#BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings - Week 7
Swiss Sweep and Swedish Defense highlight Oslo Cup
The Nordic Curling Tour made their first stop of the season last weekend in Norway for the Oslo Cup.
Sweden's Team Hasselborg and Team Edin came in trying to #DefendTheIce.
One was successful. The other was not.
And, in the end, it was another European country having the last laugh with a sweep of the men's podium.
Plus we celebrated the next slide in the #NextGen movement with the U25 #NextGen Classic in Edmonton.
Labour Day weekend was anything short of a rest for the curling world.
As mentioned in last week's Power Rankings post, a new logo search is on for the weekly update.
Thoughts on the image used this week? Like it? Dislike it? Don't care?
The blog will find the right Power Rankings image rock heads.
#TheRunback
🥌 Oslo Cup (W) - Team Hasselborg (SWE) def. Team Roervik (NOR): With babies in tow, Team Hasselborg used Super Mom Power to #DefendTheIce in Oslo. Hasselborg went a perfect 7-0 in defending their title, going 4-0 in the RR and playoff victories over Team Henderson (QF) and Team Wrana (SF) en route to the final. The Norwegian champs also entered the final undefeated, equaling the 4-0 RR record and playoff wins over Team Jaeggi (QF) and Team Huerlimann (SF). Sweden's Wrana finished in 3rd place with a bronze medal victory over Switzerland's Huerlimann.
🥌 Oslo Cup (M) - Team Hoesli (SUI) def. Team Schwaller (SUI): #TeamUpset emerged victorious in Oslo with Hoesli going 7-0 to claim the title. After posting a 4-0 RR record, Hoesli reached the final with playoff victories over Sweden's Team Nyman (QF) and Switzerland's Team Brunner (SF). Schwaller also reached the final with an identical undefeated record, picking up playoff wins over Norway's Team Hostmaelingen (QF) and Norway's Team Ramsfjell (SF) after a 4-0 RR record. Brunner ensured the #SwissSweep on the podium by defeating Ramsfjell in the 3rd place match.
🥌 U25 #NextGen Classic (W) - Team Gray-Withers (AB) def. Team Marks (AB) - Chalk up a successful #DefendTheIce moment for young Gray-Withers, as they go back-to-back in Edmonton. Gray-Withers went 5-0 in the RR and picked up a SF victory over Team Brown to make the final and remain perfect at the event. Marks reached the playoffs with a 3-2 RR record and defeated Team Kiemele in the SF. Shout out to Marks as they earn the ticket to the PointsBet Invitational due to Gray-Withers previously qualifying. Marks will be the #13 seed in the field, drawing #4 Team Lawes in the opening round.
🥌 U25 #NextGen Classic (M) - Team Kleiter (SK) def. Team Mooibroek (ONT) - A double #DefendTheIce was denied by the young bucks from Saskatchewan. Kleiter finished the RR with a 4-1 record to reach the playoffs. They defeated Team Wiebe in the SF to set up a RR rematch with the defending champs, this time extracting revenge and earning the win. Mooibroek entered the playoff bracket with a perfect 5-0 record, including the RR W over Kleiter. They defeated Team Young in the SF.
🥌 U25 #NextGen Classic (MD) - Team MacMillan / Middleton (BC) def. Team Zheng / Pietrangelo (ONT): Team M&M went 4-1 in the RR to book a ticket into the playoff round where they defeated Team Cheal/Cheal (QF) and the lone undefeated team remaining, Team Papley/van Amsterdam (SF), to reach the final. Zheng/Pietrangelo also reached the playoffs with a 4-1 RR record and picked up playoff wins over Team Bailey/Sipura (QF) and Team Kleiter/Kleiter (SF). For Team M&M, this is their 2nd straight title, after winning the MD Summer Series in Quebec a few weeks ago. Are we seeing this season's MD #TeamUpset emerging to challenge the "big duos" on tour and in Canada?
🥌 Youth Olympic Games Qualifying (MD) - Team Locke / Perry (NL) def. Team Evason / Hiebert (MB/AB): What a Best-of-7 qualifying series this was, with the winner earning a ticket to represent Canada at the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea (Jan. 19 - Feb. 2, 2024). Evason/Hiebert built a 3-1 series lead before Locke/Perry battled back to force a Game 7 decider and complete the comeback with an 11-8 victory. The NL duo will head to Korea and try to #DefendTheIce in MD after fellow Rock competitor Nathan Young won MD gold in Switzerland in 2020 (partnering Hungary's Laura Nagy). It you want to watch some fun, exciting (and highly stressful) curling, go back and watch this series on YouTube.
Wondering how the #TourLifePredictions went last week? Here is the summary:
🥌 Oslo Cup (W) - 6 of 8 playoff qualifiers, including predicting the winner.
🥌 Oslo Cup (M) - 6 of 8 qualifiers, including predicting the runner-up.
🥌 U25 #NextGen Classic (W) - 2 of 4 qualifiers, including predicting the runner-up.
🥌 U25 #NextGen Classic (M) - 3 of 4 qualifiers, including predicting the winner.
Overall, the predictions went 17 of 24 qualifiers, 4 correct finalists and 2 tour winners.
Do we give this another "A" weekend of predictions rock heads?
And, for complete transparency, the blog will show a summary of the grades received for the predictions.
W6 - A
Is the blog tooting it's own horn a bit right now? You bet it is. Predictions are hard folks, especially in the sport of curling where any team really can defeat any other team on any given sheet during any given draw.
Lets see if the good run of predictions continues this upcoming weekend though. The blog will slip up eventually, right?
Ok, bring on the Power Rankings mountain! The parenthesis number behind each team is where they were ranked in last week's Power Rankings post.
#PowerRankings
MEN
1. Team Mouat (LW: 1)
Last Week: Did Not Compete (DNC)
A much deserved weekend off for the world champs after a tour title the previous week and preparing to head to Canada. They will be competing this upcoming weekend in Oakville.
2. Team Gushue (2)
Last Week: DNC
Curling fans anxiously await for the season debut of Team Gushue. If you had a good eye and were watching the action in Edmonton last weekend though, you probably saw Brad Gushue in the role of Coach Gushue for his daughter, who was competing in the U25 #NextGen Classic MD event.
3. Team Retornaz (3)
Last Week: DNC
Bring the Italian Stallions back to the ice. The fans are waiting...
4. Team Dunstone (4)
Last Week: DNC
September means The Sheriff will make his season debut...and ready to take down his opposition?
5. Team Whyte (5)
Last Week: DNC
After back-to-back playoff results, a much deserved weekend off for the young Scots. But we weary of seeing them in your draw going forward. We will see them this weekend in Oakville.
6. Team Schwaller (9)
Last Week: Oslo Cup - Finalist
That was the Team Schwaller we expect to see, making an undefeated run to a tour final. Sure they slipped up in the final vs. a young #NextGen team, but it was still a solid weekend of curling. Switzerland is looking strong this season though.
7. Team Hoesli (NR)
Last Week: Oslo Cup - Champions
Well, who saw that result coming? After going 3-5 in the opening 2 events, Hoesli goes undefeated to take home the Oslo Cup championship. And they picked up victories over then-higher ranked teams like Gosgens (#14), Ramsfjell (#11), Brunner (#20) and Schwaller (#6). The victory moved the young Swiss team up the rankings, now sitting at #19 from previously #25.
8. Team Edin (7)
Last Week: Oslo Cup - QF
Bit of a disappointing season opening result for Team Edin, the defending champs in Oslo. A QF appearance is never a bad result but the Oslo Cup is usually more kind to The King.
9. Team Kleiter (NR)
Last Week: U25 #NextGen Classic - Champions
When you stand on top of the #NextGen mountain, you also start making a climb up the Power Rankings. Welcome to the Top 10 Team Kleiter! And congratulations on booking your spot in the PointsBet Invitational #Sweep16 bracket. Your reward? A match up with #4 seed (and the team you took a Top 10 spot from) Team Koe.
10. Team Bottcher (6)
Last Week: DNC
And we wait, still, for Team Bottcher to make their season opening appearance. Teams will take a dip down the mountain for the time being as others compete...and win.
Honourable Mention: Team Bryce, Team Koe, Team Brunner, Team Ramsfjell, Team Waddell
WOMEN
1. Team Einarson (LW: 1)
Last Week: DNC
Not long now until we see our #1 ranked team back on the ice.
2. Team Homan (2)
Last Week: DNC
We may not see them on the ice yet but they continue to light it up on social media.
3. Team Fujisawa (3)
Last Week: DNC
Win a tour event and then take some time off. It seems to be a recipe for success for most teams. Add Fujisawa to the list.
4. Team Hasselborg (5)
Last Week: Oslo Cup - Champions
The Swedish Vikings lived up to their fans' expectations, defending their championship in Oslo. Plus, they picked up a huge SF W over Swedish rivals Team Wrana.
5. Team Wrana (6)
Last Week: Oslo Cup - SF
A solid result in Oslo, reaching the SF. But coming up short vs. their main rivals in the SF will still sting...even if early in the season. The Wrana - Hasselborg rivaly is the one to watch this season!
6. Team Gim (4)
Last Week: DNC
Only knocked down the rankings due to Hasselborg's Oslo Cup win and Wrana's SF appearance.
7. Team Roervik (NR)
Last Week: Oslo Cup - Finalist
Give credit to the defending world championship silver medal winners. They reached the final at their home event and gave the defending champs a run for their money. They are quickly proving last year was not a fluke.
8. Team Strouse (7)
Last Week: DNC
We cannot drop the tour leading #TeamUpset challenger from the Top 10 just because they took a week off. And we will see them again this upcoming weekend in Oakville.
9. Team Gray-Withers (NR)
Last Week: U25 #NextGen Classic - Champions
It is never easy to #DefendTheIce on tour. This weekend we saw both women's events have repeat champions. Hasselborg moved up the mountain with her win. Serena Gray-Withers deserves equal respect. Welcome to the Top 10!
10. Team Lawes (8)
Last Week: DNC
Barely holding on to their Top 10 spot.
Honourable Mention: Team Tirinzoni, Team Skrlik, Team Jaeggi, Team Inglis, Team Black
Agree? Disagree? What would YOUR Top 10 look like?
Share your thoughts with the #PowerRankings and reveal your Top 10 mountain on social media or in the comment section below.
#StayTuned
Bring on September.
Last weekend was the welcome drinks at the bar for an action-packed month of curling.
This upcoming weekend will serve up an appetizer, highlighted by Stu Sells Oakville and the Saville Shootout.
The blog will return later in the week for a full preview of this weekend's curling actions and #TourLifePredictions.
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