#WWCC2022 Preview

  #BetweenTheSheets: WWCC 2022 Preview

Prince George FINALLY gets to host the women's world championship

Prince George, Are. You. Ready?

You have been waiting a few years to open your doors to the best world women's curling teams and now the time to take centre ice is yours.

As we all remember, Prince George was originally slated to host the world championship in 2020.

Then COVID-19 hit the world and cleared the slate on everything, sporting events included.

Two years later, here we are with Prince George finally getting their opportunity to shine.

To all those involved in the planning and organizing of this event, whether back in 2020 or in 2022 or both, THANK YOU for your dedication to the event and to the sport.

While the world will be watching, know we are all hoping for a great event for all of you as well.

We know the athletes are excited, especially those who originally were scheduled to compete in 2020 and now CAN compete in 2022.

Prince George, the ice is yours!

But before we look ahead, a quick throwback to #Brier2022 in Lethbridge with a few final thoughts.

#PartingRocks

🥌 #HIStory

What more can be said that has not been said already? The run Team Gushue went on, even before losing third Mark Nichols to COVID, was amazing. Just think of the amount of time zones this team has been through in the past month alone.

They were the class of the entire field all week. The Beijing bronze medal winners looked dialed in from their opening rock and I don't think any team was going to stop them.

Winning the 4th Brier title really did create #HIStory. Gushue ties the record for most Brier wins as a skip. The team ties the "Ferby Four" for the most Brier wins as a team with 4.

And they become the 1st team in Brier/Scotties history to win the championship as Team Wildcard.

Congratulations Team Gushue and best of luck at #WMCC2022 in Vegas as #TeamCanada.

🥌 #TeamGreen

While "big name" contenders were grabbing most of the attention, Saskatchewan's Team Flasch was going about their business waiting to strike at the right moment.

And that moment arrived on Friday. Who saw this coming?

The team needed to win out in the RR just to keep their Brier hopes alive, and have some help. They knock off SK rival Team Dunstone in their final RR game to book a rematch Friday morning in the TB.

They knock them off again, a 3rd straight W going back to the SK final, to reach the qualifier game a few hours later to only go and knock off championship contender Team Jacobs.

Sure they faltered in their next two games, finishing in 4th place overall, but what a run and what a story. Not many thought this team would compete for a playoff spot, let alone reach the #FinalFour.

And the fans in Lethbridge were living for the #TeamUpset story.

Now, imagine this. What if Team Gushue, Team Koe and Team Bottcher completely alter their lineup? If none of those teams remain with at least 3 members from this season, could Team Flasch become Team Canada at Brier 2023?

You have to think they are staying together after this run.

🥌 #FreeAgentFrenzy

Speaking of breaking up, the frenzy discussions were on everyone's minds in Lethbridge. And I wasn't a fan of it to be honest.

Look, I get it. I love #FreeAgentFrenzy. If you follow the twitter account, you will see I am all for the excitement. I even published a blog post about it a few years ago saying how the sport needs to embrace the frenzy more and how teams/players need to feed into it, similar to what we see in other major sports.

But, not at the Brier.

I respected Brad Jacobs comments saying he would not entertain questions regarding #FreeAgentFrenzy while at the Brier and will be dedicating his time and energy into pursing a Canadian championship.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

The frenzy can hit the ice AFTER the competition, not DURING. Let the teams play for a championship. Let them focus on the task at hand. We will have MONTHS of announcements and speculation and gossip.

Give us the Brier as what it is, a Canadian championship, and enjoy the action on the ice before succumbing to all the distractions off the ice.

Similar approach for this upcoming week with women's worlds. Yes, the blog fed into the frenzy yesterday on twitter. But when the first rocks are thrown at the world championship, can we set aside the frenzy and focus on the teams competing for a world title? 

And yes, I do mean the teams and players as well. You do not NEED to make team announcements during a world championship. It can wait a week....really, it can!

This is sport. We are not saving lives here.

🥌 #AllStarSnub

The blog has been critical over the years of All Star Awards. Often it just seems like a popularity contest for voting or just an opportunity for the "elite" to take home another award.

Media have voted before. Other times it was based on player percentages (and we all know how the blog feels about subjective stats).

But this year, there was a major snub folks...and you probably missed it.

Quebec's skip Mike Fournier called it out. I noticed it on Sunday as well.

Why wasn't #Labelleprovince lead Jean-Francois Trepanier not an All Star?

He finished second on the stat line for leads, curling 93%.

Canada's Karrick Martin was first at 94% and was named to the First All Star Team.

Alberta's Ben Hebert curled 92% and was named to the Second All Star Team.

No disrespect to Hebert but come on? Is it just because Quebec did not make the playoffs? Sure seems like it.

How about at skip? Brad Gushue was First All Star, curling 90%. No debate there.

But Alberta's Kevin Koe was Second All Star, curling 87% and only 4th among skips.

Brad Jacobs also curled 90% on the week and Matt Dunstone curled 88%. What gives?

The debate on all star awards is inconsistency. What are the criteria here? Subjective? Stats-based? Results-based? It seems most years there are a few snubs and it is unfortunate.

J-F, you got my vote. And Jacobs, so would you.

And again, no disrespect to Hebert or Koe. Both are AWESOME curlers. It is more of a system snub than being "against" or "for" a specific player or players.

🥌 #TheGreatDebate

And so it rages on....

Should we change the format of the Brier/Scotties? Should our world rep actually come from a Canada Cup-type of event? Should the Brier/Scotties be a qualifier-style event?

What. Is. Happening?

Change is great but change for the sake of change is questionable.

Ask yourselves, "Why?" Why do we need to change the Brier/Scotties?

Go back and look at the winners over the past 5 or 10 years. Have those winners not been great reps for Canada on the international stage? Have they not won world championships?

And if they did not win, is that because of our Team Canada qualification system?

If Koe or Homan or Einarson or Gushue go to a world championship event and do not win gold, are we really saying the Brier/Scotties format is at fault?

Canada cannot always win. We get beat. It is sports.

And look at those Brier/Scotties fields over the years. How is it every year people keep saying, "this is the toughest field ever" yet then say "but we need to change the format because it isn't fair to the top teams?"

Which top teams? Which top teams were not at recent Brier/Scotties championships?

And don't just say your favourite teams.

Do you mean to say you want change because your fav isn't there every year? Well, that is a VERY different argument. That is opinion based. Great. How about we deal with fact based when looking at format change?

Sure Nunavut has yet to win a Brier game. And Yukon has struggled a bit. As have many provinces/territories over the years. But is it REALLY harming the game and/or championship too?

The strong argument is "we want the best teams competing to become Team Canada". Awesome.

Are we not already getting that?

Present an objective fact-based argument and I am open to changing my mind.

I will be sitting here waiting......

🥌 #TheFans

Fans. Fans. Fans. What more can we say?

It was just great to be in an arena filled with curling fans who were enjoying themselves and the competition on the ice. We know the players loved it. But the fans loved seeing one another as well.

Sure there were head-shaking moments. Booing teams/players/shots or chirping from the stands but it is sport and, while we may not like it in the sport of curling, it happens in all sports so we cannot be too upset by it.

Great to have fans in the stands once again. It almost felt like the world wasn't a giant dumpster fire still.

🥌 #CurlingFam

Speaking of fans, it was great to see the Curling Fam in person in Lethbridge.

Dee and I had a great time reuniting and having fun. We sat in a safe physical distanced area of the arena next to some great fans as well. We were always masked. And we shared so many laughs.

Judy. Glenna. And so many others...we wish you were all with us but we know you were there in spirit.

As we say, the curling on the ice is always great and we love the sport and the athletes.

But those relationships you form with fellow curling fans, event after event after event, are what stand the tests of time.

🥌 #ThePatch Champion

With The Patch back in full swing, we need to declare our Patch Champion. Having been inside The Patch during the closing weekend, I can say there were some awesome sights to be seen. From players enjoying fan support to hitting the dance floor to playing the fun games, there was something for everyone. But, at the end of the day, nobody dominated The Patch dance floor like PEI's 5th man Chris Gallant!

Gallant was EVERYWHERE on that floor folks. He was dancing with everyone and encouraging people to have fun. And people were following his lead. While his brother was preparing for another Brier championship run, Chris was hitting up The Patch and cruising towards a championship of his own.

Chris Gallant...you are the Brier 2022 Patch Champion!!

#Brier2022 was a great time and, for many, was exactly what we needed. The opportunity to see curling friends we have not seen in years. Reconnect but also build new friendships as well.

Hopefully everyone was able to stay safe and healthy as well upon their return home.

But now we shift focus to the World Women's Curling Championship.

Take note, the Seed Report, previously known as the Power Rankings, below are based on the current World Curling Federation Women's World Rankings.

Welcome to #MarchMadness...on ice!

#TwineTimePreview

World Women's Curling Championship

CN Centre

Prince George, B.C.

2021 Champion: Switzerland

Format: 13 team RR with Top 6 qualifiers to the playoffs. 1st and 2nd place receive bye to SF

#SeedReport

1. Sweden (Team Hasselborg)

Is this FINALLY the year for Team Hasselborg?

What do they have left to accomplish other than win a world championship?

Olympic gold and bronze.

Two-time Euro champs.

5 #GSOC titles.

The only thing left really haunting the resume is world gold. They have the two silver medals won in 2018 and 2019.

You feel this could be the year...and they will arrive with a bit of revenge on their mind.

Failing to #DefendTheIce at the Olympics might sting a bit but they still walked away with a podium finish.

But failing to land on the podium at the 2021 world championship (lost bronze medal game vs. USA) might be a bigger let down for this championship-calibre team.

They will want to erase those demons in Prince George. And that should strike fear in their opposition.

When, arguably, the best team in the world arrives angry and hungry...yikes!

2. Switzerland (Team Tirinzoni)

The champs are back. Actually the two-time defending champs, we should say, will be looking for the elusive #3peat and once again will try to #DefendTheIce.

While Euro rival Sweden is looking for revenge from last year's championship, Switzerland will have redemption on their minds after Beijing.

The Swiss won the RR portion at the Olympics, finishing with an 8-1 record, but then surprisingly tripped up in the playoffs losing the SF to Japan and the bronze to Sweden.

And this coming from a team who, at recent world championships at least, has looked to be at their best in the playoffs.

A #3peat is tough. We saw Switzerland win 3 world titles in a row before (2014 - 2016) but those were different teams.

We saw Canada win 4 in a row (1984 - 1987) but, again, with different teams.

This team could really make #HERstory by landing atop the podium once again.

Silvana Tirinzoni will be making her 6th world appearance. 3 of those appearances could be golden.

Alina Patz has an even stronger world championship resume. 2022 will also be her 6th appearance. She already has 4 gold medals. She could go 5 for 6. Her only miss was 2017 when she missed the playoffs.

Number do not lie. If this team makes the playoffs, based on previous world championship performances, they are winning gold.

But will those Olympic losses linger in the minds?

3. South Korea (Team E. Kim)

The #GarlicGirls are back at a world championship for the fourth time and are looking for revenge from missing the playoffs last year.

The team really made their mark in 2018 after the Olympics. But the stage is a bit different in 2022. They are entering this event without the high of a strong Olympic run, having won silver in 2018 but finished a disappointing 8th in Beijing.

Team Kim will be looking to improve on their 2018 world championship finish as well, finishing 5th overall.

We know Sweden, Switzerland and Canada are going to be considered the Big 3 in the field. But this team could make it a Big 4 and give those teams a run for the title.

The one concern for the team is, have they played too much this season? They have played a ton of events and curling games.

Remember they qualified for the Olympics through the Olympic Qualification Event.

Could the long season start to catch up to them?

Or can they make their first real deep run at a world championship and fight for a spot on the podium?

Either way, they will be a fan favourite and fun to watch.

4. Canada (Team Einarson)

No team is happier to be in Prince George than Team Einarson.

When they won their first Scotties in 2020, they were set to make their world championship debut at this very event in this exact location.

Fast forward through COVID (can we please?) and here we are again. Finally!

Of course to get back here Einarson has just had to win back-to-back-to-back Scotties titles. No biggie!

Defending champs. Olympics champs. Blah, blah, blah...

This might be the most dangerous team in the field. If you talk about a team who is hungry for a W, this is the team I place my money on the most.

Last year, in their world's debut, the just reached the playoffs through the TB procedure but lost in the qualifier game to Sweden. Nothing to hang your head about losing to Team Hasselborg.

But they want their revenge AND their redemption.

And they are playing on home ice. And in front of loud Canadian curling fans.

Anything short of a run to the final, playing for the title, will be a mild disappointment considering how strong and consistent this team has been over the past few years.

I would guess all the #FreeAgentFrenzy hoopla is a non-distraction as well :)

5. USA (Team Christensen)

Cory Christensen, your time is now!

Christensen has been to a world championship before, serving as alternate in 2017, but this will be her first championship as a player and skip. How she handles the pressure and opportunity will define their success.

Do not sleep on this team though because they do not have world championship experience.

They did finish runner-up to Team Peterson at the US Olympic Trials.

Christensen won silver at the 2017 World Junior Curling Championship. Christensen was also the alternate for Team Roth at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

And Vicky Persinger is fresh off an Olympic appearance of her own in MD in Beijing.

This may be the surprise "under the radar" team making a playoff push by the end of the RR.

6. Japan (Team Kitazawa)

You are unfamiliar with the Japanese reps in Prince George? You shouldn't be...they have been here before.

You may know them as Team Nakajima though, previously competing at this event in 2019. And they made quite the splash in their debut.

After a 6-6 RR record, just reaching the playoffs, they upset Russia in the qualifier game before falling to Sweden in the SF and South Korea in the bronze medal game, finishing 4th overall.

This is a dangerous floater team in the draw folks.

We often associate Japanese curling with Team Fujisawa, for good reason of course, but there are many good teams in Japan. We have seen more and more pop up in tour events and starting to qualify for #GSOC events.

Expect this team to be right in the playoff conversation all week.

7. Scotland (Team Morrison)

Another team making their world championship debut, another up and coming #NextGen team and another team who should not be overlooked.

They may be new to world championship ice but they are not new to major international competition.

Vice Gina Aitken has competed at 5 World MD Curling Championships, most notably with Bruce Mouat and reached a high of 4th in 2016.

Lead Sophie Jackson has been here before, in fact 2022 will be her 3rd appearance. Jackson skipped Scotland to a 4-8 at the 2019 world championships. People may remember those championships because originally Scottish Curling selected Eve Muirhead to compete but Jackson won the Scottish Championship, issued a challenge back then saying the Scottish champ represents as worlds and won their appeal. She is a fighter!

This is a new look team but don't discredit that either. Look what Eve Muirhead did with a "new look" team in Beijing. 

8. Denmark (Team Dupont)

Madeleine Dupont is back. The Face Who Runs The (Danish women's curling) Place.

This will be her 13 (!!) world championship appearance folks.

And we are living for it.

If you keep up with this blog (and of course you do because why not?) you are well aware of my love for Dupont. I always find her fun to watch.

Lots of rocks in play. Aggressive style. Good shots. Misses shots. It can all happen in a Dupont game. 

But are you not entertained?

Team Dupont shocked the world as #TeamUpset last year, reaching the playoffs and qualifying for the Olympics.

What can they do this year?

The Olympics were a slight disappointment with the 9th place finish.

But they are back on world championship ice with everything to gain and nothing to lose, similar to last year.

They struggled at the 2021 Euro's, having to qualify for their spot at this world championship through the World Qualification Event. But here they are ready to surprise once again.

Maybe the lack of pressure and free-spirit fun is their secret to success?

Also, if you are not following this team on IG, go add them now. The dance party stories they posted throughout the Olympics were HILARIOUS!

And I have on good authority they may continue in Prince George.

You're welcome!

9. Germany (Team Jentsch)

Ok, this is your year Dani Jentsch!

I know the blog has been saying this for the past two years or so but if there was ever a time for Jentsch to make her run at a world championships, this would be it.

Yes we know the disappointment of last year's world championship. And the heartbreak at the Olympic Qualification Event.

But also remember this team did win a bronze medal at the 2021 European Curling Championship last November and have been knocking on the door since their 1st Euro bronze medal win in 2018.

If you want a dark horse playoff and podium challenger, Team Germany is your pick. They are my pick.

I saw the team in Lethbridge at the Brier and they looked relaxed, excited and ready for these championships. Plus they were recently announced as a team competing at the Players Championship in Toronto, where they will make their #GSOC debut.

They are a team trending up right now and should be in the playoff hunt.

10. Czech Republic (Team Baudysova)

Last team in, no worries!

When RCF was removed from the competition, WCF had to do some work to find the 13th team for the field.

Latvia was offered first spot but declined. Finland was up next but also declined.

Welcome to the 2022 world championship Czech Republic.

This is a newly formed team so they will be up against the wall against their more experienced competition. But upsets happen in sports right? Just look at opening day of March Madness? Hellloooo Saint Peter's!!

We did see second Michaela Baudysova and lead Klara Svatonova at the 2021 Euro's and Olympic Qualification Event so the team will not be completely new to major international competition.

The Czech's have struggled at the world championship. The nation will be making their 9th ever appearance, finishing 12th last year and having a best result of 6th in 2018.

11. Italy (Team Constantini)

Eve Muirhead may not be in Prince George but we will have a 2022 Winter Olympic champion on the ice.

Italy's Stefania Constantini, alongside partner Amos Mosaner, shocked the world winning MD gold in Beijing. Not only did the win gold, they crushed the competition. They went undefeated and, for the most part, dominated every game they played.

Can she translate that MD success into world women's success in the team event? That will be the question.

They may be concern about Olympic hangover fatigue...although look what Team Gushue just accomplished.

This will be Constantini's 3rd world championship appearance, having placed 13th as second on Team Gaspari in 2018 and finishing 13th as skip last year inside the #IceBubble.

But you sense the 22 year old skip has a newly found confidence coming out of Beijing and, coupled with her previous experiences here and at European Championships, she could become a dangerous #TeamUpset challenger.

12. Norway (Team Rorvik)

Speaking of Beijing medal winners, Norway's Kristin Skaslien lost the MD gold medal game to Constantini and could gain a bit of revenge in Prince George.

While Skaslien throws the final stones, the team is skipped by Marianne Rorvik.

Skaslien will be making her return to world championship ice for the 6th time overall but first since 2015.

Rorvik will make her 5th world's appearance but first since 2011.

This team is fresh off a Euro-B title in November though and has momentum. Their Euro-B win earned them a spot in the World Qualification Event, where they took home the second, and last, ticket into this field.

Again, a dangerous team playing with everything to gain and little to lose.

13. Turkey (Team Yildiz)

Helllooooo #TeamUpset!

Turkey is making their debut appearance at the world championship. And the blog is living for it!

The nation has been on the rise over the past few years and Team Yildiz has been fighting for this opportunity.

The time is now. Enjoy the moment. Soak it in. Shock the world.

A playoff push might be out of reach given the field but Yildiz is a fighter. She has promoted Turkey through the Euro system, culminating in reaching the A-division and now the world championship.

Fans love an underdog. Turkey is the ultimate underdog. They should be fan favourites, regardless of the W/L record.

Take note though, at the 2021 Euro's Turkey did defeat #WWCC2022 opposition Denmark and Italy en route to a 3-6 finish (7th place overall) to directly qualify for this world championship.

#TwineTimePredictions

#W2W4

No Tick Rule! The rule will be used on a trial basis at these championships. Similar to the 5 rock rule, if a guard is placed on the centre line, it cannot be touched until after the 5th stone. If it is "ticked" it will be placed back into position.

The idea isn't necessarily a bad one. And not unheard of as we have seen it before. The debate really comes from using this rule at a world championship. Trying out a new rule at tour events or at #GSOC events makes sense but a world championship? This is where people are more heated...for obvious reason.

The No Tick rule, in and of itself, is fine. Heck, Catlin Schneider suggested it years ago in his interview with this very blog. Even having a specific no tick zone "boxed" out on the ice could make sense.

I don't think it will hurt or hinder the championship overall here but the message of using world championship events, arguably the biggest event outside the Olympics, to test new rules is troubling.

As well, we have new nations and new teams competing this week. Respect them.

There are a few naysayers who do not think this year's field is "strong" due to Olympic champ Team Muirhead or USA powerhouse Team Peterson, as examples, being in the field.

Yes we will miss those teams but do not instantly undersell those who are competing here.

Give Team Morrison and Team Christensen a chance folks. If you have never seen them play, you might actually like them. I have seen them both play at the Autumn Gold in Calgary and they are both fun teams.

I am also excited for Turkey's Team Yildiz to make their debut. I have seen them play live at a few Euro-B competitions over the past few years and they are growing into a strong team. And Turkey continues to be one of the strongest developing curling nations. They will be fun to watch.

Curling needs not to become a sport where if our "favs" are not competing, we do not like the competition. Don't be THAT type of fan.

These are all great teams taking the ice in Prince George. Cheer for them. Support your team and nation. But also support good curling.

In a world filled with on-going disrupt and uncertainty, we can at least keep the negativity in the parking lot.

Projected Standings

1. Sweden  2. Switzerland  3. Canada  4. South Korea  5. Germany  6. Japan  7. Denmark  8. USA  9. Italy  10. Turkey  11. Scotland  12. Norway  13. Czech Republic

Qualifiers

Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, South Korea, Germany, Japan

Bronze Medal

Switzerland (Team Tirinzoni) def. Germany (Team Jentsch)

#WWCC2022 CHAMPIONSHIP

Sweden (Team Hasselborg) def. Canada (Team Einarson)

#TwineTime Podium Picks

Gold - Sweden

Silver -  Canada

Bronze -  Switzerland

What say you rockheads? Agree? Disagree?

Who do YOU think will land on the podium?

#StayTuned

The curling season is far from over folks. We have the World Men's Curling Championship heading to Vegas in a few weeks PLUS the final two #GSOC events of the season.

The blog will have preview posts for each of those events....plus who knows what else.

To those competing at #WWCC2022, the ice is yours. The world is watching.

Good luck and good curling!