#BetweenTheSheets: Hits, Draws, Guards...Oh My!
The curling season has officially hit the ice....under the August sun?!
Can you believe we are in the second-last weekend of August and celebrating the true slide out of the hack for the 2019/2020 curling season? Temperatures in some parts of Canada this past week reached +30C or higher yet here we are already talking about the start of a season for a winter sport.
Shots and hits. Beaches and Draws. Sun and ice. It is all going down this weekend rock heads.
And. Here. We. Go.
Earlier in the week as I put the final touches on the Season Preview blog post, I had to actually double-check my calendar to make sure I was not one week early. It was as if my own mind was playing tricks on me as I looked out my office window, watched numerous people golfing under the warm sun, planning my next trip on the course....and writing about a sport taking place on the ice.
It was a serious WFT moment for my brain! But then I looked back at the blog archives and realized that yes indeed this is tradition and this is the right time to start getting excited for curling. Maybe it was the fact our summer has been more rainy and less hot than usual or maybe it was just the months seem to go by faster as I get older. Whatever the reason I almost was not ready to start thinking about curling.
But do not fret my rock head friends, the #TwineTime blog is back and stoked for the upcoming season. Once I corrected my own duality between August being summer and curling starting, I began getting excited for all the events and another blogging season with you. And I am already planning my own curling calendar for which events I can try to attend in person. The blog could be coming to Helsinborg, Sweden and Leduc, Alberta and Old, Alberta this season. Not to mention the star-studded field in Calgary during Thanksgiving weekend at the Autumn Gold.
Ok now I am getting excited!!! 😍😍
But before we get too far ahead of ourselves on future events lets discuss the happenings on the ice this weekend. Technically this is considered Week 5 of the #wct season. Week 5? Already? In August? Ok World Curling Tour, if you say so...but it seems like you may have been dipping into those Middaugh Caesar's a little early.
Technically speaking Week 1 happened back in June with an event in Morioka, Japan. Week 2 was the event in Hokkaido, Japan and Week 3 was the debut of the ADVICS Cup. With no events taking place last weekend, according to the calendar and schedule, welcome to Week 5 of the 2019/2020 #WCT season folks.
Season-opening events can be a bit tricky. Some teams take a bit longer than others to find their stride after a summer of golf, relaxation, travel and fun. Others hit the broom quick and are able to get out to strong starts from the opening rock. We usually find a few surprises in the opening weekends of #wct action. Can we see a few #TeamUpset contenders this weekend?
In fine #TwineTime tradition, let's slide into our weekly predictions for the events in Baden, Switzerland and Morris, Manitoba. The #BadenMasters is designated a #Tour500 event while the #Icebreaker will be a #Tour250 event. ICYMI on what those designations mean, the full description can be found HERE. Get familiar with it, this is Year II and we will be using these designations throughout the season once again.
#TourLifePredictions
#BadenMasters (Tour 500)
Baden, SUI
2018 Champion: Team Ulsrud
Format: 20-team RR with 4 pools of 5. Top 8 qualify.
Top Teams Entered: Team Edin, Team Mouat, Team Paterson, Team De Cruz, Team Schwaller
#Fav: Tough to bet against the #SwedishVikings here. Team Edin has won this tournament two of the past four years, "oddly" enough winning odd numbered years (2015, 2017). If the trend continues, Edin should pick up their first title of the season at their opening event. The only team to get the better of them in those even-numbered years was best bud/rival Thomas Ulsrud. The Norwegian pants superstar knocked off Edin in the final last season and eliminated them in the SF in 2016. Based on the past four years though, Edin has reached the Final Four each time making three finals and winning twice. Basically chalk the team into the SF side of the bracket now.
#TeamUpset: There are a few teams who could trip up the big name contenders in this field. The home nation will have a few #TeamUpset options in Team Hess and Team Lottenbach and Team Schnider. Hess even reached the QF here last year. But the ultimate team to keep those upset eyes on will come from neighbour Germany. Watch out for Team Muskatewitz. It has been awhile since we have had a German team to write home about but Mukki and the boys could be the saving grace for German men's curling. Muskatewitz skipped the German team last season into the Euro playoffs and a fourth place finish. He has a few world championships under his belt now as well, helping add to the experience factor for a young skip. It will be a different line-up this year though. Gone is #TwineTimeFam member Ryan Sherrard, who had taken a step back from the game this season but will still be offering some help to his former teammates behind the scenes. Missing from last year's world championship team but back once again is German junior champ Sixten Totzek. Totzek has great energy for the sport and his high-energy at vice can be balanced by the calm, cool and collected outlook from Muskatewitz. And joining the team this season will be Joshua Sutor at second, who has curled with Totzek at the junior level. There is strong potential for this team to have a break-out season but it all starts with results this weekend.
What 2 Watch 4 (#W2W4): There is quite a few mini-story lines going on in Baden this weekend. We have the return of Ulsrud, curling with a new team for the first time in what feels like my entire life. Ulsrud, the defending champ remember, will be joined by a formidable duo in Steffen Walstad at vice and Markus Hoiberg at second. But keep your eyes on the other Norway team in the field, led by defending Norwegian champ Magnus Ramsfjell, who is now joined by Magnus Nedregotten at vice. Team Magnus Squared or Team M2 or whatever witty name we want to come up with for them is also a dangerous team and one this blog called out as a team to watch in the preview. Also keep your eyes on those Scottish teams. We know the battle between Mouat - Paterson is going to heat up this season (at least this blog hopes so). Mouat will be a man down however as regular lead Hammy McMillan Jr. is not joining the team in Baden due to a recent shoulder injury a few weeks ago. Euan Kyle will be filling in for the team this weekend. The blog wishes a speedy recovery to Hammy though!
Qualifiers: Team De Cruz, Team Edin, Team Mouat, Team Paterson, Team van Dorp, Team Ramsfjell, Team Ulsrud, Team Schwaller
Championship: Team Edin def. Team De Cruz
Cargill Curling Training Centre #Icebreaker (Tour 250)
Morris, MB
2018 Champion: Team Calvert
Format: 12-team double knockout with 6 qualifiers.
Top Teams Entered: Team Gunnlaugson, Team Calvert, Team Ruohonen
#Fav: Gotta go with Team Gunnlaugson as the favourite this weekend for the sole reason being they have already put some competitive ice under their sliders this season. Team Gunner has been in Japan earlier this month competing at both opening events. While they failed to reach the playoffs both times they did finish with respectable 3-1 (Hokkaido) and 2-2 (ADVICS Cup) records. Having 8 competitive games under your belt, and against some strong competitive Asian teams, while your opposition this weekend has yet to curl this season is a huge advantage. If the team has shaken off any potential jet lag and messy sleep schedule they could take home the title on home province ice. Plus Gunner is a past champion here winning the title in 2016.
#TeamUpset: There are a few flag bearer contenders from last year in this field looking to continue the trend of curling well on Manitoba ice. The big one to watch is Ty Dilello. Dilello had a strong season last year, qualifying in 6 events and reaching 2 finals. The team finished #46 on the #PowerRankings and could be poised to make a climb into the Top 40 or Top 30 this season. Last season they just missed the playoffs at this event so qualifying here would give them a points boost. But also keep your eye on Manitoba junior champ JT Ryan. This blog has talked up the bright future of young Ryan for a few seasons now and could this be his breakout #wct season? We didn't see him on tour as often last year but the team did qualify in 2 events. Be weary of playing against him this season. And speaking of junior pedigree, how about Tanner Horgan? Horgan has made the move out of Northern Ontario and now competes in Manitoba joining forces with fellow former junior rockstars Tanner Lott and Kyle Doering. This is a very strong team who could fly under the radar for the first half of the season. If they can get off to a good start and gel as a team early, do not underestimate seeing this team skyrocket up the #PowerRankings mountain.
#W2W4: All eyes could be on two-time defending champion Braden Calvert this weekend. Can he #DefendTheIce and make it a #3peat? Calvert seems to love this early-season event and has found great success on the Icebreaker surface. But will his luck change with the shift of location? This event used to take place in Winnipeg and has moved to Morris this season. Was all the Calvert luck in Winnipeg? And keep your eyes on USA's Team Ruohonen. Ruohonen slid onto the curling scene two seasons ago when they represented US Curling at the world championships in Las Vegas. Last season they took a bit of a step back though, perhaps succumbing to a bit of pressure and having to compete with the bright lights being shined down onto compatriots and rivals Team Shuster. This will be a telling season for this team. With Shuster continuing to be the face of US curling and the up and coming Team Young Bucks, Team Ruohonen could get left in the pack quick. A strong start to their season here in Morris is almost essential. It will not be easy though as they open with Japan's Team Yamaguchi, who have already played two events this season and reached a final back in June.
Qualifiers: Team Gunnlaugson, Team Calvert, Team Horgan, Team Dilello, Team Ryan, Team Yamaguchi
Championship: Team Horgan def. Team Gunnlaugson
WOMEN
Cargill Curling Training Centre #Icebreaker (Tour 250)
Morris, MB
2018 Champion: Team Robertson
Format: 12-team double knockout with 6 qualifiers.
Top Teams Entered: Team Kovaleva, Team Yoshimura, Team Fleury
#Fav: If we go by the #PowerRankings, Russia's Team Kovaleva come to Morris with the largest target on their back. They had a breakout season last year, finishing the year #5 on the Power Rankings. But it still felt at times they were not getting the respect they deserved. They won 3 tour events. They finished 4th at Europeans. The reached the playoffs at the world championships. Yet it still feels like they have something to prove to curling fans. I disagree of course. I was all-in on this team last season and I think they can continue the success into this season. This is a strong and dangerous team. When people discuss the top teams in the world, Team Kovaleva is not often mentioned. And maybe flying under the radar a bit compared to juggernaut teams like Homan/Hasselborg/Tirinzoni/Jones might just be what the doctor ordered for this team to continue to succeed. In their first event last season they reached the final in Edmonton. They are starting their season a few weeks earlier. Could they go one W better?
#TeamUpset: Well we mentioned Germany as an upset contender in Baden, why not follow suit here in Morris. What should we expect from Daniela Jentsch this season? The #TwineTimeFam member had the season of her career (thus far!) last year when she won bronze at the European championships. But the team also had a strong tour season winning a tournament in China and qualifying in 4 other events. They ended the season ranked #21 on the Power Rankings and seem poised to crack the Top 20 or Top 15 this season. If they can continue the momentum of course. We do not usually see Jentsch and company start the season this early so one has to assume this is a statement entry, saying they are looking to really up their game and results this year. Coincidence this season starts the build-up towards the 2022 Winter Olympics as well? I like this team. I have hung out with them off the ice a few times. Last season I saw something different though. A saw a fire in their eyes and a drive to succeed that wasn't necessarily there in the past. The Euro result seemed to be the confidence boost they have been looking for. If they can find success this weekend, huge boost for the season. But if they falter, will their confidence take a hit and set them back? As this blog always says, #StayTuned!
#W2W4: This is going to be a VERY competitive event for a season opener folks. There are quite a few contending teams to watch out for. Outside of the #Fav and #TeamUpset teams listed above, keep your eyes on a few other teams. Darcy Robertson is back to #DefendTheIce but with a completely different team. Her former teammates are also back to #DefendTheIce but also with a new look. Team Fleury reached the playoff round in Hokkaido to kick-start their season while Japan's Team Yoshimura went 3-1 at both events in Japan yet failed to reach the playoffs due to the TB procedure. And lets not forget the new look Team Walker. A few #TwineTimeFam members bookend this new team with Laura Walker as skip and Nadine Scotland at lead. Many eyes will be on this new Alberta team competing at their debut event this weekend. Will they stumble early trying to find their footing with one another or come sliding out the hack strong as a contender? There are MANY story lines to keep your eyes on this weekend in this field and it should be fun seeing how it all plays out.
Qualifiers: Team Walker, Team Kovaleva, Team Jentsch, Team Fleury, Team Yoshimura, Team Ackland
Championship: Team Kovaleva def. Team Walker
What say you rock heads? Who are your picks to pick up season-opening titles this weekend? Who do you think could wave the #TeamUpset flag early and surprise a few contenders? Share your thoughts via social media and/or the comment section below.
Remember we want to try and increase the fan engagement this season. Tag your favourite teams in your comments. Tag your fellow curling rock heads. Create conversation. Use emoji's and gifs. If we want to continue to #growthesport, fans need to play just as important role as the athletes on the ice. Together we can make this an interactive and engaging season to remember.
#StayTuned
How will the results this weekend affect the #PowerRankings? See which teams rise and which teams take a tumble down the mountain when the Power Rankings weekly post returns early next week.
Until then, enjoy the action on the ice and welcome back curling!
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