Power Rankings - W12

#BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings

Welcome to the "In Between"

Are you familiar with the term "The In Between"?

The In-Between is a metaphysical concept where spirits of the dead linger until their unfinished business is settled. The spirits are between worlds, not in the world of the living and not in the world of spirits.

Spooky, no?

But also a perfect description of what this past weekend was for World Curling Tour action.

We just wrapped up a slam. Next week starts another slam.

And for most teams who will compete in Grande Prairie next week, this was an in between week.

Most have unfinished business awaiting them at the Tour Challenge.

Some will be competing in the Tier II competition, believing they have unsettled business of making the leap onto Tier I ice.

Oh there is some unfinished business for a majority of the teams competing this week...but until then, the teams sit inside "The In Between".

Perfect Halloween theme too, right?

Before we dive into the results and update the Power Rankings, we need to celebrate those who picked up tour wins this past weekend.

Here is your weekend runback.

#TheRunback

Men

🥌 Curling Masters Champery - Team Ramsfjell (NOR) def. Team Gosgens (NED). Both teams reached the playoff bracket with 3-1 RR records. Both knocked off the only undefeated teams in the competition in the SF with Ramsfjell defeating Team Stocker (SUI) and Gosgens defeating Team Nyman (SWE). Ramsfjell would get the best of Gosgens in an extra end final...before running (literally) to the airport to catch a flight.

🥌 Driving Force Decks International Abbotsford Cashspiel - Team Abe (JPN) def. Team Pierce (BC). Both teams were 5-0 entering the final, posting perfect 3-0 records in the RR. This is Abe's second straight final and first championship of the season.

🥌 Stroud Sleeman Cash Spiel - Team Schwaller (SUI) def. Team Ferris (ONT). Both teams qualified for the playoffs out of Pool C with identical 2-1 records. Ferris defeated Schwaller in the opening draw of the event but Schwaller would not lose again and have the last laugh in the championship final.

🥌 New Scotland Brewing Mens Cash Spiel - Team Purcell (NS) def. Team Manuel (NS). Purcell was perfect on the weekend, finishing 5-0 overall after a 3-0 RR record. Manuel was #TeamUpset heading into the final, earning the final playoff spot with a 1-2 record and knocking off previously undefeated Team Colter in the SF.

Women

🥌 RBC Dominion Securities Western Showdown - Team Tirinzoni (SUI) def. Team Ackland (MB). Tirinzoni lost their opener (vs. Ackland) but never lost against, winning 7 in a row to claim the title and earn revenge on Ackland for the opening loss. Both team qualified for the playoffs via the B-side.

🥌 Driving Force Decks International Abbotsford Cashspiel - Team Ryan (B.C.) def. Team Kitazawa (JPN). A #TeamUpset champion this weekend in Abbotsford? Ryan went 4-0 in the RR before winning two playoffs games to claim the title and finish 6-0 overall. Kitazawa took a RR loss (to Team Reese-Hansen, the #TeamUpset mention in the event preview) before rebounding to reach another tour final.

🥌 Stroud Sleeman Cash Spiel - Team Ladouceur (ONT) def. Team Burns (NOnt). Both teams qualified for the playoffs from Pool D with 2-1 records. Ladouceur defeated Burns in the RR before knocking them off once again in the final.

🥌 New Scotland Brewing Womens Cash Spiel - Team Black (NS) def. Team Hilliard (NS). Black finished the RR with a 2-1 record and earned a SF bye due to TB procedures before knocking off Team Birt (SF) on way to the championship. Hilliard was the only undefeated team after the RR (3-0) and suffered their first loss of the event in the final.

Mixed Doubles

🥌 Goldine Valleyfield Mixed Doubles - Team Jones / Laing (ONT) def. Team St-Georges / Asselin (QC). The final was a battle of undefeated duos as both sported 5-0 records heading into the championship. Jones / Laing opened with 3 and stole 3 in 2 to jump out to the early 6-0 lead and never looked back, winning the final 8-2.

🥌 Colorado Curling Cup - Team Farrell / Thurston (MN) def. Team Strouse / Casper (MN). #TeamUpset FTW? Farrell / Thurston needed the #CSideGrind route to make the playoffs before knocking off A-side qualifiers Team Hamilton / Hamilton (QF) and B-side qualifiers Team Anderson / Stopera (SF) en route to the final. Team Strouse / Casper qualified for the playoffs via the B-side.

With many teams sitting inside "The In Between" this weekend, will we see movement on the mountain? Time to find out...

#PowerRankings

Women

1. Team Tirinzoni (1) - Another event, another title. It may be sounding like a broken record but the world champs just continue to win. They follow up the National title with a win in Swift Current before heading to GP next week to chase down another slam. Why bet against them at this point? Sure their 13-match winning streak ended but now they are on a 7-match winning streak and have a season record of 35-5!

2. Team Gim (3) - Another playoff appearance for the Koreans as they reach the QF in Swift Current, coming off the tail end of their QF appearance at the National. Does this team ever show fatigue? They have curled a lot already this season and head to GP for another slam next week.

3. Team Jones (2) - They sit inside #TheInBetween this weekend, preparing for the Tour Challenge. The mountain doesn't punish inactivity but when the teams around you play and qualify, they are going to make moves to pass you.

4. Team Lawes (4) - See above. Another In-Between team preparing for a slam and enjoying a weekend off.

5. Team Einarson (5) - Speaking of a team who fully represents "TheInBetween, Team Einarson remains in the #5 spot without competing this weekend. They will be looking for revenge at the Tour Challenge after losing the final at the National.

6. Team Keiser (6) - The mountain was ready to create a path to the Top 5 for the #NextGen Swiss team but they slipped up in Swift Current and failed to qualify. Some may say that deserves a drop on the mountain; however, competing when the majority of teams did not does not earn a punishment...at least not this week.

7. Team Constantini (10) - The Italian champs might want to consider naming Swift Current their sister-city home. After winning a tour title last weekend in Speedy Creek, the Italians followed course with a SF result this weekend. Their path included victories over Team Jentsch (GER), Keiser (#CSideGrind qualifier) and Gim (QF). Too bad these results came after the #gsoc cutoff because they way this team is playing right now, they should be in the Tier II field.

8. Team Kitazawa (HM) - Kitazawa returns to the Top 10 after reaching another championship final this weekend in Abbotsford. Sure they may not have won the title but they did reach their fourth consecutive final. Since a QF loss at the Saville Shoot-Out to start September, this team has competed in four straight events with four straight finals and two titles. Unfortunate to not see this team at the Tour Challenge. Hopefully a slam event is in their future soon. They deserve it with these results.

9. Team Ackland (NR) - Speaking of consistency, Team Ackland just reached their second straight final of the season, coming off a finals appearance at the Atkins Curling Supplies Classic a few weekends ago. Talk about representing the Maple Leaf in Swift Current, Ackland played 8 of their 9 games against international teams. And look who they defeated: Ha, Tirinzoni, Jentsch, Wrana, Kim, Yoshimura and Constantini. They took two losses over the weekend, in the final to Tirinzoni and in the A-qualified vs. fellow Canuck Team Grandy. Another example of a team who got hot after the Tier II cutoff.

10. Team Fujisawa (7) - Team Fujisawa does not drop off the mountain due to inactivity this weekend but they are slipping down just a bit. As they head into another slam, expect a strong RR portion, reaching the playoffs and then...well who knows?

Hon. Mention: Team Homan, Team Hasselborg, Team Ha, Team Yoshimura, Team Ladouceur

Men

1. Team Gushue (1) - As announced earlier in the season, we all knew Gushue and company would be taking this weekend off to prepare for the Tour Challenge...and maybe still celebrate the National title. But be careful when you sit inside #TheInBetween because your rivals may be there waiting for you.

2. Team Edin (2) - Similar to above, #KingNiklas retains his #2 spot even with taking a weekend off. And we know what they are up to sitting inside #TheInBetween this week. They are wanting some revenge for giving up that slam title last weekend. Can they earn it in Grande Prairie this week?

3. Team Schwaller (5) - Sure they slipped up in North Bay but look how they rebounded? While most of the slam competition enjoyed their In-Between time, Schwaller was right back on the ice competing in Stroud and winning another tour title. Can they put it all together on the #gsoc ice now as a new team?

4. Team Dunstone (3) - The Sheriff is monitoring The In Between, ensuring everyone is being nice and keeping their unfinished business concerns to a professional level. Pressure may start to mount on this new team though heading into another slam as they are not flying under the radar anymore.

5. Team Dropkin (4) - Ah the joys of a ranking system where a team can reach the SF of one slam and then earn "demotion" to the Tier II event at the next slam two weeks later. The Young Bucks will be heavy favourites at the Tier II this week, an event Dropkin and company have already won in the past.

6. Team Bottcher (6) - Another In-Between team preparing to collect souls and repair their own unfinished business in Grande Prairie.

7. Team Koe (7) - See above.

8. Team Flasch (8) - See above...again. Most of the top men's teams around the world took this past weekend off so light movement on the mountain. Lightning cannot strike when it doesn't come out of the clouds.

9. Team Sturmay (9) - Be weary of this team in the Tier II field this upcoming week. A deep playoff run, even a championship performance, is not out of the question. Unfinished business inside The In-Between? Not as much unfinished as ready to prove something to a lot of skeptics and naysayers.

10. Team Purcell (NR) - We need more #NextGen love on the men's mountain and Nova Scotia's Team Purcell is the team ready to win your hearts curling fans. We know the junior accomplishments of this team. We saw them reach the U25 Curling Classic final to kick off their season. But the championship performance this past weekend in Halifax could mark the official coming out party for the young Bluenosers. Unfortunate they did not make the cut for the Tier II but they are not far away from earning their #gsoc spot. Welcome to the Top 10 Team Purcell!

Hon. Mention: Team Yanagisawa, Team Jeong, Team Retornaz, Team Hoesli, Team Ramsfjell

What say you curling fans? Share your thoughts on the Top 10 or suggest your own Top 5.

#StayTuned

As mentioned in the opener, the next #GSOC event tosses their first rocks this Tuesday in Grande Prairie, AB at the Tour Challenge.

64 teams from around the globe will compete in Tier I and Tier II events chasing grand slam glory.

The blog will return for a FULL PREVIEW of both events. It is going to be an action-packed post.

PLUS, remember the World Mixed Curling Championship is underway in Scotland.

To get caught up on the field, revisit the #TwineTime preview HERE and stay up to date on all the results at the World Curling Federation event page HERE.