of champions: Switzerland, Canada, Italy and Sweden. Although #HoppSchwiiz this weekend as Swiss teams took home 3 titles.

Lets head to the mountain with a reminder the number in parenthesis below refers to the previous ranking.

#PowerRankings

Women

1. Team Tirinzoni (1) - Another event, another title. Make it 3 titles on the year from 4 finals. The other event they played was a SF result. This team could take the rest of the month off and still stay atop the mountain. Not to mention they are on a 13-match winning stream and have a season record of 28-4!

2. Team Jones (2) - Sure they lost in the QF but they lost to eventual champions Tirinzoni...and everyone loses to them thus far so not a bad loss. The #PBInvitational win still holds solid footing on the mountain and reaching the playoffs at the opening slam keeps the team in the #2 spot.

3. Team Gim (6) - A SF appearance two weeks ago in Vernon followed by a QF result in North Bay means the Korean runners-up continue to make a move up the mountain. And they have shown already this season that their run to the Champions Cup final at the end of last season was no fluke. Watch out folks, this team is coming in hot week in and week out!

4. Team Lawes (7) - Another SF appearance, following up the result in Fredericton. Sure they are coming up just short of reaching those big finals BUT they are consistently winning games and making deep playoff runs. We all know the Power Rankings motto: consistency, consistency, consistency!

5. Team Einarson (HM) - The Canadian champs made a return trip to a slam final and erased the slight disappointment of an "earlier than expected" loss in Fredericton. Never a concern with this team and they are firing right on schedule at this point of the season I think. I don't expect them to drop from the Top 10 anytime soon now.

6. Team Keiser (9) - #NextGen has become #TeamUpset! What a run in North Bay, reaching the QF at their first slam. They knocked off Team Lawes and Team Gim in the RR, both playoff qualifiers as well. And no rest for the wicked as they head to Swift Current to hit the ice at a tour event this upcoming weekend. The blog warned you a few weeks ago to start buying stock in this team. Their price is skyrocketing now!

7. Team Fujisawa (NR) - Undefeated in the RR. #1 seed entering the playoffs. SF loss. It seems like we have seen this movie before, no? Fujisawa continues to be one of the most dangerous teams in a #GSOC RR but hits a wall in the playoffs. This was their fourth SF defeat over the past 4 seasons, coupled with 4 QF results in the same timeline. Hard to believe this team has never reached a slam final. It is bound to happen, right? The question is when? (But people are starting to ask "If"). If these rankings were based on having fun though and fan favourite, they probably rank #1.

8. Team Ha (10) - They may not have been on slam ice but they are still making waves on the ice. They reached the final in Swift Current, their fourth final of the year. Want an example of a team trying to play their way up the rankings and into the slams? The Korean champs are doing just that. And they are not leaving Speedy Creek either as they will play another tour event there this weekend. Consider them the fav?

9. Team Scheidegger (3) - The mountain is kind to teams who do not compete sometimes. Scheidegger did not qualify for the BOOST National and took the holiday weekend off. No harm, no foul. Sure they drop a bit down the rankings but they still have footing on the mountain...for now.

10. Team Constantini (NR) - The Italian champs picked up a huge tour win this weekend in Swift Current, defeating Korea champs Team Ha in the final. A great confidence boost for the team. In their three previous events of the season, they had 2 QF results and a DNQ. Similar to their defeated finalists, they will remain in Swift Current this week preparing for another tour event this upcoming weekend.

Hon. Mention: Team Homan, Team Hasselborg, Team Kitazawa, Team Yoshimura, Team Mesloe

Men

1. Team Gushue (6) - When you can #DefendTheIce at a slam, in only your second event of the season, you make moves up the mountain and claim the #1 spot. Going undefeated en route to said title doesn't hurt with the rankings committee either.

2. Team Edin (HM) - A great run to the final, going undefeated in the RR and knocking off strong competition Team Flasch (QF) and Team Dunstone (SF) along the way to the final. In the last 3 slams, Edin has 2 finals appearances and 1 SF result. But they have not hoisted a slam trophy since 2017 (Players' Championship). In that time alone, they have reached 6 slam finals. Is the monkey starting to grow on the back of the world champs? Not to mention whether the decision in 7 and execution in 8 may haunt #KingNiklas for a few nights.

3. Team Dunstone (5) - Is it just the blog or are people still not talking enough about how good this new-look Team Dunstone really is? They are a MAJOR Brier threat folks. Another elite event, another strong playoff run. The SF finish in North Bay just showed, once again, how strong this new team is. They may still be flying under the radar with the fans but continuing to produce results like this and they will start winning over more and more people. Plus we love the Colton Lott - Matt Dunstone combo, right?

4. Team Dropkin (9) - Power Rankings mountain loves The Young Bucks! And why not? They follow up their US Open win with a SF run in North Bay. Their 4th place finish at last year's worlds is looking less and less like a fluke and more and more like the real deal. Sure people will be drawn to the team because of the physical appearance of skip Korey Dropkin (which is acceptable as he has the looks Sports Illustrated would love) but the play and execution is what keeps the fans interested. Looks come and go but talent is forever. And these Young Bucks have the talent!

5. Team Schwaller (1) - Maybe all the rest leading into the slam was a hinderance for the former #1 team. They struggled in North Bay, failing to qualify and finishing with a 1-3 record. The mountain does not want to loosen the rocks too much for too far of a slide here BUT the ground is starting to move and teams are making a climb ready to pass. #5 for now but it is a loose ranking.

6. Team Bottcher (4) - The first time this season the team did not reach the Final Four. Oh my! In all seriousness though, Bottcher qualified for the playoffs once again and ran into a hot shooting Young Bucks team in the QF. Reaching the playoff bracket at a slam is always a positive. They drop a bit down the mountain but they are still one of the strongest teams on the mountain.

7. Team Koe (7) - A QF result in North Bay lives up to their Power Ranking position so they stay the course and hold strong in the #7 position. It seems like this team is still in the "feeling out" phase of their relationship. Once vice Tyler Tardi and skipper Kevin Koe get better acclaimed with one another, the wins will pile up. Remember both are relatively quiet guys so sometimes communication on the ice takes some time. They have the skillz to pay those billz though.

8. Team Flasch (8) - Speaking of teams retaining their position, Flasch took the TB road to the playoff bracket in North Bay and ran into a world championship wall when they got there. No harm in losing a playoff game to a guy named Edin. And this is still a strong team, consistently making playoff pushes. Now if they can just string an entire event of consistent games together, they could go from playoff challenger to championship contender.

9. Team Sturmay (10) - The #PBInvitational opening round loss lead them to the PB Invitational Repechage championship. This weekend they returned to home province ice in Airdrie and won another tour title. They are on a 10-match winning streak, bumping them up the rankings mountain. We always talk about slam teams but there are some pretty awesome teams competing week in, week out who are not always on slam ice. Watch out for this team at the Tour Challenge!

10. Team Carruthers (2) - Not the follow up many fans expected from Carruthers after the big win in Fredericton. Finishing 1-3 and missing the playoffs was a tough, and surprising, pill to swallow. But alas, it happens. Even the best slip up every once in awhile. The mountain isn't ready to throw them off because of one rough outing, especially at a slam against that level of competition.

Hon. Mention: Team Brunner, Team Retornaz, Team Hoesli, Team Laycock, Team Yanagisawa

What say you curling fans? Share your thoughts on the Top 10 or even a Top 5 on social media or in the comments below. 

Remember, we are only a few weeks away from the next #GSOC event: Tour Challenge Tier I and Tier II. Reminder of who is competing in both fields by visiting the announcement page HERE.

The blog will dive more into both fields with event preview posts in the future.

#StayTuned

Our first world championship of the season is ready to hit the ice this upcoming weekend. The blog will return later in the week with a full preview of the World Mixed Curling Championship.

We also have some tour events heating up some local clubs this weekend.

Until then, hope everyone enjoyed the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday weekend.