Power Rankings - W13

#BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings

Grande Prairie rocked the mountain

The second event on the Grand Slam of Curling calendar came to an end over the weekend. The Tour Challenge crowned its Tier I and Tier II champions.

And the results caused some movement on Power Rankings mountain.

A new #1 for the men?

Is the gap closing for the women?

And what about the Tier II champions? One is already a fixture on the mountain while the other makes a triumphant return.

Plus we celebrate our first world champions of the season.

Before we dive into the results and update the Power Rankings, we need to celebrate those who picked up tour wins this past weekend. The curling world may have been focused on the slam but there were other tour events hitting the ice as well.

Here is your weekend runback.

#TheRunback

Nations

🥌 World Mixed Curling Championship - Canada (Team Menard) def. Scotland (Team Bryce). Canada reached the playoffs with a 7-1 RR record, securing the #5 seed. In the playoffs, Canada defeated #12 Italy (Qualification Game), #4 Finland (QF, avenging RR loss) and #1 Switzerland (SF) to reach the final. Scotland also finished the RR with a 7-1 record to nab the #6 seed in the playoffs. They defeated #11 Hungary (Qualification Game), #3 Germany (QF) and #2 Sweden (SF). Switzerland (Team Hegner) def. Sweden (Team Westman) for bronze. Switzerland and Sweden were two of eight teams from the 35-nation field to have a female skip, with the others being Chinese Taipei, England, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal and USA. 

Men

🥌 Tour Challenge Tier I - Team Edin (SWE) def. Team Dunstone (MB). Edin went a perfect 7-0 to claim their first #gsoc title since 2017 (Players' Championship). Along they way they knocked off some heavy hitters like Koe and Bottcher (RR), Carruthers (QF) and revenge on Gushue (SF) for the Boost National final. Dunstone reached the playoffs with a 3-1 RR record before knocking off Schwaller (QF) and Koe (SF) to reach the championship final.

🥌 Tour Challenge Tier II - Team Dropkin (USA) def. Team Sluchinski (AB). The Young Bucks went 6-1 to claim the title. Sluchinski entered the final as the lone undefeated, sporting a perfect 6-0 record before taking their first loss of the event.

🥌 Curling Stadium Alberta Curling Series - Team Vavrek (AB) def. Team Abe (JPN). Vavrek was 5-0 in claiming the title in Leduc, including defeating NZ's Hood in the SF. Abe went 2-1 in the RR and defeated TB survivor Adams in the SF.

🥌 Curling Stadium Regina Highland SCT Spiel - Team Carss (SK) def. Team Bernath (SK). Both teams were undefeated with 5-0 records entering the final, having both qualified via the A-side bracket.

🥌 St. Thomas Curling Classic - Team Willsey (ONT) def. Team Grattan (NB). Willsey lost their opener and then never lost again, rattling off 6 straight wins to claim the title via the B-side bracket. Grattan took the long road, reaching the playoffs via the #CSideGrind.

🥌 WCT Latvia International Challenger - Team Truksans (LAT) def. Team Veltsman (EST). Truksans went 7-0 to claim the title on home ice while Veltsman reached the playoffs atop their group with a 3-1 record before winning both playoff games to make the final.

Women

🥌 Tour Challenge Tier I - Team Homan (ONT) def. Team Einarson (MB). Homan finished the weekend with a 6-1 record, going 3-1 in the RR before knocking off Lawes (QF) and Wrana (SF) to reach the final. Einarson finished the RR with a 2-2 record and survived an early morning TB (vs. Fujisawa) before defeating Hasselborg (QF) and Gim (SF).

🥌 Tour Challenge Tier II - Team Grandy (BC) def. Team Hunkin (AB). Both teams were placed in the same RR pool, advancing to the playoffs with identical 3-1 records. Grandy defeated Rocque (QF) and Galusha (SF) while Hunkin knocked off Crough (QF) and Black (SF) prior to the championship final.

🥌 Curling Stadium Alberta Curling Series - Team Morrison (SCO) def. Team Jaeggi (SUI). Huge statement tour win for Morrison, going 7-0 to claim the title in Leduc. Morrison knocked off Parent (QF) and Ha (SF) to reach the final. Jaeggi reached the playoffs with a 3-1 RR record before defeating Kaufman (QF) and Hartwell (SF).

🥌 WCT Latvia International Challenger - Team Hurlimann (SUI) def. Team Blair (SCO). Hurlimann went 7-0 to claim the title while Blair reached the playoffs with a 2-2 RR record.

Mixed Doubles

🥌 NuFloors Vernon Mixed Doubles Curling Classic - Team Kyllo / Griffith (BC) def. Team Cotter / Cotter (BC). The final was a battle of RR group stage winners. Kylle/Griffith ended the event with a 5-1 record while Cotter/Cotter took their first loss in the final, having reached the championship with a perfect 5-0 record.

🥌 Colorado Curling Cup - Team Adams / Robichaud (NB) def. Team Park / Forestell (NB). Both teams reached the playoffs from the same pool with identical 3-1 RR records. Adams/Robichaud defeated Park/Forestell in the opening draw of the event before knocking them off once again in the final.

With 64 top ranked teams competing at the Tour Challenge, the results were bound to rock the mountain. Here are the updated rankings.

#PowerRankings

Women

1. Team Tirinzoni (1) - The winning streak is over...but the world champs still reached the playoffs before succumbing in the QF with a surprise loss. Regardless, they won the season-opening slam, a major remember, and reached the QF at this GSOC event. They retain the top billing here.

2. Team Gim (2) - This team just keeps winning and qualifying. A SF showing in GP keeps the Koreans in the #2 spot on the mountain as they try to close in on that #1 spot. And they needed to survive the early morning TB draw just to make the playoff bracket. Fatigue may catch up to them eventually though as they are curling A LOT this season.

3. Team Einarson (5) - When you reach back-to-back slam finals, you start making leaps up the mountain. Sure they are coming up short in those finals but qualifying for a slam playoff bracket, let alone two straight finals, is hard enough. The wins are coming and the results mean a steady climb up the mountain.

4. Team Homan (HM) - From Honourable Mention to #4, this is what happens when you win a slam against a stacked, strong field. We knew this team would come together and make noise at the slams but some may be surprised at how soon it happened. They have confidence and momentum now so watch out.

5. Team Grandy (NR) - Welcome back to the Top 10 Team Grandy! We saw the new B.C. foursome make an appearance on the mountain earlier in the season but slipped off a bit in recent weeks. They have hit their stride again, claiming their second title of the season. Remember this team reached back-to-back finals to open their season, including a championship final win over Tirinzoni. This team is the real deal.

6. Team Lawes (4) - The team did reach the playoffs in GP with a QF result. A small dip down the mountain, more as a result of those above them going further in the week (or already having a championship-calibre season in the case of Tirinzoni).

7. Team Wrana (NR) - Big wins yields big rewards! Quick, who had Team Wrana in the SF on their playoff bracket? Not seeing a lot of hands raised. The #TeamUpset result of the week, surviving a TB game vs. Duncan Saturday morning before knocking off the only undefeated team remaining in the competition (and previous slam winner) Tirinzoni in the QF. Sure they lost the SF but they lost to the eventual champion so not exactly a bad playoff loss when you are the upset challenger.

8. Team Keiser (6) - The #NextGen Swiss team hit a bump in the road in GP, going 2-2 in the RR before a TB loss vs. Gim. But, considering they started the event 0-2, to win back-to-back must win games just to get into the playoff conversation is a nice showing of resilience for a young team. They take a small drop on the mountain but hold strong within the Top 10.

9. Team Hunkin (NR) - Talk about flying under the radar?! Heading into the Tier II, Team Hunkin was probably considered as a possibly playoff contender but was not one of the top teams named as a championship challenger. They silenced any critics with a masterful showing in GP. They lost their opener (vs. Dupont) but rattled off five straight wins to reach the championship final, including victories over team ranked above them on the world rankings (Sturmay, Kelly, Black).

10. Team Hasselborg (HM) - After the struggle at the Boost National, Hasselborg looked like their normal GSOC-threatening team in GP, reaching the QF. And the team itself looked a bit different as mom to be Sara McManus is on maternity leave (sending positive vibes to her and family). Johanna Heldin stepped in at lead with Agnus Knochenhauer and Sofia Mabergs moving up one spot. Going 3-1 in the RR with a new lineup, against the calibre of opposition, is a strong result.

Hon. Mention: Team Kitazawa, Team Jones, Team Ha, Team Fujisawa, Team Morrison

Men

1. Team Edin (2) - The #SwedishVikings finally picked up another slam title, a title five years in waiting. And they did so without skipper #KingNiklas for the SF and final. An impressive feat to win with 3 (just ask that #2 ranked team). The world champs have now reached both slam finals of the season and look like there is no Olympic hangover this season. Now we just need to send positive vibes and prayers to Niklas Edin for a quick recovery and back on the ice soon. Those European Curling Championships on home ice are not too far away. And we know Edin LOVES competing at ECC.

2. Team Gushue (1) - Well you cannot win all the slams in a season but reaching the SF in GP keeps Gushue near the top of the mountain. When the only team above you happens to be the team you beat in a slam final and then won the following slam, understanding as to why you are #2.

3. Team Dunstone (4) - A SF result at the first slam. A final result at the last slam. The trajectory is only pointing one way for The Sheriff and his squad. A continuous move up the mountain is to be expected. The question now is, can they get higher? Or is this their ceiling for the season? They need that "big win" now to officially make the jump.

4. Team Dropkin (5) - From SF at one slam to champion at the next. Ok so maybe it is not the exact same, reaching a Tier I SF and then winning the Tier II. But, this is still a massive accomplishment. Team Dropkin was able to #DefendTheIce, having been the last team to win a Tour Challenge Tier II title in 2019. And the mountain has been watching this team all season, hence their spot already on the Power Rankings before heading to GP. They "won" their spot in the Canadian Open in January, a spot I think they would already have had locked up regardless. But it is extra special to "earn" the spot with a championship win perhaps.

5. Team Schwaller (3) - The Swiss boys slipped to #5 a few weeks ago but climbed back up to #3 last week. After a QF finish in GP, they drop again to #5. But the "drop" is not due to poor result, they just happen to be ranked lower than teams who went further. And their QF loss happened to come at the hands of Tour Challenge finalist Dunstone. No question this is still a Top 5 team.

6. Team Koe (7) - Here is the Kevin Koe and company we have been expecting. The run to the SF at the Tour Challenge might be the official "coming out" party result this team needed. The mountain assumed this would a slow burn team on the rise. They are making their climb now.

7. Team Sluchinski (NR) - The mountain welcomed the Alberta boys a few weeks ago before dropping off. They entered the Tour Challenge Tier II championship as the only undefeated team remaining in the competition. And that speaks volumes when climbing up the mountain. Sure they took the loss in the final but they made their impact statement en route to the championship. Alberta may be all talk about Koe vs. Bottcher but do not undersell some of these stronger Alberta teams as provincial threats.

8. Team Retornaz (HM) - The Italians came to play in GP...with only 3 players too. How many people would have guessed Retornaz would reach the playoffs with a perfect 4-0 RR record? Victories over Flasch, Hoesli, Bottcher and Koe are impressive. Sure they fell to Koe in the QF but they still qualified for the playoff bracket with only 3 players.

9. Team Mouat (NR) - Are the Scottish lads back? After struggling in their early portion of the season, GP seemed to be the resurgence for the Olympic silver medal winners. The 3-1 RR record and booking a spot in the SF was a complete reversal from the team we saw a few weeks ago in North Bay. Bruce is back holding the broom. Bobby seems to on the positive side of healing his hand and this team is looking dangerous once again.

10. Team Asselin (NR) - The boys from #Labelleprovince were making noise during the Tour Challenge Tier II RR. They went 4-0 and outscored their opposition 33-12. The all-in offensive playbook was working, including their 8-3 QF win vs. Sturmay. Dropkin counterpunched the offense with a defensive strategy to win the SF 5-2 but Asselin drew attention with the deep run.

Hon. Mention: Team Carruthers, Team Hostmaelingen, Team Flasch, Team Sturmay, Team Vavrek

Share your thoughts on the Top 10. Suggest your own Top 5. Keep the #PowerRankings conversation going.

#StayTuned

There are more tour events hitting the ice this upcoming weekend, including a classic fan/athlete favourite in Calgary: The Autumn Gold Curling Classic.

The blog will be at the Calgary Curling Club bringing live updates via twitter (and possibly some post-game interviews??).

Also, Calgary prepares to welcome many top curlers from around the world for the inaugural Pan Continental Curling Championships, starting next Monday (Oct. 31).

Special THANK YOU to World Curling Federation for granting this very blog a media pass to attend the event. Live updates will be provided at various times throughout next week and possibly some interviews from the post-match media scrum area?

Until the rocks start spinning again over the weekend, smile and enjoy your week everyone.