2020 #GoldenGranite Opening

#BetweenTheSheets: And The Award Goes To.....

Handing out the season-ending #GoldenGranite Awards

Happy 5th Birthday Golden Granite. You do not look a day over 2.

What a season to celebrate a milestone achievement for the blog. A season of high's and low's and ultimately a shut down thanks to #COVID19.

But we will not let a pandemic ruin a party. The positive of being an online resource is pandemics, epidemics and natural disasters do not shut down the blog. So we can take some solace in that, right?

Who knew when the blog started the Golden Granite awards back in 2016 it would continue to be the perfect closing ceremony rock for the season. And the award "show" has grown over the past few seasons.

There have been co-hosts. New awards. Debate among who should have won. It almost feels like a regular award show now.

ICYMI, take a look back at the history of the Golden Granite Awards from the inaugural show in 2016 to the further development in 2017, 2018 and last year.

Thank you to those who continue to stick with the "little blog that could". This blog remains one-man operational with no sponsorship or revenue generation. It continues to be hosted by a fan for the fans. And your support is the fuel in the tank keeping #TwineTime moving along.

In this ever-changing environment, I hope all of you are doing well. Staying healthy. Staying safe. Staying positive. As a mental health advocate we must recognize the importance of checking in with one another as well as checking in with ourselves.

Ask the simple question "How are you doing?" to others but also "How am I doing?" to yourself. And be honest with your response. We are in this together and together we can get through this.

Positive thoughts and good rocks sent from the #TwineTime house to your house.

But enough of the pre-show hype. Lets get on with the show.

Welcome to the 5th Annual Golden Granite Awards

Before we slide out of the house celebrating the past curling season, the blog would like to open the #GoldenGranite Awards with some sombre news.

Each year when you watch major award shows like the Oscars there is that moment in the broadcast where we look back and celebrate the lives of those we lost over the past year. This year the blog would like to take an In Memorandum moment during this annual awards showcase.

Recently we lost a dear member of the #CurlingFamily: Grant Hopley.

Grant was part of the beloved @scottieschicken duo at curling events around the country. But it was more than just wearing a fun chicken hat. Grant was a curling fan. And not just a fan of the athletes on the ice.

Grant took time to talk to those who work behind the scenes for the sport. From camera operators to media to fellow volunteers, Grant was always there with a handshake, a smile and great conversation. He brought a warmth to the curling arena with his fun and welcoming personality. Who hasn't received a special sealed candy egg from Grant at a curling event? I have a few.

Grant was just as much a part of a curling event as those competing on the ice.

And he put in the time as well. Grant, along with his always laughing wife Dee, would not just attend events but they would volunteer. From score keeping to time keeping to VIP lounge and everywhere in between, Grant and Dee love the sport and were willing to give back in any way they could.

I have been VERY fortunate to get to know Grant and Dee over the past few years and they have become my #CurlingFamily. We end each event with hugs, well wishes and talk of the next event we would see one another at. Sometimes we would forget who won the events we were at but we never forgot the conversation and laughs we had while attending them.

To say it brings me personally a lot of sadness in knowing Grant is no longer going to be attending future curling events would be an understatement. Grant will be forever missed but always remembered.

Thank you Grant and Dee for letting me sit at the "cool kids" table at events. You are both the true rock stars and a highlight for every event I am fortunate enough to attend. My thoughts and prayers go to Dee, their daughter Jessica and their family at this time.

As we look to the future, I look forward to the first event of next season where we can all be together again and truly celebrate the life of Grant over a cold beer, a hearty cheers and the sharing of a few laughs and tears. RIP Grant Hopley!

Photo Courtesty @scottieschicken

On a positive note, this blog would like to recognize the volunteers hours and years Grant put into the sport. He was one of the most social guys at an event and we should celebrate his warm personality.

In discussions with Dee, we have decided to rename the Social Team of the Year #GoldenGranite Award to be known as the Grant Hopley Award.

Starting with this year's winner, announced below, each year the Golden Granite awards are held the opening award will be celebrating the social side of the sport through dual recognition of Grant's long-standing social personality and volunteerism as well as the team who best captures social engagement with fans via social media.

Know this moving forward curling teams, this is a huge honour to have your team name next to a guy many of you have met and talked to over the years. Grant went out of his way to always say hi to people and be sociable. We are expecting teams nominated for this award to be of equal representation.

So lets open the red curtain and get on with the awards shall we.

Without further adieu, lets get to the newly named opening award of the ceremony.

CATEGORY IS......GRANT HOPLEY AWARD (SOCIAL TEAM OF THE YEAR)

2018/19 Winner: Team Bottcher

The nominees are: Team Bottcher, Team Epping, Team Galusha, Team Gushue, Team Hasselborg, Team Homan, Team Tardi, Team Tipple

And the #GoldenGranite goes to: Team Tipple

Our first award and our first #TeamUpset award winner. When the nominations became final I am guessing not many people thought Team Tipple would be the last team standing in the online vote to crown our winner. But do not think this is a pure popularity contest rock heads. These boys put in the work! Don't believe me?

How about THIS video of them breaking through ice with their heads? Or what about their mic drop response to knocking off Team Bottcher in the SF HERE? Did you see the tactics they used to entice votes in that SF? Just look at the tweet below:

The message being they had fun with the medium, got fans talking and got fans laughing. Is this not what you want to see out of your fav curling teams social media accounts? Winning the vote seems to say "Yes! Yes we do!!"

Not familiar with this team? They are a U16 team curling out of the Remax Centre in St. John's, NL. An up and coming team from The Rock. And look at the big names they took down to claim this award: Team Gushue (QF), Team Bottcher (SF) and Team Hasselborg (F). Their victory over the defending award winners came by a mere 3 votes! Toss these guys a follow if you have not done so already.

Congratulations Team Tipple on winning the Golden Granite Award. This is a special year for this award and you guys are the first team to take home the newly named award. Enjoy the win and covet the trophy like it was the Brier....they are almost the same right? And keep that online fan engagement going. You have set the bar high for yourselves. Winning is one thing, defending is another.

As for other teams, step up your social media game! If we can learn anything from this pandemic it is the curling community is there and ready to embrace teams on social media. Have fun. Be engaging. And stop with just standard tweets and facebook messages on your results and thank you to sponsors. There is SO MUCH more to social media. Use it to not only help bridge the gap between fan and athlete but help #growthesport!

#StayTuned

NEXT AWARD: Underachiever Team of the Year - Male