#BetweenTheSheets: WWCC2021 Preview
Bring on the final #IceBubble event
And the return of the Power Rankings!
#PowerRankings
Remember pre-event seeding is based on the #TwineTime Power Rankings system. More info on the blog system, developed in 2018, can be found HERE.
Based on the Final Power Rankings in April 2020, lets break down the teams (Team Ranking, Nation Ranking):
1. Sweden - Team Hasselborg (#1, #2): Olympic champ. European champ. #GSOC champ. The one missing piece of the curling resume puzzle for Team Hasselborg is world champ. Back-to-back finals. Back-to-back silver medal finishes. If any team is coming into the championship with revenge and redemption on their mind, it is this team. And that is scary for the other teams. I think we can ignore the 0-4 record at the Champions Cup. It was their first event and they needed to just find their sliders. They did so at the Players' Championship in reaching the SF and seem to be getting ready to peak just in time. Again, scary for the other teams! Bring on that opener vs. Canada.
2. Canada - Team Einarson (#4, #1): What can we say about the #IceBubble Queen? Kerri Einarson has been the hottest person to step on the cold ice since the bubble opened. She won the Scotties. She won the Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship (with Brad Gushue). She won the Players' Championship. She reached the SF at the Champions Cup. Add it up and she has only suffered 6 losses. Remarkable. Pressure will be on here though. She is pulling triple duty in a way, fighting for an Olympic spot, aiming for a world championship and trying to regain Canada's position atop the curling world. Remember at the last world championship Canada failed to reach the playoffs, only the second time in #HERstory. Canada has only won 2 world titles in the past 11 years (2017, 2018).
3. Switzerland - Team Tirinzoni (#5, #5): The champs are back to #DefendTheIce. You have to feel for them in this moment. Originally this championship was to be held in Switzerland and they would have been defending the title on home ice. Thanks COVID for ruining their party! But the location really doesn't seem to matter for this team. This team is coming in hot though. Runner-up at the Champions Cup. SF result at the Players' Championship. And, perhaps most important, a winning record vs. the other slam teams in this championship (4-1). Switzerland has won 5 of the past 8 world titles. Do not be surprised to see them make another run here.
4. Scotland - Team Muirhead (#11, #9): What is more surprising to you: Eve Muirhead is only 30 years old OR Eve Muirhead has not competed at the world championship since 2017? Both are surprising for different reasons. Muirhead is a past world champ (2013) and has the full collection of medals from this event, winning silver in 2010 and bronze in 2017. But we haven't seen her on this ice since that bronze medal win. It has been a hot minute indeed. There will be some extra pressure with the Olympic spot on the line of course but Muirhead does not come into this event with a ton of confidence. The team missed the playoffs at both slam events and only put together an underwhelming 3-7 record. Tune-up events are what they are, tune-ups! Lets see if the team can re-discover their winning ways and make a podium push. I think they could surprise here.
5. USA - Team Peterson (#12, #14): Speaking of teams who struggled in the tune-up events, Team Peterson has not had the best experience inside the bubble. They posted a combined 1-8 record in the slams and come in with little momentum. On the positive though, they have competitive ice under their sliders against top competition and fellow world championship contenders. It will be an advantage, especially early on. They need to build momentum opening weekend though. They open with: Scotland, Germany, Korea and Canada. 3-1 would be heavenly. 2-2 would be ideal. But 1-3 might be tough to overcome. Add in the Olympic pressure....#StayTuned. The US missed the playoffs in 2019 and has not landed on the podium since 2006.
6. #TeamBellatrix - Team Kovaleva (#13, #4): The popular dark horse pick this week will be Team Kovaleva. And for good reason! They competed at the slam tune-up events. They reached the QF at the Champions Cup and just missed the playoffs at the Players' Championship. Kovaleva has world championship experience as well, recently competing in 2019 and reaching the playoffs with a 9-3 RR record. She also won a silver in 2017 (as second with Anna Sidorova) and a bronze in 2016 (alternate with Anna Sidorova). She has also finished 4th at the 2018 and 2019 European Curling Championships. We saw a similar progression with Sidorova. Making appearances, just missing the podium. And then she found her groove. Is this the time we see Kovaleva make her move for a medal? And, note the team name here. This is NOT a comment about this team but rather a response to the World Anti-Doping Agency asking for "RCF" or "Team RCF" not to be used when athletes are competing. As the blog did at the men's world championship, we toss a Harry Potter equivalent reference here for the "Team which shall not be named". Regardless, watch out for this team.
7. Japan - Team Yoshimura (#16, #6): Sayaka Yoshimura will make her world championship skipping debut at this event. But don't call her just "some rookie". She has been here before, playing third for Team Ogasawara in 2015. This team has reached the final of the 2018 Tour Challenge Tier II and the 2019 Masters. They are not intimidated by the "bigger" names in the field. They also knocked off Team Fujisawa at the Japan Curling Championships to earn their spot in this field. Do not overlook this team. They could be the dark horse contender.
8. China - Team Han (#23, #8): The 2000 generation has arrived! Han Yu was born in October 2000, making her only 20 years old in her debut world championship appearance. Wow! This team may be overlooked due to their age, being a rookie team and a bit of an unknown to some. Advantage Team China! This is a dangerously talented young team and one who could represent the home nation at the 2022 Winter Olympics. You want a #TeamUpset? This could be your pick...but more on that below.
9. South Korea - Team Kim (#31, #3): The Return of the Garlic Girls. This team delighted not only the curling community but the sports world at the 2018 Winter Olympics, reaching the gold medal game and winning a silver medal on home ice. They are not only talented but also fun to watch compete. We all know about the coaching scandal that followed and cannot imagine the tole it took on this team. However, who doesn't love to see a good resiliency story? We have not seen this team a lot since the Olympics, having only recently stepped back on the ice. But we know they can compete. We know they can win. We know they will have fun and be happy to be back on the ice. They have everything to gain from this championship and nothing to lose. This team is a playoff threat. Those seeded above them, especially in those coveted Top 6 spots, should be VERY concerned about this team.
10. Germany - Team Jentsch (#37, #7): My heart is with Daniela Jentsch and her team right now. They arrived in Calgary, ready to compete, and were notified two members of their team tested positive for #COVID19. They have been waiting and anticipating returning to the ice to compete since last year's championship so this extra roadblock has to be disheartening. Step one, lets hope for the well-being, health and safety of all the players on this team. I have been VERY fortunate to get to know this team over the years, both on and off the ice. I have hung out with them at various events in many different countries. And I stay connected with them during the off-season. This is not just a team I am a fan of but a team I consider a friend of. I hope they are able to compete as a full team. This would be a redemption story...not redemption in the form of they did something wrong but redemption in the fact COVID cannot defeat them and they come back stronger. We should all be cheering for this team right now! #HERstory wise, don't count out Jentsch either. She is making her 6th straight world championship appearance and is coming off her best outing in 2019 (5-7). Assuming they are able to compete, this team should be in the hunt for a Top 6 spot heading into the final RR games.
11. Italy - Team Constantini (#44, #10): Italy will be a bit of an unknown this week. Stefania Constantini has taken over the skipped duties of this team, previously skipped by Diana Gaspari. When we last saw Italy at the world championship, they finished in last place with a 2-10 record. But Italy has fought their way back into this field since. They dipped into the Euro B-division in 2019 and had to win the B-division gold medal to earn their place in this field. They are now back in the "elite" pool and ready to stay here. Constantini just turned 22 years old a few weeks ago and is leading the youngest overall team in the field. Vice Marta Lo Deserto is 19 and lead Giulia Zardini Lacedelli is only 18 years old! That's right folks. A player born in 2013 will be making her world championship debut. Feel old yet? This team will be in tough against an experienced field.
12. Czech Republic - Team Kubeskova (#66, #12): Anna Kudeskova and her Czech Republic champions make their return to world championship ice after missing the 2019 tournament due to their 8th place finish at the 2018 European Championship. When we last saw Kubeskova at a world championship though she was turning some heads as the #TeamUpset flag bearer. In 2018, she reached the playoff bracket, posting a 6-6 RR record. Her playoff appearance made #HERstory for the Czech Republic, marking the first time the nation reached the playoff round. Can she recapture the magic of 2018 inside the bubble of 2021?
13. Estonia - Team Turmann (#75, #27): Lets Go Estonia! Welcome to the world championship. Estonia will be making their debut at the Women's World Curling Championship and I am here for it. After attending the 2018 European Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, this nation and their athletes and their fans are ready to take the slide into the competitive curling ice house. Don't underestimate Marie Turmann though. Yes this will be her women's worlds debut but she is not new to world championships. Turmann, with partner Harri Lill, has represented Estonia at 3 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships (2016, 2018, 2019) and has reached the playoff round each time. In fact, they won their pool in 2018 and 2019 and reached the QF in 2016 and 2019. Yes, I realize this is a different event and a 4-person team event but the point being she has world championship experience and will not be overwhelmed by "just being there". The no fans in the stands actually favours debut teams and young players I think. Less distractions. Easier to focus on the game at hand.
14. Denmark - Team Dupont (NR, #13): Secret time folks. I admit it. I have a small crush on Madeleine Dupont. I was at the 2010 Winter Olympics watching her compete and just thought she was a great curler and seemed to have fun on the ice. I consider myself quite fortunate to have had a few conversations with Dupont on social media and she was quite helpful in my preparations to visit Copenhagen in 2019. Plus, similar to yours truly, she loves her Pepsi!! Over the years one thing we have learned is to never underestimate Denmark on the curling ice. Dupont will be making her 12th world championship appearance. She won a silver medal in 2007 and a bronze in 2009. She has the experience factor. I am also interested to see how her experience plays with young vice Mathilde Halse, who skipped Denmark at the 2019 European Curling Championships and earned Denmark their spot in this field.
#TwineTimePredictions
#IceBubble (Calgary, AB)
2019 Champion: Switzerland (Team Tirinzoni)
Format: 14-team RR with Top 6 advancing to the playoffs. Top 2 earn a bye to the SF.
#W2W4:
This event really comes down to the #GSOC teams vs. the non-GSOC teams.
We have 6 playoff spots (and Olympics spots) up for grabs.
How many teams in this field have been here competing for a few weeks at back-to-back slams? 6!
The question will be if any of the other 8 teams can knock them off, move up the standings and "steal" a playoff spot.
If the Elite vs. Non-Elite argument holds true, the 6 slam teams will make the playoffs ho-hum and we all move on.
But if one or two or a handful of the "other" teams can defeat a few of those Top 6, we have ourselves a competition.
The Top 6 will devour one another in one way or another so the door is slightly open for the Other 8.
The Other 8 of course will devour one another too so while they knock off their competition they have to hope, in turn, those who they beat can turn around and beat those above. Dog Eat Dog, right?
Remember, those non-GSOC teams are non-GSOC by bubble qualification. Korea, Japan and Germany have slam experience. Korea and Denmark have Olympic experience. China is a PACC champ.
Many predict the bubble slam teams have the advantage and should finish Top 6. I wouldn't be so quick to make that assumption.
We saw it happen at the World Men's Curling Championship with Team Glukhov shocking many with their Top 2 RR placing and final 4th place finish. They were considered one of the "lower" ranked teams in the field. They "stole" a playoff and Olympic spot.
Can any of the #Other8 do the same here? And, if so, which of the #Top6 will become the victim?
I think it can be done. I think it will be done.
Playoff Qualifiers: Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, #TeamBellatrix, Scotland, South Korea
#WWCC2021 Bronze Medal: Scotland (Team Muirhead) def. Switzerland (Team Tirinzoni)
#WWCC2021 CHAMPIONSHIP: Canada (Team Einarson) def. Sweden (Team Hasselborg)
It is pretty tough to bet against the #IceBubble Queen Kerri Einarson. Her record inside the bubble speaks for itself. She seems very comfortable here and nobody has really stopped her. Sure she took a loss to Team Homan in the Champions Cup SF but it was one loss in one game. She has 3 titles out of 4 events played. Why not make it 4 for 5?
If this prediction holds true though, my heart to Team Hasselborg. The one major title eluding them is this world championship. They have lost the past two world finals. To lose a third, regardless of the environment and situation we find ourselves in, will be tough.
My heart wants to pick Sweden. My head says pick Canada. They have played 13 times. Hasselborg holds the slight 7-6 edge. They meet opening day. Will they meet in the finale? This would be one heck of a way to put the closed sign on the #IceBubble!
Trivia Answer: 5! Canada, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and USA have competed in every WWCC.
Bonus Trivia Answer: Denmark! The Danes will be making their 41st appearance, having missed only one WWCC (1993).
#StayTuned
The #PowerRankings will continue to be updated, similar to the updates during the World Men's Curling Championship.
Do not forget to sign up for the Fantasy Curling offering by Curling Canada and Office Pools. Similar to #WMCC2021, this could be a bit tricky opening weekend. Will the #gsoc teams have the advantage many expect or will a few of the non-gsoc teams suprise? Who comes out hot early? Who struggles? See if your picks can predict!
As a personal aside, we must continue to remember #COVID19 is REAL. Health and safety of all before sports and personal interests.
We lost a member of our family this week due to COVID. He tested positive on Saturday and passed away Tuesday morning. This is no joke folks. For those who think this is a "hoax" or #FakeNews, I assume you have not lost a family member during this pandemic.
I am glad you have not had to go through the sadness of losing someone you care about BUT do not diminish the truth and pain this is causing others. His death was not a "hoax". Saying COVID is not real nor a real threat minimizes his loss and the pain our family is going through.
Take care of yourselves and your loved ones as we continue to navigate through uncharted waters. Adhere to your local public health orders. We need to work together rather than be divisive.
Ok, personal rant over. Sorry....but not sorry.
Good luck and good curling. Athletes, the #IceBubble is yours!
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