#BetweenTheSheets: Coming To Canada
Tour Life Shifts to Canadian Ice
The weekend after September long weekend is really when we see the curling season spin its way into our hearts.
Not only do we see big events with stacked fields but we see top ranked teams from Canada and the world finally step foot on the same ice and go head to head in early season matchups.
The Scots are coming.
As are the Japanese.
The Americans are always ready to head north of the border for a solid #CanAmBattle.
We even see the return of Chinese curling this weekend.
And always watch out for those Koreans.
How about Portugal? Mexico? Yup, they will be competing this weekend as well.
We already know our Kiwi friends from the Southern Hemisphere are now making their season home in Calgary.
The Germans are on their way as well, preparing for some Canadian tour stops this month.
Oh yes, how can we forget the other S Club 3 members....Sweden and Switzerland?!
Canada may not claim the origin of curling title but the road to curling glory certainly goes through the Trans-Canada Highway!
This weekend we see detour stops north of the #1 in Edmonton, Alberta.
Another stop south of the #1 in Oakville, Ontario.
And smack dab right in the middle of the #1 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The world isn't just coming. They have arrived. And Canadian teams better step up their game.
This competition is about to get fierce!
ICYMI, the updated #PowerRankings were released earlier this week. Last weekends results caused a minor stir on the mountain. Check out the new Top 10 HERE.
Bring on the previews and predictions.
#TourLifePredictions
WOMEN
Stu Sells Oakville Tankard
Oakville, ONT
2022 Champion: Not Held (2021 Champion: Team Duncan)
Format: 24 team RR with 4 pools of 6. Top 12 qualify. Top 4 earn bye to the QF.
#Fav: Team Yoshimura
The Japanese team may not be the highest ranking team in the field but they have put in the most competitive ice time this season. That factor could be the wildcard in their favour.
Yoshimura opened the season with back-to-back tour titles in Japan, going undefeated in both and starting the season with an 11-0 record.
Yes, the faltered at the ADVICS Cup by going 3-3 and losing in the QF. But this is still a strong team off to a great start to their season.
Of course there will be some off-ice topics lingering, namely with pregnancy and the recent coaching announcement.
As posted on X (formerly known as twitter), coach Connor Njegovan is no longer with the team as of September 4. Having coached the team since 2019, Njegovan was forced to step away from his coaching duties due to Curling Canada's new Coaching and Training regulations stating, "the Athlete will demonstrate commitment to the National Team by avoiding, without exception, any coaching assignment(s) and/or training assignment(s) for the benefit of any foreign teams at the international level."
Time will tell what impact this decision has on Team Yoshimura but the loss of a long-time coach after the start of the season can be tough.
And time will tell how this CC decision impact others within the sport, namely J.D. Lind with Team Fujisawa? Will this new directive remain in effect only for "foreign teams" or will a future decision be made where athletes dedicated to the National Team program will not be allowed to coach domestic teams as well (i.e. Reid Carruthers and Team Einarson)?
For the sake of competition this weekend, and for the season ahead, lets hope this sudden news does not have a negative effect on Team Yoshimura and their results. This is a strong team who is more than capable of moving back up those rankings and playing their way back onto #gsoc ice.
In Oakville, they draw a manageable pool but will face a stiff test from Euro bronze medal winners Team Morrison (SCO) and 2021 champion Hollie Duncan.
#TeamUpset: Team Mann
The new look Lauren Mann team may enter the event ranked #86 in the world but do not underestimate their capabilities.
We already saw them surprise a few teams at their season opener Summer Series event in Quebec at the end of August.
The team survived a double TB play-in round just to reach the playoffs after posted a 2-2 RR record. Yes, they fell to eventual finalist Team Black in the QF but the grind needed to just make the playoff bracket should not go unnoticed.
Mann is placed in Pool C, a fairly wide open pool where a number of teams could challenge for a playoff spot.
Korea's Team Ha will be tough. As well Team Ladouceur, coming off a disappointing U25 #NextGen result last weekend.
If Mann can find the hot streak used a few weeks ago for a late playoff push, we could see their name on the playoff bracket once again.
#W2W4
This is a fairly wide open field. There are a number of teams who could be considered the main contenders for the title.
Team Inglis already won a tour title this season. Team Black reached a final.
Team Yoshimura's early season success is noted above.
And we get to see two strong Korean teams hit the ice in Ha and Team E. Kim.
Plus we get the Stars and Stripes Battle everyone has been looking forward to heading into the season with #TeamUpset Team Strouse drawing American champs Team Peterson in Pool A action.
#PopcornMatch
Team Morrison vs. Team Yoshimura - Draw 1: Opening game could decide the fate of the losing team from the beginning of Pool D action. Winner will have the early advantage towards a playoff spot. The loser will have work to do.
Team Inglis vs. Team Peterson - Draw 2: Opportunity for Inglis to build off the tour title and knock off a higher ranked team right out of the gate.
Team Black vs. Team E. Kim - Draw 4: Huge Pool B battle, could decide 1st place in the pool. And a possible finals preview?
Team Peterson vs. Team Strouse - Draw 7: Bring on the Stars and Stripes Battle! Winner should be lined up for a playoff spot.
Qualifiers: Team Inglis, Team Black, Team Ha, Team Yoshimura, Team Peterson, Team E. Kim, Team Ladouceur, Team Morrison, Team Strouse, Team Mann, Team Duncan, Team Howard
Championship: Team E. Kim def. Team Black
Saville Shootout
Edmonton, AB
2022 Champion: Team Jones
Format: 20 team RR with 4 pools of 5. Top 8 qualify.
#Fav: Team Einarson
The Canadian champs make their season debut in Edmonton. And what an event to get their sliders on the ice with.
This will be a great tune-up event for their season as the field is stacked with strong talent, both domestic and internationally.
Einarson will be tested in Pool A play, drawing tough home province favs Team Skrlik and Team Sturmay. Team Marks will be a test as well, coming off a finals appearance on this same ice last weekend at the U25 NextGen Classic.
Plus Einarson draws Team Cameron, a new look team who already owns a tour title this season.
The path to playoffs will not be easy for the Canadian champs. But a strong test right out of the gate can be advantageous for a long season too.
#TeamUpset: Team Tabata
The initial look would be to name Team Gray-Withers and Team Marks as the main #TeamUpset challengers based on their results at Saville last weekend. But both have made moves up the rankings and their U25 NextGen momentum might move them a bit above #TeamUpset consideration.
Of course they will still have watchful eyes on them as potential playoff challengers.
But for this event, the blog is interested to see how Japan's Team Tabata fairs against top international competition.
The blog was high on Tabata a few weeks ago in the ADVICS Cup preview, naming them a #TeamUpset challenger. Of course they went on to a 3rd place finish.
But now they are drawing much harder, and higher ranked, competition.
They will have to battle #4 Team Fujisawa, #5 Team Gim, #7 Team Jones, #28 Team Gray-Withers and #30 Team Martin. Yikes!
This will be the test to see how they can hang with these top teams. Can the #47 ranked team knock off a few higher ranked teams and make a playoff push?
#W2W4
What NOT to watch for? This field is STACKED.
Einarson. Homan. Fujisawa. Gim. Jones. Lawes. Grandy. Galusha. Hunkin. Cameron. Skrlik. Brown. Anderson.
The list of top notch teams goes on and on. This field of 20 feels like a Grand Slam of Curling elite event. And it will be a fight just to survive the RR.
Without question some top ranked teams will not make the playoff field. Only 8 survive. 12 go home early.
Pool A with Einarson has been discussed above. As has Pool D with Tabata.
Pool B draws Homan, Grandy, Galusha, Hunkin and Richards.
Pool C has Fujisawa, Lawes, Brown, Anderson and Hartwell.
Looking for a #PoolOfDeath? How about all 4 pools?
And we see Team Homan make their season debut with #SuperSpare skip Heather Nedohin at the helm. We continue to wish congratulations to Rachel Homan on the healthy, happy new addition to the family.
For curling fans, this is going to be an event to watch. As we say, Yowie Wowie!
#PopcornMatch
Team Gim vs. Team Jones - Draw 4: What an opening game for both teams. Can the losing team recover in time to still make a playoff push?
Team Homan vs. Team Grandy - Draw 5: A pre-season Scotties fav against the up and coming Scotties challenger.
Team Einarson vs. Team Skrlik - Draw 5: See above!
Team Fujisawa vs. Team Tabata - Draw 8: An all-Japanese battle. If Tabata is for real, this is the must-win statement game needed.
Team Einarson vs. Team Cameron - Draw 17: The final RR draw could have major playoff implications, especially if either (or both) slip up earlier in the competition.
Team Fujisawa vs. Team Lawes - Draw 17: See above!
Team Skrlik vs. Team Sturmay - Draw 17: A de facto elimination game perhaps
Qualifiers: Team Einarson, Team Homan, Team Fujisawa, Team Jones, Team Skrlik, Team Grandy, Team Lawes, Team Gim
Championship: Team Einarson def. Team Fujisawa
MCT Challenge
Winnipeg, MB
2022 Champion: New Event
Format: 8 team RR with 2 pools of 4. Top 4 qualify.
#Fav: Team Peterson
Remember the women's Season Preview blog post? Remember a team named as a dark horse #TeamUpset challenger?
Yup, this is Beth Peterson.
And for their season opening event, they can showcase their dark horse Manitoba potential by being a favourite at this new event on home province ice.
This is a very sneaky, under the radar team who could turn some heads early with a deep playoff run in Winnipeg.
The draw shapes up nice in the RR so a playoff run should be in their cards. Can they make a title run as well?
#TeamUpset: Team Z. Han
In the same season preview post mentioned above, the blog noted the return of Chinese curling this season.
And, in the same breath of Team Peterson, a Chinese team named Team Han was mentioned.
This is not that same team but is still a #TeamUpset challenger in this field.
Ranked #183 in the world, not much is known about the team from Harbin, China.
Skip Zhuo Han is only 23 years old so this season opening event could be a great test for the #NextGen athlete.
It will be interesting to see how the team performs on Canadian ice against some experienced competition.
#W2W4
With 4 Manitoba teams, 2 Japanese teams, 1 Saskatchewan team and 1 Chinese team in the field, it will be very interesting to see who earns bragging right this weekend.
The Manitoba teams have the numbers and home ice advantage.
Penny Barker is a past Saskatchewan champion with Scotties experience.
And both Japanese teams, Team Sasaki and Team Kanai, have already hit the ice earlier in the season at tour events in their home country.
Could the Japanese teams become the favourites and steal the spotlight in Winnipeg?
#PopcornMatch
Team Han vs. Team Sasaki - Draw 3: If the Chinese team is going to live up to their #TeamUpset marking, this would be the game to make a statement against an Asian rival team from Japan.
Team Barker vs. Team Sasaki - Draw 5: The final RR game could decide playoff positions...or be a de facto elimination game.
Team Peterson vs. Team Kanai - Draw 5: See above!
Qualifiers: Team Barker, Team Peterson, Team Sasaki, Team Kanai
Championship: Team Peterson def. Team Barker
MEN
Stu Sells Oakville Tankard
Oakville, ONT
2022 Champion: Not Held (2021 Champion: Team Mouat)
Format: 24 team RR with 4 pools of 6. Top 12 qualify. Top 4 earn bye to QF.
#Fav: Team Mouat
Did you expect anyone else?
World champs.
Tour winners in the season opening event.
And they love playing, competing (and winning) in Canada.
Anything short of a deep playoff run would be a surprise.
Now this is not to say they have a cakewalk draw. They will contend with fellow Pool A challengers, and #NextGen up and comers, Team Purcell and Team Mooibroek.
Plus they draw the new look Team Horgan and Brier fan fav Team Greg Smith.
#TeamUpset: #NextGen Movement
This field is loaded with #NextGen talent. How can we pick just 1 as a main #TeamUpset challenger?
Team Mooibroek is fresh off a finals appearance last weekend in Edmonton.
Team Purcell is the up and coming young buck team to watch for in Canada.
And what about Nova Scotia's Team Manuel?
It is unfortunate the draw gods placed Mooibroek and Purcell in the same grouping, a stacked Pool A with the world champs to boot.
Manuel will get his chance to flex his young buck status against USA's Young Bucks, Team Dropkin.
A special shout out also goes to Mexico's Team Tompkins and Portugal's Team Ribau.
Both nations are aiming to #growthesport and having teams compete at tour events like this can help make that happen.
Plus both nations are preparing for big continental events in the fall with Mexico hopefully sending a men's team to the Pan Continental Curling Championships in the future (the women lost the B-Division final last year) and Portugal already making moves by now competing in the European Curling Championships B-Division.
#W2W4
Scotland's Team Mouat and Team Whyte have a leg up on the competition this weekend, having already been competing in Europe and finding early season success.
The same can be said for USA's Team Dropkin.
But eyes will also fall on those "big name" teams making their season debuts.
Team Carruthers. Team Howard. Team Epping. Team Horgan. Team Shuster.
And what about those flying under the radar names we have seen have success in the past?
Mike Fournier. Mark Kean. Rich Ruohonen. Pat Ferris.
Will the experience factor help those skips make "surprise" playoff runs this weekend?
Do not underestimate a dangerous Japanese team in the field either. Team Sato has already qualified in all 4 tour events played this season and reached 2 finals. Can they continue their playoff run in Canada?
#PopcornMatch
Team Mouat vs. Team Purcell - Draw 2: A good opening game test for both teams.
Team Kean vs. Team Shuster - Draw 2: Tough opener for two teams with playoff aspirations. Winner should be in a good spot. Loser has an uphill mountain to climb in Pool D.
Team Dropkin vs. Team Manuel - Draw 3: The present Young Bucks vs. the future Young Bucks?
Team Whyte vs. Team Howard - Draw 4: This game could go far in deciding which team can earn the bye to the QF and which might have to survive the Playoff Round.
Team Purcell vs. Team Smith - Draw 7: If either team wants to make the playoff bracket, this is a must win game.
Team Carruthers vs. Team Shuster - Draw 10: Could this game decide the Pool D winner?
Team Dropkin vs. Team Ruohonen - Draw 11: The "Get Off My Lawn" rivalry continues...
Team Sato vs. Team Shuster - Draw 12: The final RR game could be the de facto elimination game.
Qualifiers: Team Mouat, Team Whyte, Team Dropkin, Team Carruthers, Team Purcell, Team Howard, Team Epping, Team Sato, Team Horgan, Team Fournier, Team Manuel, Team Shuster
Championship: Team Mouat def. Team Carruthers
Saville Shootout
Edmonton, AB
2022 Champion: Not Held (2015 Champion: Team Meachem)
Format: 18 team RR with 3 pools of 6. Top 8 qualify.
#Fav: Team Bottcher
The train finally finds the tracks and Team Bottcher is ready to make their season debut.
When we last saw them, they were ending their season hoisting a trophy at the Champions Cup in Regina.
Can the momentum carry over through the offseason and into their first event of the season?
Their RR draw should not pose too many hurdles towards a playoff spot, with main competition likely coming from the new look Team Schneider and a dangerous young Team Wiebe.
#TeamUpset: Team Kleibrink
With a name like Kleibrink, expectations are probably placed fairly high on your shoulders.
We have yet to see young Kyler live up to the full potential of the Kleibrink name...but could this be his breakout season?
Kleibrink went back to the drawing board in the offseason and found himself a new team.
Joining him will be vice Sebastien Robillard, second Andrew Nerpin and lead Jordan Tardi.
Some familiar names, no?
Robillard found success in B.C. in the past as a member of Team Gaell after skipping his own team.
Nerpin also found success in B.C. as a Robillard rival with Team Cotter.
And Tardi...well we know the name Tardi and the success that comes with it.
Now those B.C. names have joined together and found a skip out of Calgary named Kleibrink to test new waters.
Will the new formation work and find success for the now #86 ranked team?
The draw will test them right away as they get two tough Japanese teams (Team Morozumi, Team Yanagisawa) and the new look Team McEwen.
#W2W4
Bottcher is Back.
The McEwen / Flasch coupling will be put to an early test.
Team Schneider still sorting out their new foursome partnership.
A double threat out of Japan.
The continued Alberta rivalry between Team Sluchinski and Team Sturmay.
Strong #NextGen challengers from Team Wiebe, Team Libbus, Team Adams, Team Jacques, Team Champ and Team Tao.
The Saville Storylines are endless.
And the ultimate winners will be the fans who tune it to watch it all unfold, whether live or online.
This one should be fun!
#PopcornMatch
Team McEwen vs. Team Kleibrink - Draw 6: If our #TeamUpset is for real, this is the game to prove it.
Team Bottcher vs. Team Schneider - Draw 9: A great test for Bottcher and a great opportunity to see how ready for the "big boys" Schneider is.
Team Morozumi vs. Team Yanagisawa - Draw 9: The Land of the Rising Sun rivalry continues...and this one should have major playoff implications.
Team Schneider vs. Team Wiebe - Draw 13: Winner of this game should feel comfortable for a playoff spot. The loser? They will be sweating...
Team McEwen vs. Team Morozumi - Draw 14: Could this game decide a ticket to the playoffs?
Team Sturmay vs. Team Sluchinski - Draw 16: And the rivalry continues....
Qualifiers: Team Bottcher, Team Wiebe, Team Schneider, Team McEwen, Team Morozumi, Team Yanaguisawa, Team Sluchinski, Team Sturmay
Championship: Team Bottcher def. Team McEwen
MCT Challenge
Winnipeg, MB
2022 Champion: New Event
Format: 8 team RR with 2 pools of 4. Top 4 qualify.
#Fav: Team Calvert
The blog loves some Braden Calvert.
We have seen Matt Dunstone make the big leap, literally, from the junior game to the men's game with success.
We are still waiting for the same to happen with young Calvert.
Could this be his breakout season?
The team has dropped to #50 in the rankings, a bit surprising given the level of talent. But it happens.
This season opening event on Winnipeg ice is a great opportunity for the #NextGen skip to restate his arrival on the Manitoba curling scene.
#TeamUpset: Team Maeda
The Japanese teams keep coming folks. It seems in every preview of this upcoming weekend's tour events, we have one (or more) Japanese teams threatening as strong playoff challengers.
Add Team Maeda to the list.
They may be ranked #85 in the world but they have already played 4 tour events this season, with modest results.
They went 4-9 in their opening 3 events, failing to qualify.
But at their last event, the ADVICS Cup, they went 4-2 and reached their first QF of the season. They have some momentum and new found confidence back on their side before arriving in Canada.
#W2W4
Pool B = #PoolOfDeath
There will be experience in Pool B...and experience will be going home early.
Manitoba's Team Grassie leads the experience factor while fellow Manitoban Team Riley Smith has continued to build their ranking over the past few seasons and should be considered a dark horse provincial challenger.
Japan's Maeda is already waving the #TeamUpset flag, as identified above.
And USA's Team Brundidge will bring a wealth of experience to the ice as well.
All the RR games in this pool are essential Popcorn Matches to watch.
And will only 3 games being played by each team, one slip up in the RR could end up costing you a spot in the playoff bracket.
#PopcornMatch
Team Calvert vs. Team Muntain - Draw 2: A solid opener for 2 teams with strong playoff aspirations.
All Pool B Matches: As mentioned above!
Qualifiers: Team Calvert, Team Smith, Team Muntain, Team Maeda
Championship: Team Calvert def. Team Smith
#StayTuned
For those competing this weekend, good luck and good curling.
Who owns the tour this weekend: Canada vs. The World?!
Remember, the blog, and the #PowerRankings, are always watching. 👀👀
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