#BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings - W11
Tour Challenge field is set
From a blockbuster PointsBet Invitational #Sweep16 bracket event to teams confirming their tickets to the first #gsoc of the season, the final weekend of September had the curling community talking.
The top women's rivalry in Canada wrote another chapter in the #PBInvitational finale.
A men's team who looked ready for a flight home in the QF (and SF) survived and were able to #DefendTheIce in improbable fashion.
The Tour Challenge revealed the Tier I and Tier II teams heading to Niagara Falls in a few weeks.
And, on the World Curling Tour scene, Asian nations continue to show up and show off their talents against their Canadian counterparts...almost sweeping a playoff bracket in Vernon.
Plus, what do we think of the #PowerRankings double arrow graphic? I kind of like it, no?
Ok so there was no #TourLifePredictions blog post last weekend rockheads. My bad! 😑
The #Sweep16 (plus this place I go to Monday - Friday to make money) took up most of my time. But hey, the #TwineTime podcast released its first episode of the season with Special Guest Felix Asselin, so that was exciting at least, right?
Lets give a shoutout to all the teams who received invites to the opening Grand Slam of Curling event of the season: The Tour Challenge.
Qualifying for a slam is always a goal for any team during a curling season. The opportunity for TV coverage and competing against the best in the world can only make you better.
And this Tier II field is going to be a battle as well with the winners earning a future #gsoc ticket.
Congratulations to the following teams:
TIER I
Men
Team Mouat
Team Bottcher
Team Gushue
Team Retornaz
Team Edin
Team Schwaller
Team Dunstone
Team Koe
Team Whyte
Team Dropkin
Team Ramsfjell
Team Carruthers
Team Shuster
Team Gosgens
Team Sluchinski
Team Yanagisawa
Women
Team Tirinzoni
Team Einarson
Team Homan
Team Fujisawa
Team Gim
Team Jones
Team Hasselborg
Team Wrana
Team Peterson
Team Grandy
Team Cameron
Team Lawes
Team Rorvik
Team Ha
Team Constantini
Team Morrison
TIER II
Men
Team Bryce
Team Sturmay
Team Craik
Team McEwen
Team Hosli
Team Epping
Team Brunner
Team Wiebe
Team Casper
Team Hostmaelingen
Team Nyman
Team Schneider
Team Morozumi
Team Mooibroek
Team Jeong
Team Kleiter
Women
Team Black
Team Hurlimann
Team Kitazawa
Team Strouse
Team Yoshimura
Team Ladouceur
Team E. Kim
Team Skrlik
Team Hunkin
Team Dupont
Team Gray-Withers
Team Inglis
Team Jaeggi
Team Campbell
Team Martin
Team Sarah Anderson
Remember, the invites to participate (and whether in Tier I or Tier II) were based on the World Curling Tour rankings on Sept. 18, which included the finalization of points awarded at events wrapping up on Sept. 17.
Canadian provinces will be well represented at the Tour Challenge: B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Besides the strong Canadian representation, Niagara Falls will also welcome international competition from Scotland, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Norway, Netherlands, Japan, Korea and Denmark.
Any pre-event favourites you are excited to watch compete? How could be the dangerous #TeamUpset teams lurking in the field?
All the attention was on the PointsBet Invitational last weekend, for valid reason. But there were also tour events taking place. Lets toss the runback to summarize the weekend action.
#TheRunback
🥌 PointsBet Invitational (W) - Team Homan (ON) def. Team Einarson (MB): The rivalry is heating up folks. Consider this just one of many games we will see between these two teams yet again this year...and probably in more finals. Homan returned to the ice victorious, new baby in hand. Homan defeated Team Park (S16), Team Ladourceur (QF) and Team Black (SF) to reach the final. For Einarson, her path to the final included victories over Team Zimmerman (S16), Team Skrlik (QF) and Team Lawes (SF).
🥌 PointsBet Invitational (M) - Team Carruthers (MB) def. Team Dunstone (MB): Reid Carruthers is the PointsBet King! An event in its second year of existence has only seen one champion sit atop the rest: Reid Carruthers. But it was not as easy this year as it was last year. After a Sweep16 victory over Team Tao, Carruthers survived a 10th end miss vs. Team Kleiter (QF) and back-to-back draw to the button "extra ends" vs. Team Gushue (SF) and Team Dunstone (F) to retain the title. Hope he bought a lottery ticket because Rama has to be feeling extra lucky right now (plus he has the money to spare!). Dunstone reached the final with victories over Team Mooibroek (S16), Team Sturmay (QF) and Team McEwen (SF).
🥌 Prestige Hotels & Resorts Curling Classic (W) - Team Wang (CHN) def. Team Brown (BC): Last weekend Team Han represented China with a tour win. This weekend Team Wang followed the same path down the ice to take a tour title. Wang went 3-1 in the RR before picking up playoff wins over Japan's Team Kanai (QF) and compatriot Han (SF) to reach the final. Brown was trying to give the home province fans something to cheer for, reaching the final as the last Canadian standing. Brown qualified for the playoffs with a similar 3-1 RR record and scored playoff wins over Korea's Team Ha (QF) and Team E. Kim (SF). Worth noting, of the 8 qualifiers, 5 represented the Asian continent (China, Korea, Japan).
🥌 Prestige Hotels & Resorts Curling Classic (M) - Team Pierce (BC) def. Team Schneider (BC): They may have entered the event ranked #105 in the world but #TeamUpset reigned supreme over the weekend, going 7-0 to claim the title. Pierce went 4-0 in the RR and reached the final with playoff victories over Korea's Team Park (QF) and Japan's Team Morozumi (SF). For Schneider, it was the long path to the final. After posting a 2-2 RR record, Schneider needed to survive a TB game (def. Team Fenton) to reach the playoff bracket. Once there, the team secured wins over Japan's Team Yanagisawa (QF) and B.C.'s Team Richard (SF) before running out of gas in the final.
🥌 Prague Ladies International (W) - Team Synackova (CZE) def. Team Kubeskova (CZE): An all-Czechia finale in front of home nation fans in Prague. And a #TeamUpset final result to boot with Synackova scoring 3 in 8 to tie the game and wearing the #StealPants in the extra to take the title. Synackova also earned revenge for the RR lose to their compatriots in the finale. Synackova squeaked into the playoff bracket with a 3-2 RR record but then posted playoffs wins over Czechia's Team Farkova (QF) and Germany's Team Abbes (SF) to make the final. For Kubeskova, they reached the final undefeated after posting a 5-0 RR record and a SF victory over Czechia's Team Hronova. Abbes defeated Hronova to claim 3rd place.
🥌 Tallinn Men's International Challenger (M) - Team Stocker (SUI) def. Team Nyman (SWE): The young new look team from Switzerland continues their strong start to the season, collecting their 1st tour title together. And going 8-0 over the weekend to do so. After posting a 5-0 RR record, Stocker defeated Norway's Team Hostmaelingen (QF) and fellow Swiss Team Brunner (SF) to make the final. For Sweden's Nyman, they went 4-1 in the RR and secured their berth in the final with a SF win over Switzerland's Team Schnider.
🥌 Invitation Valleyfield (M) - Team Arsenault (QC) def. Team Asselin (QC): An all-Quebec finale in Valleyfield went to the team from Levis knocking off the defending provincial champs from Montreal, with both teams entering the final undefeated. Arsenault and Asselin qualified with identical 3-0 RR records with Arsenault defeating Team Munroe (QF) and Team Desjardins (SF) en route to the final while Asselin knocked off Team Lawton (QF) and Team Wise (SF).
As already noted, there were no #TourLifePredictions last week.
But the blog can report on how the #Sweep16 bracket challenge went. It went...not well.
Overall, the #TwineTime brackets finished with 720 points, good enough to finish T-186 overall. Yikes!
Hey, at least I predicted Homan to win though, right? And predicted Einarson in the final too.
There were a few bright spots as well, like Team Wiebe winning the S16 opening game vs. Team Epping and Team Black making it to the women's SF.
Not my best bracket challenge though....
And, for complete transparency, the blog will show a summary of the grades received for the predictions.
W10 - No Picks (T-186 - Sweep16)
The #TourLifePredictions will return later this week though rockheads.
Lets go Mountain Climbing!
Remember 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)
The Scots got to watch their top Canadian competitors fight it out for some money in Oakville...while looking down from atop the mountain of course.
2. Team Whyte (2)
Last Week: DNC
The "Other Scots" did the same...albeit from a slightly lower viewpoint.
3. Team Retornaz (4)
Last Week: DNC
ICYMI - The Italian Stallions added a coach to their herd, welcoming Ryan Fry.
4. Team Dunstone (6)
Last Week: PointsBet Invitational - Finalist
The Sheriff gets taken out by his main Manitoba rival in the final...again. A QF and F result to open your season is still a positive I suppose. Last year's finals loss here propelled Dunny to the Brier final. Repeat result this season?
5. Team Gushue (5)
Last Week: PointsBet Invitational - SF
Another PB Invitational, another SF finish. It has been a bit of a "meh" start to the season for the reigning Canadian champs. On the flip side, SF result last year ended with another Brier title so maybe this is their plan all along?
6. Team Carruthers (NR)
Last Week: PointsBet Invitational - Champions
They did #DefendTheIce but it wasn't pretty. Easily could have been eliminated in the QF and/or SF round as well. But you sweat it out, sweep it out and keep rolling. Now lets see how this year's title shapes the season for Rama and the boys.
7. Team Edin (7)
Last Week: DNC
Bring on slam season for the Swedish Vikings to tune up for the big European Curling Championships next month in Aberdeen, Scotland.
8. Team Bottcher (3)
Last Week: PointsBet Invitational - QF
Entering the Sweep16 with a 13-1 record to the season and back-to-back tour titles, who would have seen Bottcher eliminated in the QF round? Of course, remember, McEwen did reach the SF in Okotoks too so maybe we underestimated the wrong team. And maybe Bottcher did as well?
9. Team Brunner (9)
Last Week: Tallinn Men's International Challenger - SF
While all the curling eyes were on Oakville, Switzerland's Team Brunner continued their hot start to the season. They reached their 3rd straight SF this past weekend in Estonia. Strength of field and all that nonsense be gone. This mountain rewards consistency, consistency, consistency. And Brunner is showing it!
10. Team McEwen (HM)
Last Week: PointsBet Invitational - SF
The Sasky boys follow up their SF run in Okotoks with a SF run in Oakville....as the #10 seed. Knocking off two red hot teams in the process in Sluchinski and Bottcher. Is the new lineup proving to be successful? Is Team McEwen flying under the radar this season?
Honourable Mention: Team Craik, Team Schwaller, Team Kleiter, Team Sluchinski, Team Stocker
WOMEN
1. Team Homan (LW: 1)
Last Week: PointsBet Invitational - Champions
Sometimes the mountain knows what it is talking about. They may have been seeded #2 in Oakville, but they left as #1...right where the Power Rankings has had them for a few weeks!
2. Team Tirinzoni (2)
Last Week: DNC
Had Homan slipped up at all over the weekend, Tirinzoni was ready to climb into the top spot. Homan didn't. Tirinzoni stays one step behind. But they are lurking and climbing fast.
3. Team Einarson (4)
Last Week: PointsBet Invitational - Finalist
There was the Einarson we were waiting to see. Sure a loss in the final will be tough but they lost to the #2 seed so it wasn't a "bad loss". Plus, maybe this is the extra fire they need going into the season. Perhaps they are now considering themselves the hunters once again. And we know how dangerous they are when they go hunting.
4. Team Wrana (3)
Last Week: DNC
The Ice Queens from Sweden enjoyed some time off to still celebrate their Euro Challenger win over rivals Hasselborg. They only take a slight step down the mountain because of the Homan - Einarson final in Oakville.
5. Team Morrison (5)
Last Week: DNC
Morrison squeaks into the Tour Challenge Tier I field and, considering how they have played this season, this is very deserving. They could be a very dangerous teams in that #gsoc field.
6. Team Yoshimura (6)
Last Week: DNC
They may only be in the Tier II field but 3 finals and 2 titles to the season still has Japan's Yoshimura as one of the best on tour right now. Lets also remember Yoshimura reached the Tier II final in 2018 and followed it up with a run to the Masters final in 2019. The rankings may undersell them but the Power Rankings do not.
7. Team Black (NR)
Last Week: PointsBet Invitational - SF
The blog was confident in the podcast preview, suggesting to Bet on Black in your bracket. The Nova Scotia foursome did not disappoint, picking up big wins over Team Martin and defending champs Team Jones to reach the SF. It still feels like this team is underappreciated for the talent they have...and the results they put up. But hey, they don't seem to mind being the dark horse either.
8. Team Hasselborg (7)
Last Week: DNC
Bring on the slams so we can see the motivation factor for Team Hasselborg. Without the need to prepare for the upcoming Euro's, which must still be a shock and disappointment to them, how do they refocus their season now? And can they start preparing for the world championship challenger against Wrana again?
9. Team Strouse (8)
Last Week: DNC
This mountain is not going to punish the young #NextGen team from America because they finally enjoyed some time off. Watch out for them in that Tier II field folks.
10. Team Cameron (9)
Last Week: DNC
The upstart Manitoba foursome keeps their footing in the Top 10 due to their strong play in September. Booking their ticket into the Tier I was Step 1. Now we wait and see how they perform against the best of the best.
Honourable Mention: Team Han, Team Fujisawa, Team Lawes, Team Gim, Team Jones
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
The blog will return later in the week to preview all the upcoming weekend action.
As a pre-preview, #TwineTime will be a Guest Commentator this upcoming weekend at the Curlers Corner Autumn Gold Curling Classic in Calgary.
This will be a first for me so we will see how it goes. Wish me luck?
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