#BetweenTheSheets: Nordic Curling Tour Returns
The Oslo Cup kicks off Year 2 of the NCT
2023 will be the sophomore season for the Nordic Curling Tour.
Launched in 2022, the tour was developed to continue to develop and enhance curling talent within the Nordic region.
For those wondering, the Nordic region is defined by Northern Europe and Northern Atlantic to include the following countries: Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Faroe Islands and Greenland.
As the Nordic Curling Tour explains, "This tour will help clubs and venues to host tournaments on a middle level so that these players can continue playing. Without these players the sport will disappear."
The concept of the tour is to promote lower ranked teams with extra money to continue their development and improve their rankings.
Last season saw 4 events take place as part of the Nordic Curling Tour.
This season, there will be 5 events contested as part of the tour:
- Oslo Cup (this weekend)
- Match Town Trophy (Oct. 13-15)
- Sundyberg Open (Oct. 27-29)
- Danish Open (Nov. 2-5)
- Sun City Cup (Feb. 22-25, 2024)
Competing teams will accumulate Nordic Curling Tour points based on their final standings. At the conclusion of the season, an overall champion will be crowned.
Last year, Sweden's Team Hasselborg and Team Edin emerged as Nordic Curling Tour champions.
Can they defend their crowns this season?
It all gets started this weekend with the Oslo Cup in Oslo, Norway.
PLUS, there is a junior component to the Nordic Curling Tour.
There are 4 junior tour events being held this season, which will ultimately crown Nordic Curling Tour Junior Champions.
If you are a curling fan and want to support the continued development of the Nordic Curling Tour, you can become a Patron Supporter though a monthly donation. More details can be found HERE.
As you will see on the page, players like Anna Hasselborg, Oskar Eriksson, Christoffer Sundgren, James Craik, Cameron Bryce, Fredrik Nyman, Margaretha Sigfridsson and many other curlers are Patron Supporters.
This might be something the #TwineTime blog joins in on as well friends.
Shall we do it together and continue to #growthesport around the world?
Ok, lets jump to the competition of the weekend.
ICYMI, the updated #PowerRankings were released earlier this week. There were a few teams making a move up the mountain. Check out the new Top 10 HERE.
Bring on the previews and predictions. And this week, lets start with the women.
#TourLifePredictions
WOMEN
Oslo Cup
Oslo, NOR
2022 Champion: Team Hasselborg
Format: 15 team RR with 3 pools of 5. Top 8 qualify.
#Fav: Team Hasselborg
The champs return looking to #DefendTheIce as they kick off their season at an event with happy memories.
The defending Nordic Curling Tour champs will want to defend their crown this season and it starts with a strong showing in Oslo.
Babies were the talk of the team last season. And with those babies welcomed into the world, the entourage fan support has grown.
We have seen it in curling already. We are seeing it in tennis at the US Open. Mom Super Power skills are stronger than anything.
With 3/4 of the team having Mom Super Strength, can anyone stop this team now?
Last year was a "down" year for Team Hasselborg, by their high standards. This is a great opportunity to put last season in the rearview mirror and start looking forward with new successes.
They were blessed by the curling draw gods with a manageable pool, which should translate into another deep playoff run.
#TeamUpset: Team Munro
Can they follow up their strong opening season result with another playoff finish?
At the Euro Super Series, the Scottish team surprised a few people with their run to the SF and 3rd place finish overall.
They posted impressive wins over Team Jaeggi and Team Morrison along the way.
Will lightning strike twice, now in Oslo?
The team now sits among the Top 40 in the world, entering the weekend at #39.
They have an opportunity to continue to build on their upward ranking. But it will not be easy.
Italy's Team Constantini and home nation favourite Norway's Team Roervik stand in their way. As do Switzerland's Team Schwaller and Sweden's Team Dryburgh.
But they are riding a wave of momentum right now.
#W2W4
There will be a few storylines to watch in Oslo.
Czech Republic's Anna Kubeskova returns to the ice to skip her 8-time Czech national champion team once again.
2022 Euro Champ Madeleine Dupont from Denmark will be skipping her team this weekend before heading on maternity leave in the fall, although she will still be with the team as their coach.
Team Jaeggi will welcome 2-time Scotties champ Chelsea Carey to the lineup this weekend as well.
Watch out for how Pool C shapes up. This is the #PoolOfDeath. With world silver medal winners Roervik, Euro 4th place Constantini, Team Upset Munro, #38 Schwaller and #70 Dryburgh, this will be a fight for playoff spots.
And, of course, all eyes will be on the developing rivalry between Sweden's Team Hasselborg and Team Wrana.
Wrana currently sits #7 in the world, one spot ahead of Hasselborg at #8. It is the first time in a LONG time Hasselborg is looking up at another Swedish team in the rankings.
Can Wrana make a season-opening statement? Can Hasselborg reclaim the #1 spot in Sweden?
#PopcornMatch
Team Munro vs. Team Roervik - Draw 3: If Munro is a true #TeamUpset, this is the game to prove it.
Team Dupont vs. Team Wrana - Draw 9: This RR game will have major playoff implications.
Team Hasselborg vs. Team Jaeggi - Draw 9: Could decide 1st place in the pool?
Team Munro vs. Team Schwaller - Draw 10: Winner of this game could be in a playoff spot, loser might be eliminated.
Team Constantini vs. Team Roervik - Draw 11: Final RR game could decide 1st place in the pool OR become a de facto elimination game.
Qualifiers: Team Wrana, Team Hasselborg, Team Roervik, Team Dupont, Team Jaeggi, Team Constantini, Team Schwaller, Team Huerlimann
Championship: Team Hasselborg def. Team Wrana
U25 NextGen Classic
Edmonton, AB
2022 Champion: Team Gray-Withers
Format: 12 team RR with 2 pools of 6. Top 4 qualify.
#Fav: Team Ladouceur
The team from Whitby, Ontario will have revenge on their minds returning to the Saville Center this weekend.
Last year they qualified for the playoffs and were considered the favourites to hoist the inaugural trophy. Unfortunately they lost in the SF to the eventual champions, Team Gray-Withers.
It wasn't all doom and gloom of course as Ladourceur would go on to have a great season, including invites to a few #gsoc events.
This team is a strong up and coming team who have made their goals very clear. They want to be back on #gsoc ice. They want to compete with the best. They want to win against the best.
And they are having fun while doing it. They love the sport. They love to compete. And that makes them a dangerous team to compete against and a team for curling fans to cheer for.
Their path to the playoffs with not be easy though, drawing major competition from Team Marks, Team Plett, Team Wytrychowski, Team Brown and Team Zemmelink.
#TeamUpset: Team Plett
Tough to pick a #TeamUpset in a field of #NextGen future stars. For the most part, the field is a #TeamUpset.
But maybe keep your eyes on Team Plett.
As the Canadian junior champions, they already have clinched a spot in the upcoming PointsBet Invitational as the #14 seed (they will play #3 seed and defending champs Team Jones).
So the pressure is off of them a bit. But what a statement start to the season it would be for them to pick up this championship win on basically home ice (they are based out of Sherwood Park).
And you may be familiar with the last name of their vice, Alyssa Nedohin. Yes, she is from that famous Nedohin family.
Winning is in her blood.
#W2W4
Team Plett may have their ticket Oakville secured for the PointsBet Invitational.
As does Ladourceur, drawn as the #7 seed.
Last year's champ, Team Gray-Withers, will also be in Oakville as the #10 seed.
Hmmm, and look who those two teams draw in the first round....one another of course.
And after the two faced off at this very event last year in the SF, could a #NextGen rivalry be brewing?
But there is still a ticket left to be claimed.
The rest of the field is competing for that final spot in the bracket as the #13 seed, to face #4 Team Lawes in the opening round.
Opportunity is knocking. Who will answer?
#PopcornMatch
Team Ladouceur vs. Team Plett - Draw 1: Blockbuster opening match between two teams with playoff aspirations.
Team Marks vs. Team Plett - Draw 5: The winner should have the inside track on snagging a playoff spot.
Team Ackerman vs. Team Gray-Withers - Draw 8: A rematch of last year's final to conclude the RR. Could this be a de facto elimination game between last year's finalists?
Qualifiers: Team Ladouceur, Team Gray-Withers, Team Marks, Team Ackerman
Championship: Team Ladouceur def. Marks
MEN
Oslo Cup
Oslo, NOR
2022 Champion: Team Edin
Format: 15 team RR with 3 pools of 5. Top 8 qualify.
#Fav: Team Edin
Well, are we surprised?
They are not only the defending champions from last year but, if you date back to when this event was regularly held from 2000-2012, Niklas Edin has actually won 4 straight Oslo Cups (2010-2012, 2022).
And Oskar Eriksson skipped the winning team in 2009.
To say Edin and Eriksson enjoy Oslo and find success at the Oslo Cup would be an understatement.
In the 13-year history of the event, a combination of Edin/Eriksson account for 5 championship wins....and the past 5 leading into the 2023 edition.
The path to the playoffs is manageable but there could be slight trip up RR games against Switzerland's Team Bruner and Norway's Team Hostmaelingen.
Interestingly enough, Edin drew Hostmaelingen and Norway's Team Bjoerke in the RR last year as well. Of course the team went 4-0 in the RR en route to the title.
Anything short of a deep playoff run to the final would be surprising.
Speaking of Hostmaelingen...
#TeamUpset: Team Hostmaelingen
See last week's Euro Super Series post on #TeamUpset?
It may sound flippant but also accurate?
Last week the blog named Team Hostmaelingen as a #TeamUpset challenger. How did they respond?
They qualified for the playoffs and reached the QF.
Now sure they are only 4-6 on the season, having failed to qualify at their season opener in Baden.
But, they are also on home ice this weekend. They will have their loved ones cheering them on.
And you always want to perform well as a "host" team.
Lets remember, last year at this event they had a QF finish as well after posting a 3-1 RR record.
Their 2 losses last year? Both to eventual champions Team Edin.
Their schedule will be tough mind you, drawing Switzerland's Team Brunner, fellow Norwegians Team Mjoen and Team Bjoerke and...Team Edin again.
A 2-2 record might still nab you a qualifier spot though.
#W2W4
Pool C. The #PoolOfDeath.
Sure Edin (Pool A), Team Schwaller, Team Waddell and Team James Craik (Pool B) will draw some eyes but the competition for a playoff spot in Pool C should be fun to watch.
Look at this lineup: Team Gosgens (#14), Team Harstad (#42), Team Hoesli (#24), Team Klima (#69) and Team Ramsfjell (#11).
This is a pool of strong contenders. And do not let the "lower" rankings of Harstad and Klima lull you in a false sense of high caliber competition. We have seen how competitive those teams are in the past.
There could be a case made for any 5 of these Pool C teams to have a realistic shot at qualifying.
Ramsfjell will be the favourite of course. But those other 4 teams are equally capable.
Could we see a "surprise" team(s) reach the playoff bracket from this pool alone?
#PopcornMatch
Team Brunner vs. Team Hostmaelingen - Draw 4: Winner of this game has the inside track to the playoffs. The loser will have some work to do to advance.
Team Craik vs. Team Nyman - Draw 5: Team Nyman was one of the breakout teams of the Nordic Curling Tour last season. Team Craik has had a strong start to the season. Both are playoff-caliber teams.
Team Edin vs. Team Hostmaelingen - Draw 6: #Fav vs. #TeamUpset.
Team Gosgens vs. Team Ramsfjell - Draw 8: If we go by rankings, this game could decide the pool winner and clinch a playoff spot with the W.
Team Craik vs. Team Schwaller - Draw 8: Craik beat Schwaller in Baden, en route to a SF finish. Schwaller revenge? Huge playoff implications for this match.
Qualifiers: Team Edin, Team J. Craik, Team Ramsfjell, Team Brunner, Team Schwaller, Team Gosgens, Team Hostmaelingen, Team Waddell
Championship: Team Edin def. Team Schwaller
U25 NextGen Classic
Edmonton, AB
2022 Champion: Team Mooibroek
Format: 12 team RR with 2 pools of 6. Top 2 qualify.
#Fav: Team Mooibroek
The champ are back to #DefendTheIce. Ok, well the lineup looks slightly different but the majority of the team is back looking to hoist the trophy once again.
But the #Fav status for the team from Whitby is not only because they are defending champions.
They kick started their season at the Summer Series last weekend in Quebec and wound up with a SF finish.
Having a bit of momentum and confidence heading into this event will be helpful, especially since this men's field is STACKED with #NextGen talent.
But to be the best, you need to beat the best. Right now, they are the kings of the event.
Retaining their crown will not be easy though, drawn into a pool with names like Kleiter, Goodkey, Jacques, Bernath and Parent.
Yikes!
#TeamUpset: Team McDonald
Watch out for the defending Manitoba junior champions from Winnipeg.
Remember last year's Canadian junior championships? Team McDonald made a run to the SF before slipping up in the SF and ultimately finishing in 3rd place.
This is a dangerous young team looking to make their mark on some of the "older" teams in this field.
Last year they started their season with a run to the finals of the Mother Club, losing to fellow #NextGen competitor Team Wiebe.
They also had a QF appearance at the Atkins Curling Supply Classic tour event.
In a pool with names like Young, Tao, Wiebe, Libbus and Adams, they may get lost in the conversation.
But do not be surprised if the results raise your eyes a bit and they make a playoff push.
#W2W4
As already mentioned, this field is stacked. To think only 2 teams will survive the RR to reach the playoffs is almost head scratching.
Good teams, very good teams, are going to go home early.
Team Mooibroek and Team Tao have a little less to play for this week as they already secured spots in the PointsBet Invitational.
But, for the rest of the field, winning this event means booking your ticket into a premier event as the #13 seed and drawing Team Koe in the opening round.
Plus, who doesn't want season-long #NextGen bragging rights?!
#PopcornMatch
Team Tao vs. Team Young - Draw 5: A battle of up and coming teams who have generated a lot of buzz around being the future of the sport.
Team McDonald vs. Team Wiebe - Draw 6: A Manitoba #NextGen rivalry building?
Team Kleiter vs. Team Mooibroek - Draw 7: Both teams had season-opening SF results last weekend. Both reached the playoffs last year, with Mooibroek winning the SF. Both teams are championship threats again this year. Could this game serve as a de facto elimination game too?
Qualifiers: Team Wiebe, Team Kleiter, Team McDonald, Team Mooibroek
Championship: Team Kleiter def. Team Wiebe
#StayTuned
Both of the events this weekend are stacked with talent. From strong European teams to upcoming Canadian teams, there will be plenty of great curling to keep your eyes on.
And of course this is the last long weekend of Summer. Get out there and enjoy some nice weather with friends and family.
This is also Pride Week in Calgary. I will be walking in my first Pride Parade this Sunday with my goddaughter. If you are in Calgary, come out to watch the parade and become an ally for equality, representation and support the LGBTQ2S+ community. Plus it is always a fun time. 🌈
Stay safe. Have fun.
For those competing this weekend, good luck and good curling.
Have fun at your first Pride Parade
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