#BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings - Week 6
The mountain gets slippery after a full weekend of curling action
The first real busy week of the new curling season is now behind us. And there were some strong results over the weekend.
In total, 4 men's and 4 women's champions were crowned from tour events taking place in Canada, Scotland and Japan.
Some of the results were expected, with #Fav teams emerging victorious.
Others were perhaps a bit more surprising.
From experienced teams collecting wins to new look teams showing they are anything but "new", we could be in for a very fun and exciting season.
Before diving into the weekend results and updated #PowerRankings, the blog is playing around with new Power Ranking images for the weekly post.
There will be a few different images being used over the next few weeks. If you see an image you like attached to the post, let me know.
The hunt is on for the perfect #PowerRankings logo!!
#TheRunback
🥌 Euro Super Series (M) - Team Mouat (SCO) def. Team Whyte (SCO): Mouat goes 6-1 to claim the title in Stirling, handing Scottish rivals Whyte their only loss of the event in the final. Mouat showed their Scottish might in the playoffs defeating fellow Scots Team J. Craik (QF) and Team Bryce (SF) to reach the final. Whyte's path to the final included playoff wins over Team Waddell (QF) and Team Dropkin (SF).
🥌 Curling Stadium Alberta Tour Kick-Off (M) - Team Sluchinski (AB) def. Team Casper (USA): Sluchinski earned revenge against the #NextGen USA team in the final after losing to them in the RR. Sluchinski finished with a 4-1 record to claim the title while Casper took their only loss of the event in the final. Sluchinski earned Alberta bragging rights over rival Team Sturmay with a SF win. Casper knocked off Team Kleiter in the SF.
🥌 Curling Stadium Alberta Tour Kick-Off (W) - Team Skrlik (AB) def. Team Martin (SK): A perfect start to the season for the AB champs as they go 5-0 to claim the title in Leduc. New look Team Martin wrapped up the weekend with a 3-2 record and a finals appearance. Skrlik knocked off fellow crowd favourite Team Galusha in the SF while Martin defeated fellow new look Team Marks for their spot in the final.
🥌 ADVICS Cup (W) - Team Fujisawa (JPN) def. Team Kitazawa (JPN): Fujisawa remains undefeated at the ADVICS Cup, accomplishing the #3peat with an undefeated performance over the weekend. Fujisawa qualified via the A-side and knocked off Team Tabata in the SF. Kitazawa also qualified via the A-side and defeated Team Minami to reach the final. Tabata defeated Minami to finish 3rd.
🥌 ADVICS Cup (M) - Team Abe (JPN) def. Team Sato (JPN): In a different turn of events compared to the women's tournament, the men's competition saw both A-qualifiers lose in the SF when Abe defeated Team Morozumi and Sato defeated Team Ohno. Abe took the title after qualifying via the B-side (defeating Sato in the B-qualifier) and defeated Team Hirata in the QF, finishing with a 5-1 overall record. Sato took the #CSideGrind path to the playoffs, also knocking off Team Maeda in the QF, to wrap up the weekend with a 5-3 record. Morozumi defeated Ohno to claim 3rd place.
🥌 Icebreaker Challenge (W) - Team Cameron (MB) def. Team Strouse (USA): The new look Cameron denied USA's Strouse back-to-back tour wins with a finals victory. For Cameron, it was a perfect opening weekend with a 3-0 RR record and a SF win over MB challenger Team Watling. Strouse qualified for the playoffs with a 2-1 record and knocked off fellow USA #TeamUpset contender Team Anderson in the SF. Anderson defeated Watling for 3rd place.
🥌 Summer Series (M) - Team Purcell (NS) def. Team Martel (QC): Purcell went 6-1 to claim the championship win at their season opening event, including extracting revenge for their RR loss against Team Mooibroek in the SF. Purcell also knocked off Team Epping in the QF. Martel needed the extra long path to the final after finishing the RR with a 2-2 record. Martel knocked off Team Desjardins (TB), Team Goodkey (QF) and Team King (SF) to reach the championship game. 3 games in 1 day and playing in 5 consecutive draws for Team Martel.
🥌 Summer Series (W) - Team Inglis (ON) def. Team Black (NS): Inglis prevented a Nova Scotia sweep in St-Felicien by posting a perfect 6-0 record to claim the title, including RR and championship final wins over Black. Inglis earned a bye to the SF where they defeated Team Horton to make the final. Black needed a QF win over Team Mann and a SF win over Team St-Georges to book the finals rematch, coming up short and wrapping up the weekend with a 5-2 record overall.
🥌 St. Vital Mixed Doubles NISO Classic - Team Armstrong / Griffith (CAN) def. Team McEwen / McEwen (CAN): Both duos qualified for the playoffs with 3-1 RR records and headed to the final with matching 5-1 records overall. Armstrong / Griffith knocked off Team Kitz / Stewart (QF) and Team Burgess / Gauthier (SF) to reach the final. McEwen / McEwen defeated Team Arbuckle / Macdonell (QF) and Team Jones / Laing to make the final. Both SF losers entered the round with perfect 5-0 records after being the only 2 teams to reach the playoffs with perfect 4-0 RR records.
Wondering how the #TourLifePredictions went? Here is the summary:
🥌 Euro Super Series - 7 of 8 playoff qualifiers, including predicting the winner. And the 1 playoff miss was identified as a #TeamUpset challenger.
🥌 Curling Stadium Alberta Tour Kick-Off (M) - 2 of 4 qualifiers, including a finals appearance for the eventual champions.
🥌 Curling Stadium Alberta Tour Kick-Off (W) - 4 of 4 qualifiers, including both championship finalists and eventual winner.
🥌 ADVICS Cup (W) - 4 of 6 qualifiers, including eventual champion.
🥌 ADVICS Cup (M) - 5 of 6 qualifiers (because for some reason I only picked 5 qualifiers?), predicted champion finished 3rd overall.
🥌 Summer Series (M) - 4 of 6 qualifiers (again, only picked 5?!), including a finals appearance for the eventual champions.
🥌 Summer Series (W) - 5 of 6 qualifiers, including one championship finalist.
🥌 Icebreaker Challenge (W) - 4 of 4 qualifiers, including one championship finalist.
Overall, the predictions went 35 of 44 qualifiers, 8 correct finalists and 3 tour winners.
I would say this was an "A" weekend of predictions rock heads. The blog is finding its footing once again?
And, for complete transparency, the blog will show a summary of the grades received for the predictions.
W5 - A
If you agree or disagree with a grade, share your thoughts with the blog on social media. Grades are subjective after all, right?
Ok, bring on the Power Rankings mountain! The parenthesis number behind each team is where they were ranked in last week's Power Rankings post.
#PowerRankings
Men
1. Team Mouat (LW: 1)
Last Week: Euro Super Series - Champion
The blog questioned how the world champs would respond to being the hunted and no longer the hunter. Well the lads silenced that question, at least for now, with a season opening tour win. Plus, they went through their main Scottish challengers in the playoff bracket to claim the title.
Looking good early.
2. Team Gushue (2)
Last Week: Did Not Compete (DNC)
The Goo sticks...to the mountain at #2. Again.
3. Team Retornaz (3)
Last Week: DNC
Cannot knock the Baden Masters winners for taking a week off.
4. Team Dunstone (4)
Last Week: DNC
And we wait for The Sheriff to show up on the ice this season...
5. Team Whyte (7)
Last Week: Euro Super Series - Finalist
They follow up a SF result in Baden with a finals appearance in Scotland. Solid opening two weekends of curling for the young Scots. And the stock continues to rise...
6. Team Bottcher (5)
Last Week: DNC
And we wait for Team Bottcher to make their season opening appearance.
7. Team Edin (6)
Last Week: DNC
Edin hits the ice this upcoming weekend in Norway.
8. Team Bryce (9)
Last Week: Euro Super Series - SF
A finals appearance in Baden followed up by a SF appearance in Scotland. Tough to lose to the champions of both events but if you are going to take playoff losses, might as well be to the teams who hoist the trophy.
9. Team Schwaller (8)
Last Week: DNC
Schwaller returns to tour action this upcoming weekend at the Oslo Cup.
10. Team Koe (10)
Last Week: DNC
Honourable Mention: Team Dropkin, Team J. Craik, Team Brunner, Team Waddell, Team Sluchinski
Women
1. Team Einarson (LW: 1)
Last Week: DNC
No play, no problem, no movement. Again.
The #1 team is enjoying their view from the top.
2. Team Homan (2)
Last Week: DNC
They dropped their schedule this weekend, along with a few nuggets of info.
Tracy Fleury will be vice. Don Bartlett will be coach. Heather Nedohin will be #SuperSpare.
Nedohin, Team Einarson coach, now sparing for Team Homan. Interesting!
And their fans anxiously await their return to the ice.
3. Team Fujisawa (4)
Last Week: ADVICS Cup - Champion
A perfect start to the season for Team Fujisawa...and keeping the perfect record at the ADVICS Cup as well. Also left a message for their Japanese counterparts, letting them know they are still the top team in the Land of the Rising Sun.
4. Team Gim (3)
Last Week: DNC
Their Asian rivals move ahead of them due to their strong opening weekend. But Gim is coming.
5. Team Hasselborg (5)
Last Week: DNC
Fans are excited to see them return to the ice this weekend in Norway.
6. Team Wrana (6)
Last Week: DNC
The "other Swedes" will also make their season debut this upcoming weekend.
7. Team Strouse (10)
Last Week: The Icebreaker Challenge - Finalists
Back-to-back tour finals will always make moves on the mountain. And #TeamUpset is ready to continue their climb. Have those above them in the rankings taken notice yet?
8. Team Lawes (7)
Last Week: DNC
9. Team Tirinzoni (8)
Last Week: DNC
We saw them hit the ice for practice time on social media. Awaiting the season debut for the world champions.
10. Team Skrlik (NR)
Last Week: Curling Stadium Alberta Tour Kick-Off - Champions
An undefeated start to the season on home province ice is a nice way to remind your Alberta competitors you are the defending provincial champs and are not going anywhere anytime soon.
Honourable Mention: Team Grandy, Team Inglis, Team Black, Team Kitazawa, Team Constantini
Agree? Disagree? What would YOUR Top 10 look like?
Share your thoughts with the #PowerRankings and reveal your Top 10 mountain on social media or in the comment section below.
Also, I heard the crowds in Leduc were very supporting of the weekend curling action. It is extra special to see so much love and support going out to Team Galusha while their home territory still copes with fires.
Curling is a sport. It is for fun. And sometimes it is nice to just let sport unite us, and possibly provide a much needed distraction, at least for a few hours. Special thank you to Shona Barbour for the blog shout out on FB.
#StayTuned
This upcoming weekend will see some Euro fan favourites hit the ice for the first time this season in Norway for the Oslo Cup.
Plus #NextGen teams will have the attention of curling fans at the NextGen Classic in Edmonton.
The blog will be back later in the week for a complete preview of both events.
It is also Pride Week in Calgary. A reminder on why allyship and representation matters, especially in a time we are living in where divisiveness continues to try and be the louder voice.
= ＞ ÷
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