#BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings - W10
Who survived the #FallFrenzy?
We welcomed the Fall season last weekend and survived (hopefully) some Fall Frenzy on ice.
What an action packed weekend of curling!!
From epic upsets to #DefendTheIce results to monumental comebacks to a changing of the guard, this weekend really saw everything and anything we could ask for out of the sport.
Now we try to catch our breath and look back on the weekend that was.
With so much curling to watch, and so many teams hitting the ice, the Power Rankings must be due for their first major shakeup of the season.
For this week's Power Rankings post, we have no time to waste. Lets just dive right in to the content you all came for.
#TheRunback
🥌 Shorty Jenkins Classic (W) - Team Tirinzoni (SUI) def. Team Yoshimura (JPN): The world champs continue to roll, going 7-0 for the second straight event to claim the title. After the perfect 5-0 RR record, Tirinzoni earned a SF bye and scored a playoff wins over Team Morrison (SF). For Yoshimura, they also went 5-0 in the RR and entered the final undefeated after playoffs wins over Team Grandy (QF) and Team Schwaller (SF).
🥌 Shorty Jenkins Classic (M) - Team Whyte (SCO) def. Team Edin (SWE): After back-to-back championship final losses, Whyte was Right in Cornwall picking up their 1st title of the season. Going 4-1 in the RR (surviving a TB formula where 7 4-1 teams were tied for 6 playoff spots), Whyte put it all together in the playoff round with victories over Team Gushue (QF) and Team Asselin (SF). Edin, also going 4-1 in the RR, reached the final with playoff wins over Team Craik (QF) and Team Retornaz (SF).
🥌 Alberta Curling Series Major (W) - Team Han (CHN) def. Team Cameron (MB): The blog warned you about the return of Yu Han to the curling house as #TeamUpset in the preseason and last week's preview...and she did not disappoint. Qualifying out of the A-side, Han went a perfect 7-0 to claim the title, including playoffs wins over Team Kanai (QF) and Team Sasaki (SF). Cameron put together another solid weekend of curling reaching the playoffs via the B-side and collecting playoff wins over Team Sturmay (QF) and defending champion Team Kitazawa (SF).
🥌 ATB Okotoks Classic (M) - Team Bottcher (AB) def. Team Koe (AB): A perfect 6-0 weekend capped off with another tour title this season and a successful #DefendTheIce result for Team Bottcher in Okotoks. After qualifying A-side, Bottcher knocked off Team Park (QF) and Team Brunner (SF) to reach the final. Koe took the #CSideGrind road to the playoffs and reached a 3rd straight ATB Okotoks Classic final after playoffs wins over Team Dunstone (QF) and Team McEwen (SF).
🥌 US Open of Curling (W) - Team Peterson (USA) def. Team Anderson (USA): Revenge was served in the championship final for Team Peterson. After losing the A-qualifier to Team Anderson, Peterson qualified for the playoffs via the B-side and secured a SF playoff bye. They defeated Team McMakin (SF) to reach the final and earn their revenge. For Anderson, they reached the final undefeated after securing a playoff win over Team Cousins (SF).
🥌 US Open of Curling (M) - Team Casper (USA) def. Team Dropkin (USA): A battle of undefeated A-qualifiers headlined the final in Blaine, MN. The Young Guns knocked off The Young Bucks in the final, collecting their 1st title of the season. Casper picked up playoffs wins over Team Connolly (QF) and Team Ruohonen (SF) while Dropkin's path to the final included victories over Team Hebert (QF) and Team Sampson (SF).
🥌 Great Western Brewing Bonspiel (W) - Team Anderson (SK) def. Team Silvernagle (SK): Sherry Anderson was able to #DefendTheIce and remain the only team to capture this tour event title in its brief 2-year #HERstory. Anderson went a perfect 6-0 on the weekend, posting a 3-0 RR record and scoring playoff wins over Team Englot (QF) and Team Orsted (SF). For defending SK champs Silvernagle, they qualified for the playoffs with a 3-1 RR record and reached the final after playoff wins over Team Barker (QF) and Team Holland (SF). The final was a rematch of the final RR game, also won by Anderson.
🥌 Great Western Brewing Bonspiel (M) - Team Jacobson (SK) def. Team Knapp (SK): The quickest path to a championship belongs to Team Jacobson! After needing 2 wins to qualify A-side, earning a bye to the SF, they knocked off Team Hartung before winning the final against Team Knapp. A perfect 4-0 record to open their season. For defending SK champs Knapp, they qualified via the #CSideGrind and secured playoffs wins over Team Kalthoff (QF) and Team Bernath (SF).
🥌 Rick Rowsell Classic (W) - Team Godsland (NL) def. Team Curtis (NL): Full event results not available by date/time of blog post publishing.
🥌 Rick Rowsell Classic (M) - Team Young (NL) def. Team Symonds (NL): The defending champs win 3 straight games on playoff Sunday to #DefendTheIce in St. Johns. After taking a final RR loss to Symonds, forcing the team into the long playoff road, Young earned their revenge in the final to hold on to their title.
🥌 The Curling Store Cashspiel (W) - Team Daigle (NS) def. Team Black (NS): Team Daigle went a perfect 6-0 to claim the title in their season opener. After posted a 5-0 RR record, Daigle earned a bye to the final and rematch with Black, whom she defeated in the RR. For Black, she reached the playoffs with a 4-1 RR record and secured her spot in the final with a SF win over Team Christianson.
🥌 Tallinn Mixed Doubles International (MD) - Team Skaslien / Nedregotten (NOR) def. Team Roenning / Braenden (NOR): An all-Norwegian final between last year's Norwegian champions and the 2022 Olympic silver medal winners. Skaslien/Nedregotten qualified for the playoffs with a 4-1 RR record and their path to the final included a SF win over another Norwegian duo Team Ramsfjell/Ramsfjell. Team Roenning/Braenden went 5-0 in the RR and picked up playoffs wins over Team Oestgaard/Eriksen (QF) and Team Kaldvee/Lill (SF). The Estonian duo denied the Norwegian podium sweep and sent the home fans home happy winning the bronze medal.
🥌 Sweden Euro Qualifier Series (W) - Team Wrana def. Team Hasselborg: Wrana got off to a strong start, winning the opening 3 games and putting Hasselborg's back against the wall early. Hasselborg rebounded to win the next 2 games to close the gap but could not complete the comeback. Wrana took Game 6 to clinch the series win 4 games to 2 and book her ticket to Aberdeen to represent Sweden.
Time to check out how last week's #TourLifePredictions went and hand out the weekly grade. Here is the summary (and yes, I know this is a long one!):
🥌 Shorty Jenkins Classic (W) - 5 of 7 playoff qualifiers, including the champion.
🥌 Shorty Jenkins Classic (M) - 8 for 8 on playoff qualifiers.
🥌 Alberta Curling Series Major (W) - 5 of 8 playoff qualifiers.
🥌 ATB Okotoks Classic (M) - 6 of 8 playoff qualifiers, including both finalists and champion.
🥌 US Open of Curling (W) - 5 of 6 playoff qualifiers, including a finalist.
🥌 US Open of Curling (M) - 7 of 8 playoff qualifiers, including both finalists.
🥌 Great Western Brewing Bonspiel (W) - 6 of 8 playoff qualifiers.
🥌 Great Western Brewing Bonspiel (M) - 3 of 6 playoff qualifiers, including the runner-up.
🥌 Rick Rowsell Classic (W) - 1 of 2 finalists.
🥌 Rick Rowsell Classic (M) - 5 of 6 playoff qualifiers, including a finalist.
Overall, the predictions went 51 of 67 qualifiers, 8 finalists and 2 champions.
This was a comeback here after the slide the blog has been on the past few weeks.
Can we grade last week's predictions an "B+" rockheads?
And, for complete transparency, the blog will show a summary of the grades received for the predictions.
W9 - B+
A much better week of #TourLifePredictions. The grading downward slide comes to a stop...finally.
Pressure will be back this upcoming week though with the PointsBet Invitational, where the blog is the defending Media Champion!
Bring on the mountain.
Remember 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: Shorty Jenkins Classic - QF
The world champs looked human, taking a playoff loss for the first time this season. But when you put together a 16-match winning streak and own an overall season record of 18-2, a QF loss is not going to knock you from the top.
2. Team Whyte (2)
Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - Champions
Now that was a weekend of curling for Scotland's Team Whyte! Who can say they give up 5 to Brad Gushue in the opening end, of a playoff game to boot, and win 9-7 en route to a championship title? Yowie Wowie!
From a Power Rankings perspective, it was a no-win situation for Whyte. The mountain recognizes this. It is tough to enter an event #2, needing to make a deep playoff run against a stellar field just to hold your position, and then win and still sit #2.
The Power Rankings can be cruel sometimes. But still, what a weekend for Ross Whyte and the lads.
3. Team Bottcher (6)
Last Week: ATB Okotoks Classic - Champions
A second straight tour title. They #DefendTheIce against their main rivals. And they are 13-1 on the season, including riding a 9-match winning streak into the PointsBet Invitational this week. Watch out!
4. Team Retornaz (4)
Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - SF
They held their position in the Top 4 by going undefeated in the RR and reaching the Final Four in Cornwall. Another strong weekend of curling for the Italian Stallions.
5. Team Gushue (3)
Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - QF
An "ok" opening weekend of the season for the Canadian champs. They took a RR loss early but still reached the playoffs. Giving up a 5-0 lead, even if after only 1 end of play, in the QF will sting a bit though. Not what we are used to seeing from Team Gushue.
6. Team Dunstone (5)
Last Week: ATB Okotoks Classic - QF
A solid opening season weekend for The Sheriff. They reached the playoffs via the A-side but ran into a red hot Team Koe in the QF. Nothing to lower the head on though when you lose to Koe in the playoffs. Plus Koe had played 2 games (elimination games!) already on Saturday before the QF battle while Dunstone had been off since Friday. A bit of schedule backfiring perhaps.
7. Team Edin (10)
Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - Finalist
In a field full of teams ranked above him, The King still had the last laugh...for the most part. Another deep playoff run to the final brings Team Edin climbing back up the mountain. They are dangerous when they are in pursuit.
8. Team Sluchinski (8)
Last Week: ATB Okotoks Classic - QF
They follow up their tour win the previous weekend with a QF appearance, via B-qualifier, in Okotoks. Solid back-to-back weekends of curling for the Alberta boys, securing their spot among the Tier I elite in the process.
9. Team Brunner (HM)
Last Week: ATB Okotoks Classic - SF
Chalk up back-to-back SF appearances in Alberta for the young Swiss team. They have played 5 events this season. 1 tour title. 2 SF results. 2 QF finishes. Is there a more "flying under the radar" team in the men's game right now?
10. Team Jacobson (NR)
Last Week: Great Western Brewing Bonspiel - Champions
The shortest way to a title possible, playing only 4 games and claiming the title. A bit of schedule advantage in how the event played out, yes. But knocking off fellow SK challengers en route to the undefeated weekend makes a statement heading into the season.
Honourable Mention: Team Craik, Team Schwaller, Team McEwen, Team Maeda, Team Hoesli
WOMEN
1. Team Homan (LW: 1)
Last Week: Did Not Compete (DNC)
Bring on the PointsBet Invitational this upcoming week for the #1 team on the mountain.
2. Team Tirinzoni (7)
Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - Champions
They may have had a delay in the start to their season but no slider rust for the world champions. Back-to-back tour titles. 14-0 record overall. When you go undefeated, TWICE, expect big gains up the mountain. They are coming for their #1 spot now!
3. Team Wrana (4)
Last Week: Sweden Euro Qualifier - Winners
Well that was a statement weekend for Team Wrana! They eliminate the monkey off the back, known as rivals Team Hasselborg, and secure their spot at the European Curling Championships. Is this the official changing of the guard in Sweden? For now, welcome the new Queens of the Ice!
4. Team Einarson (2)
Last Week: DNC
And Einarson will also pursue the PB Invitational title...and try to regain their spot atop the mountain in the process? And don't let the slight slip up on the mountain fool you rockheads. Einarson's drop is more about rewarding those who passed her rather than critiquing the team themselves.
5. Team Morrison (9)
Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - SF
When you take only 2 losses all weekend, both being to Tirinzoni, something is obviously going right. Scotland's Team Morrison has been a happy surprise to the early part of the season, building off their Euro bronze last year and looking like a top world challenger right now.
6. Team Yoshimura (NR)
Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - Finalist
The Power Rankings mountain needs to give respect to Japan's Team Yoshimura. And after reaching their 3rd final of the season last weekend in Cornwall, welcome highest climbers of the week. Yoshimura has 3 finals, 2 titles and has qualified in every event they have entered this season. They may not be the Japanese champions but they sure are playing like it right now.
7. Team Hasselborg (3)
Last Week: Sweden Euro Qualifier - Finalist
Losing a Best-of-7 qualifier to a highly ranked team will not have too much of a punishment drop for Team Hasselborg on the mountain. But it is still going to be a bitter pill to swallow for the team, having been the face of Swedish women's curling for so many years. The big question will be how the respond for the rest of the season.
8. Team Strouse (6)
Last Week: US Open of Curling - QF
A slight slip up against national competitors this weekend in Blaine, MN. But it could be a result of all the travel and curling this team has put in during the early part of the season. They still qualified though so they retain their spot in the Top 10.
9. Team Cameron (HM)
Last Week: Alberta Curling Series Major - Finalist
Team Cameron continues to impress, week in and week out. They opened their season with a title in Winnipeg and since the calendar switched over to September, they have reached 2 SFs and this past weekend's final. Owning a 20-5 record on the season as well makes Team Cameron one of the fastest rising "Watch Out" teams on the mountain.
10. Team Fujisawa (5)
Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - Did Not Qualify
Well that wasn't the weekend many expected from the Japanese champions. It is never easy losing the A-qualifier, B-qualifier and C-qualifier games but alas that was the end result for Team Fujisawa. Sometimes sports just go that way. The mountain allows them to hold their footing in the Top 10...even if only by a toe or two.
Honourable Mention: Team Han, Team Peterson, Team Jones, Team McCarville, Team Gim
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.
#StayTuned
Are you ready for the 2023 PointsBet Invitational? Got your brackets ready? Entered to win the $1M Bracket Challenge?
Remember to sign up and enter soon at the #Sweep16 website.
It all goes down starting Wednesday with the single-elimination bracket event.
The blog will release the first #TwineTime Podcast of the season before the event, breaking down the field, discussing #Favs and #BracketBusters and revealing my final bracket prediction.
PLUS a Special Guest will be joining the podcast to help preview all the action.
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