2020 #GoldenGranite Awards Winner List

#BetweenTheSheets: Announcing #GoldenGranite Winners

Who took home top honuors over the 2019/20 season?

As was done last year shall be continued this year. With there being a comprehensive list of Golden Granite Awards again this year, the committee decided we needed to have a separate blog post just to announce all the winners.

ICYMI, the Golden Granite Awards officially kicked off on April 15 with the pre-show hype, opening monologue and presenting the first award of the season.

Here are the highlights:

🙏 In Memorandum
💝 Renaming the Social Team of the Year award
🏆 Presenting the NEW Grant Hopley Award
🎇 Congratulations to Team Tipple

If you want to relive the entire opener (or you missed it for whatever reason), check it out HERE.

We are out of the hack, time to sweep into the house. Bring on the awards....

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.

FINAL #PowerRankings

#BetweenTheSheets: Final Power Rankings Top 50

Time to officially close the house on the 2019/20 season

Everyone is still in mourning over the lost few months of the 2019/20 curling season. It is sad. It is unfortunate. But it was also required.

COVID-19 has taken down all sports, curling is just added to the list. And while it is disappointing to see the season end early, especially without a few major world championship events, it is what it is.

It is not like the sport itself has died. And it is not like we do not know what it is like to live without curling.

I still see quite a few posts on social media remarking how upsetting and lost they are without curling right now. Yes it is sad but really? What do you do every May through August?

Yes losing major international competitions is a tough blow to athletes and fans and governing bodies but it is not the end of the world. Well at least not the end of the curling world. We still must remember there is a much larger issue at play here. I would give up every world championship in every sport for one season if it meant the end of this pandemic.

Weeks have now passed since the shut down of curling, from events to clubs. But we need to move on folks. The weather is getting nicer. Curling season would be on its final rock at this point anyway. The time to mourn is over.

How about we look back on the season we did have and celebrate?

#Brier2020 Parting Rocks + #PowerRankings

#BetweenTheSheets: Brier Parting Rocks

Musing from Kingston and updated Power Rankings

Photo Courtesy Curling Canada

Yowie Wowie!

Catch your breath after those intense 9 days of curling action. The *Canadian* men of curling put on a show this past week. Can we do a calendar where the guys can show off those shots and keep their clothes on?

Seriously though. Imagine a calendar of just the shots and reactions from 2020 Brier? The Dunny fist pumps. The Gunner jump and smile. The Koe....stoic look. There were enough fantastic shots and moments to easily complete a calendar.

Ok maybe some of the guys can drop the pants too I guess. Sex sells right?

But mind out of the gutter....which is tough if you own a 2020 #MenOfCurling calendar and flipped over to see #MrMarch. Again...Yowie Wowie!

Focus TwineTime...focus. We have A LOT to talk about in this blog post.

#Brier2020 Midterm Grades

#BetweenTheSheets: Report Card Time

Handing out the midterm grades for Brier 2020

What a Brier thus far!!

There has been something for everyone. From awe-inspiring shots to strange but true close finishes to extra end heroics to #TeamUpset results. The 2020 Tim Hortons Brier really has come through. Props to the 16 teams competing. We wanted a show and you are giving us life.

The talk heading into Kingston was the strength of the field. Could this be one of the strongest and most experienced fields we have ever seen? It surely ranks up there.

But there is also the lingering question of whether expectations were set too high with this caliber of field. Were expectations setting fans up for disappointment? Could the 16 teams live up to the hype?

So far I think rock heads would agree you can remove those doubts now. We have been witness to a show...and we are only coming to the conclusion of the opening act.

While the action, drama and excitement have been there, when we dive deep into the field how are the teams REALLY doing? Welcome back the midterm grades and the Brier report card.

Which teams are making the grade and which are in danger of being sent home early with a failure to proceed?

#Brier2020 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Ready to Crown the Kingston Kings?

Who emerges above the rest for a Brier 2020 curling coronation?

A new Curling Queen was crowned last weekend in Moose Jaw when Kerri Einarson won her first Scotties title. The Curling Canada coronation street leads to Kingston, Ontario this weekend with the opening of the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier.

Will we see a new king take his spot on the ice throne? Or will a past champion reclaim the crown? And never underestimate the current King of the Ice, looking to #DefendTheIce and keep the Team Canada jacket.

We will have a Game of Thrones type of competition over the next week. Each team led by the patriarch of their homeland. Each homeland looking to defeat their opposition and park their sliders next to the coveted ice throne.

Cue the music.....

#STOH2020 Parting Rocks

#BetweenTheSheets: Scotties Parting Rocks

Final thoughts, reactions and musings from Moose Jaw

The 2020 Scotties Tournament of Hearts has spun its final rock, pebbled its final sheet of ice and sold its final beer at the HeartStop Lounge. The rest is all history...or as we say #HERstory.

From heart stopping shots to breath taking moments to tears of joy (and some of sorrow), this years Scotties had a little something for every sports fan.

The Scotties in Moose Jaw also happened to be the first Scotties for the #TwineTime blog. Check off another blog bucket list item folks. Interestingly enough the 1998 Scotties (Regina) were the first curling event I ever attended live as a fan. And we have come full circle as the Scotties are one of the final major bucket list items to attend as a blogger.

As an aside, I ran into Kim Kelly leaving the arena for the final time Sunday night and had some time to chat with her. Her team, with Colleen Jones, and Team Schmirler were the two teams my grandparents and I watched and cheered for together. We also had our individual favourites as well but, collectively, we always came together wanting to see Team Jones and Team Schmirler win.

I had seen Kelly at Mosaic Place all week but she was either watching the games or chatting with fellow athletes or fans. I never wanted to interrupt her or bother her. Running into her on my final night, saying my final goodbye to the event, and sharing my thank you and appreciation for her as a player was the perfect sendoff for the blog experience. As you would expect she was gracious, polite and friendly the entire time. And I was more nervous speaking with her than I have been talking to many other curlers. Oh the memories folks...

#STOH2020 Midterm Grades

#BetweenTheSheets: Midterm Report Card Revealed

Who is making the grade and who is coming up short in Moose Jaw?

Has it been a year already since Big Red jumped out of my Canada backpack and reared its judgement on the curling ice?

Reading week is around the corner for many students across the country. Students are looking at their midterm grades to see how much work they need to put in for the second half of the term.

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is no different. Tuesday afternoon's draw marks the midway mark of the event. All 16 teams are still on the ice. Some are already eliminated. Some are in great shape to reach the coveted Championship Pool. And some are fighting for their championship lives.

Which teams are making the grade thus far and who has some work to do?

#WJCC2020 Preview

BetweenTheSheets: Rocks be Krackin' in Krasnoyarsk

The Siberian city hosts the World Junior Curling Championships

From Moose Jaw to Krasnoyarsk....welcome to another episode of "As The Rock Turns".

Lots of excitement on the pebbled ice this team of year rock heads. We have national championships underway (USA, Switzerland, Scotland, Japan). We have national championship about to throw their first rocks (Canada). And we are ready to crown new world junior championships.

If one eye is on the action in Moose Jaw, your other curling eye better be on the action in Siberia, Russia where the #NextGen athletes are ready to take the ice for the 2020 World Junior Curling Championships.

#STOH2020 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Ready for Heart Pounding Curling?

Welcome to the 2020 Scotties Tournament of Hearts WITH FANTASY CURLING

The playdown parties are over. Everyone gathered across the country in their own province/territory to toss a few cold ones, dance the night away, survive some drama and ultimately celebrate victories.

But now we come together to host the big one. The collective national party known as the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Put on your dancing shoes....or is it fanciest slider? Come wearing your best garb from Anne of Green Gables hair to fisherman headgear to watermelon hats. And bring your best cheer from the moose calls to the buffalo hunt. And dress for success in cheering on your home province/territory.

Ready for some heart pounding curling action from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan?

#PlaydownAfterParty

#BetweenTheSheets: The Playdown After Party Invite

Finalizing (almost) the Scotties field, Brier provincial GOATs PLUS #FantasyCurling

We have navigated the playdown pre-party. We celebrated the playdown party. Are we ready to survive the playdown after party?

The Scotties playdown party has come to a close for another season. The 2020 Scotties field has been *almost* finalized. The final slot on the bingo card is reserved for our Team Wildcard winner. But more on that party in a moment.

The Brier playdown party is still going strong however. This is where we enter after party territory. The field is closing in on being complete but we still have two provincial championships to get excited for this week.

Are you ready to keep this party going until the sun comes up?

#PlaydownParty2020 Continues

#BetweenTheSheets: Playdown Party Rages On

Completing the Scotties field and adding to the Brier

How are you holding up rock heads?

Staying hydrated? Still full of energy? Still dancing the night away in celebration of provincial and territorial championship victories?

Well I hope you have all learned the number one rule of party raging: Pace Yourselves!!

The #PlaydownParty2020 is just warming up with last week's action and the music is still bumping, the drinks are still pouring and the celly's are still coming.

Ready for more?

#PlaydownParty2020

#BetweenTheSheets: Lets Get It Started In Here

Welcome to Playdown Party 2020

This is becoming an annual tradition for the blog. You have all been invited to the biggest party of the year, the Playdown Party!

Oh I know what you are asking rock heads. "THIS is the biggest party of the year?" "What about the Scotties or Brier or World Championship?"

And you are correct. Those are all big parties as well. But there is something extra special about the Playdown Party.

You have the invite in your hand. Put on your best curling wear and come and knock on my door. We've been waiting for you. Lets get it started in here!

#PowerRankings W26

#BetweenTheSheets: When 3 Becomes 1

Curling version of Groundhog Day results in a new #1 ranking

Have you ever experienced Deja Vu? That feeling like you are reliving a moment from the past?

Or have you watched the movie Happy Death Day? You feel like you are caught in a time loop where the same results flash before your eyes over and over and over again?

Well if you are following along with this season's Grand Slam of Curling results, you may feel all of the above over the past few months.

The locations change. The teams change. The finalists change. But the teams hoisting the trophy on Championship Sunday remain the same.

Curling's version of Groundhog Day!

#MeridianCanadianOpen Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Bracketology in January

Third major of the season bring March Madness to the ice

Ugh it is so cold outside. Literally an igloo through most of Canada. January. The time of year we all ask ourselves, "Why do we live in Canada?"

Of course then we take a look at a few other places in the world and realize our cold temperatures can be managed for most of us. The price we pay for other benefits I suppose.

But aside from bone-chilling temperatures, it is literally -37C outside right now, there are some positives to January. The sport of curling heats up with another slam plus some national and provincial/territorial championships.

And the Men of Curling calendar is officially in play. Hello Mr. January Craig Savill, who is currently in Finland coaching Czech Republic's Team Klima at the World Qualification Event.

The January curling calendar brings forward another exciting sports theme: Bracketology!

#ContCup2020 Wrap + #WQE2020 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: An S Club Party in London

Europe defends the ice PLUS World Champ spots on the line this week

S Club (there ain't no party like an S Club party)

Gonna show you how

Everybody get down tonight

S Club (there ain't no party like an S Club party)

Oh it was a party in London all right. From the opening rock to the clinching runback from Sweden's Oskar Eriksson, Team Europe was on the curling competition equivalent to a weekend bender.

Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland. Curling's version of the S Club 7 (6 teams plus credit to the dynamic coaching team). They came. They saw. They were able to #DefendTheIce. And they dominated.

Oh yes, they will show you how indeed!

#PowerRankings W24

#BetweenTheSheets: New Year, Same Rankings

Welcome to the first ranking of the new decade

The first week of January sucks, amirite?

Unless it is your birthday or an anniversary of some kind, there is no reason to get excited for the first full week of a new year.

Holidays are over. Back to work. Back to school. Temperatures start to dip...or continue to dip depending where you live. Heck even those in the Southern Hemisphere have tough weather conditions. Thoughts and prayers to everyone in Australia dealing with and fighting against the wildfires.

The beginning of January is just the worst!

Good thing we have sports to rejuvenate our spirits and get us excited.

#PowerRankings Top50

#BetweenTheSheets: Top 50 Power Rankings

Taking an extended look at the mountain heading into 2020

Welcome to 2020!!

The new decade is upon us. Hope all of you were able to celebrate the new year in style and enjoy some time with family, friends and all your loved ones.

But as the calendar switches over, the work must continue. As an aside, have you put up your #MenOfCurling calendar? January is a little cheeky isn't it? 🍑

ICYMI the #TwineTime blog also released the #Top9of19. A countdown revealing the top blog posts of 2019. And which post happened to be #1? Why the #MenOfCurling calendar picks post of course. For a full recap, check out the countdown HERE.

Ok back to business. What better way to kick off 2020 then with the BIGGEST #PowerRankings blog post EVER!!