Playdown Party 2024

 #BetweenTheSheets: Welcome To Playdown Party 2024

All eyes on Canadian playdown drama

Welcome back an annual tradition for the blog. You have all been invited to the biggest party of the year, the Playdown Party!

Last year we finally saw the return of provincial/territorial playdowns, previously wiped out due to COVID-19 for a few seasons.

And what a party we had. We partied like it was....2018? 2019?

Are you ready to do it all over again in 2024?

You have the invite in your hand. Put on your best curling gear. Come and knock on my door. We've been waiting for you. Lets get it started in here!

THE biggest party of the curling season in Canada is the Playdown Party.

Yes, the Scotties and Brier are arguably bigger party centers but they are located in one city within one province.

The playdown party happens across the entire country. Coast to Coast.

This is a true NATIONAL party where all curling fans are invited.

It also has the LARGEST guest list. Each provincial/territorial playdown has a list of attendees invited to the party.

And as we say every year, once again you can bet this Playdown Party will have all kinds of DRAMA!!

The first party had closing time this past weekend. But more parties are getting ready to open their doors this upcoming week. Some of you might even attend them.

Lets get caught up on the STOH and Brier fields.

#STOH2024

The first playdown party hit the ice last weekend in Whitehorse, Yukon.

And our first Scotties RSVP was confirmed with Team Bayly Scoffin winning the Yukon Curling Championship. Team Scoffin went 3-1 in the RR and defeated Team Wallingham in the final.

Congratulations to the following teams who are now getting ready for the main event in Calgary AB:

#TeamCanada - Team Einarson
#PurplePower - Team Scoffin

#PQ1 - Team Homan

#PQ2 - Team Jones

#TeamArctic - Withdrew

The main headline here is Canada's Team Einarson aiming for the #5peat. Amazing!

Team Homan and last year's finalist Team Jones will be strong competition out of the gate to try and dethrone our champions as they will compete as Pre-Qualified teams.

And of course the sub-headline is Nunavut deciding to decline their invite, opening up another spot in the field. But more on that below.

4 more teams will punch their tickets to Calgary this weekend as the Playdown Party gets going in Saskatchewan, NWT, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

#Brier2024

We know five teams already punching their tickets to the Montana's Brier in Regina, SK. 

Congratulations to the following teams:

#TeamCanada - Team Gushue
#TeamArctic - Team Latimer
#PurplePower - Team Scoffin

#PQ1 - Team Bottcher

#PQ2 - Team Dunstone

We have some returning party goers on the attendee list as well as a new invitee.

Team Gushue returns with the maple leaf on their backs. Gushue will be looking to #DefendTheIce and chase down his 5th Brier title in his 21st appearance.

Yukon will once again be represented by Thomas Scoffin. Scoffin will be making his 5th Brier appearance (2018, 2020, 2022, 2023) and secured the #3peat in Yukon this past weekend.

Nunavut will have a new face at the party this year with Team Shane Latimer winning the territorial championship with a 5-1 RR record and defeating Team Kingdon in the final.

And of course we have our Pre-Qualified teams in the field: Team Bottcher and Team Dunstone.

We will add 1 more team to the field after the weekend wraps up and we crown a provincial champion in Nova Scotia.

But now lets open the door and enter the #PlaydownParty with 5 Playdown Previews.

Are you ready? Grab a cold beverage. Enjoy some hot eats. And get ready for some fun (and drama).

Playdown Previews

#STOH2024

#TeamGreen

Tisdale, SK

2023 Champion: Team Silvernagle

Format: 12 team RR with 2 pools of 6. Top 2 in each pool advance to Page Playoff.

#Fav: Team Ackerman

There are a number of former champions in this field: Robyn Silvernagle, Sherry Anderson, Amber Holland, Michelle Englot, Penny Barker.

But the team arriving in Tisdale with the highest ranking is the #NextGen team from Saskatoon, Team Ackerman.

They currently sit #32 on the world rankings and have been dominating the Sask Tour scene this season.

After failing to qualify in their opening 3 events of the season, they have been on a steady incline since.

5 straight qualifications. 3 finals. 3 titles.

And those titles all came against Sasky competition, winning in Moose Jaw, Saskatoon and last weekend in Yorkton at the SaskTour Women's Players Championship.

They are on a 10-match winning streak heading into the event and 11-1 overall in their past 2 events, both championship titles. And they own an 11-2 season record vs. their opposition this week.

#TeamUpset: Team Orsted

The blog has been watching the team from Moose Jaw all season and has named them a #TeamUpset at a few tour events too.

Why mess with success?

They are ranked #57 in the world, sitting behind 5 other teams in the field and right in front of another.

They have qualified in 5 of 7 events, including a finals appearance in Saskatoon in November (lost to Ackerman).

And they arrive in Tisdale fresh off a SF result last weekend in Yorkton.

They may be ranked #57 on the rankings but year to date they sit #51 and are the #4 team in the province this season.

They have also picked up wins this season against higher ranked competitors like Ackerman, Martin and Barker.

We know Saskatchewan is wide open...could we be in for a Playdown (Surprise) Party right out of the hack?

#W2W4

The blog said it last year and we say it again this year. This is a WIDE OPEN field.

We have familiar names. We have new names.

And we have a new format.

Gone is the triple knockout. Hello pool play. Could this help or hinder the competition?

When there are 2 pools of 6 and only the Top 2 make the playoff round, every game matters more than the one before.

2 losses is probably the most you can relinquish against the field. 3 MIGHT keep you in the running but you don't want to press your luck, do you?

And one pool seems STACKED in comparison to the other.

Pool A is the #PoolOfDeath with Anderson, Barker, Holland, Martin, Ostred and Team Stevenson. Only 2 of those 6 will survive the RR.

Pool B presents opportunity for some and perhaps a bit of relief for the defending champ. Silvernagle will be joined by #Fav Ackerman alongside Englot, Team Mitchell (another dark horse?), Team Selzer and Team Tisdale.

Should we expect the unexpected? Or will the familiar names prove experience matters?

With no team in this field close to wildcard consideration, this is a make it or break it event for these teams. 

Qualifiers: Team Martin, Team Orsted, Team Ackerman, Team Silvernagle

Saskatchewan Championship: Team Ackerman def. Team Martin

#TeamBluenose

Halifax, NS

2023 Champion: Team Black

Format: 8 team triple knockout with 4 qualifiers. Qualifiers advance to Page Playoff.

#Fav: Team Black

Ready for a #DefendTheIce moment? How about the #3peat?

Both could happen with Team Black headlining the Nova Scotia Scotties.

It has not been as dominant of a season from Team Black as we have seen in the past though.

Yes, they have qualified in 6 of 7 events and reached the SF at the PointsBet Invitational.

But of all those qualifications, only 2 finals appearance. And those were in August and September. And neither resulted in championship wins.

They are 24-18 on the season, ranked #26 in the world, but a modest 7-7 record in their past 3 events since the beginning of November.

We have seen them at 2 #gsoc events though, reaching the QF at the Tour Challenge Tier II and going 1-3 at The National.

They remain the "face that runs the place" but are they prone to an upset this year?

#TeamUpset: Team Hilliard

Is this the year for Tanya Hilliard?

In 2019 and 2020 she lost out in a TB.

Last year she lost the provincial final.

Can she finally break through?

Hilliard has been a regular threat on the Atlantic circuit for a number of years and should always be considered a dark horse threat when the Playdown Party opens its doors.

This year the team has only played 4 events. 2 qualifications. 2 DNQs. But those 2 qualifications were runs to the final, including their most recent event in December in PEI.

Their season has been DNQ, F, DNQ, F. If the pattern continues, they will not make the playoffs here.

If they make the playoffs, pencil them into the final given how their season has gone.

They are 11-10 on the season, ranked #89 in the world.

This seems like the perfect #TeamUpset resume folks.

#W2W4

Who will be the main challenger for Team Black?

Hilliard is a dark horse challenger.

But what about the return of Jill Brothers?

The 4-time NS champ, 6-time Scotties participant has returned home and looks ready to reclaim her crown from the current Bluenose Queen.

After competing in New Brunswick last season with Team Kelly, winning the NB title of course, she has returned to join forces with past teammate/skip Heather Smith.

Add 2010 Scotties finalist Erin Carmody at lead and 6-time Scotties participant Marie Christianson and you have one heck of a Super Team.

Christianson has been skipping this season but Smith is listed as the skip for this event.

Oh and don't forget having Colleen Jones as your coach and Taylour Stevens as your alternate.

Yikes!

But don't just settle in with a Top 2 contender list.

Jessica Daigle and Kristen MacDiarmid are back as well, both proven to be contenders as well.

Similar to Saskatchewan, the #WC possibility is not in play for a team from Nova Scotia so this will be an all out fight for the crown.

Qualifiers: Team Black, Team Smith, Team Daigle, Team Hilliard

Nova Scotia Championship: Team Smith def. Team Black

#TeamAcadia

Oromocto, NB

2023 Champion: Team Kelly

Format: 6 team triple knockout with 3 qualifiers. A-qualifier earns bye to championship final.

#Fav: Team Quillian

Sylvie Quillian is back in the house as skip and ready to continue her reign over New Brunswick women's curling.

The 5-time NB champ, 6-time Scotties participant (2022 was appointed due to COVID-19 remember) enjoyed 2 years at vice with Andrea Kelly, including the exciting bronze medal win at the 2022 Scotties.

With Kelly playing out of Northern Ontario now, Quillian is back to skip duties, where she won 4 NB Scotties titles (2008, 2015, 2016, 2018).

She has reconnected with former lead Jill Boyle but has welcomed 2 new players into the fold: Sarah Mallais and Carol Webb.

The highest ranked team in the field (#90), Quillian has had a successful season. They have qualified in all 4 events played, including reaching 1 final in Moncton back in October.

They are 12-10 overall on the season; however, they are a modest 3-2 against the field.

#TeamUpset: Team Arsenault-Bishop

Speaking of Quillian, could a familiar face become a surprise challenger for the title?

Nicole Arsenault-Bishop played second for Quillian for many years, including NB Scotties titles in 2016 and 2018.

This season she stepped into the house to test her skills as skip. And the results have her on the cusp of dark horse challenger consideration.

While the team is only 5-9 on the season, they have reached the QF in 2 events.

But they are 2-1 against the field this season too, including a W over Quillian in their last matchup in PEI in December.

#W2W4

The NB Scotties has traditionally been a RR event but this year the format has shifted to a triple knockout.

Interesting how some provinces moved from a triple knockout to a RR (SK) while others went the other way (NB).

Which format wins out? 

The format call could also be based more on the number of teams competing or the venue available.

Regardless, New Brunswick teams will be testing out the triple knockout this season.

Quillian and Team Melissa Adams are the Top 2 seeds in the event and should be expected to qualify for the page playoff round.

Note Melissa Adams and her foursome have 2 tour titles already this season, including winning their last event in November (Jim Sullivan Classic).

If so, that leaves 1 playoff spot up for grabs. If the top seeds qualify, the #CSideGrind will be a battle for sure.

Who claims the spot? The blog's #TeamUpset? Watch out for Team Burgess and Team Forsythe though.

And Carly Smith could be the ultimate upset, now curling with #NextGen NB junior champ Justine Comeau and Shaelyn Park.

Also keep your eyes on who qualifies via the A-side. Remember, the A-qualifier earns the auto spot in the provincial final. A HUGE advantage.

For Quillian or Adams, that means only needing to win 2 games to earn a final ticket.

Qualifiers: Team Quillian, Team Adams, Team Arsenault-Bishop

New Brunswick Championship: Team Quillian def. Team Adams

#PolarPower

Hay River, NWT

2023 Champion: Team Galusha

Format: 4 team double RR with Top 3 qualify for the playoffs. 1st place in RR advances directly to final with 2nd vs. 3rd in the SF.

#Fav: Team Galusha

Are you going to bet against the only skip to have won this championship since inception in 2015?

Yes, Kerry Galusha in undefeated at the NWT Scotties. She is the ultimate Queen of the North.

And she has 20 Scotties appearances under the slider as well.

Over the past few years we have seen Galusha become not just a name in curling but a real contender.

Last season the team went 4-4 at the Scotties. In 2022, they finished 6-4, tied for 5th overall and reaching the Championship Round.

We have also seen the team travel to more and more tour events, facing off against top ranked teams and testing more competitive curling ice but also showing they are not just there for the "experience".

This season, the team competed in 8 tour events. They qualified in 3 events, including reaching a championship final at the Stu Sells Brantford event. And they currently sit #39 on the world rankings.

The Queen of the North does not look ready to relinquish her crown anytime soon folks. 

#TeamUpset

The field?!

This seems to be the #TeamUpset answer every season. But it is out of respect for Kerry Galusha and her winning ways more than a knock against the competition.

Team Cormier, Team Delorey and Team Stanley will need to curl the event of their lives to take down the queen.

Not saying it cannot happen.

But I am not sure it will happen.

#W2W4

Will Galusha suffer a loss in this event?

Since the NWT Scotties started in 2015, Galusha has amassed an overall record of 34-1 at the event.

She has 25 straight wins.

Her only loss? January 29, 2016 vs. Team Lora Browne from Fort Smith.

She is not only winning the championship, she is dominating the event.

The watch might not be whether she wins again but whether she does so undefeated for the 6th straight year.

Note, there was no NWT championship in 2017 as no other team entered. And of course no championship was held in 2022 due to COVID-19. In both instances, Galusha and her team were awarded the NWT Scotties title.

Qualifiers: Team Galusha, Team Cormier, Team Delorey

Northwest Territories Championship: Team Galusha def. Team Cormier

#WC

2023 Representatives: Team Lawes (#WC1), Team Scheidegger (#WC2), Team Walter (#WC3)

Format: Top two teams who did not win their provincial/territorial championship based on CTRS.

Teams In Contention: Team Lawes (MB), Team Inglis (ON), Team Sturmay (AB), Team Brown (BC), Team Cameron (MB), Team Campbell (MB), Team Gray-Withers (AB)

#W2W4

With Nunavut withdrawing from the 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, a fourth door has opened for a non-provincial/territorial winner to punch a ticket to Calgary.

Nunavut's loss appears to be Manitoba's gain. With 2 teams already in the field, Canada's Team Einarson and #PQ2 Team Jones, Manitoba stands to gain an addition 2 or 3 spots in the field.

We know the Manitoba champion will earn a spot. Could the final 2 wildcard spots also go to Manitoba teams? Teams Lawes, Cameron and Campbell certainly hope so.

And with all 3 competing at the #gsoc event in Red Deer this week, all 3 can earn some points to increase their odds.

All 3 will fight for the Buffalo of course but they know their chances of earning the second chance ticket are high as well.

Lawes is pretty much a slam dunk for the Scotties field right now. We can almost move them into Lock status after the slam.

Watch out for Team Sturmay as well this week in Red Deer. With Italy's Team Constantini withdrawing from the event due to medial reasons, the home province earns another team in the field. And what a huge opportunity for Sturmay.

Should they do well, pick up a few wins and maybe even qualify for the playoffs, their chance to earn a Scotties WC spot will increase.

Hmmm, wonder how Team Inglis and Team Brown are feeling about this? Of course both of them are in the WC hunt too but also both are favoured, right now at least, to win their provincial titles and thus not needing the second chance opportunity.

The 4 provinces crowning champions this weekend probably will not factor into the WC discussion.

Nova Scotia's Team Black (#12) and Saskatchewan's Team Ackerman (#14) and Team Martin (#15) are the highest CTRS teams in those fields but should either (or both) fail to win their provincial titles, they would need A LOT of help to get into the WC discussion.

Throughout the Playdown Party, the #WC section will be updated...as will the predictions.

Wildcard Predictions: Team Sturmay, Team Cameron


#Brier2024

#TeamBluenose

Halifax, NS

2023 Champion: Team Manuel

Format: 8 team triple knockout with 4 qualifiers. Qualifiers advance to Page Playoff.

#Fav: Team Purcell

From world junior bronze medal win in 2022 to Brier participant in 2024?

Yup, it could happen for 23-year old Owen Purcell.

This team has been playing A LOT of curling this season, competing in 11 events from late August to last weekend.

Of those 11 events, they have qualified in 7 of them with 1 championship win. But that championship win came way back in August at the start of the season.

They are coming off a SF result last weekend in Duluth though, including a W over Olympic champ John Shuster.

With a 32-22 record on the season and ranked #37 in the world, the #NextGen movement continues to be strong in Nova Scotia.

This is a new team as well. Half of the team were together last season (Purcell and Adam McEachren) with the other 2 coming from Team Paul Flemming's 3rd place team at the NS Tankard last season (Ryan Abraham, Scott Saccary).

And they have 2004 Brier champ Mark Dacey as their coach.

Remember Matt Manuel pulled the feat last season. Can Purcell follow rank this season?

Note, they are only 4-3 against the field this season.

#TeamUpset: Team Flemming

Ok, so the name Paul Flemming is not a name usually associated with #TeamUpset status, especially at a Nova Scotia Tankard.

The 8-time NS champ and 11-time Brier participant is always a threat.

And Flemming won the Canadian Senior Curling Championship in December.

So why a #TeamUpset?

This is not the same team he won a senior title with. And it is unknown how the "new" team will function against a field who have been playing together all season.

We have also not seen this team compete at a tour event so the unknown factor is heavily in play.

Experience and name recognition alone will always place Flemming as a challenger though. 

#W2W4

Are we in for another surprise win this season?

Manuel shocked many in the curling world with his NS Tankard title last season.

Who does it in 2024?

Can Manuel #DefendTheIce? And with 5-time Scotties champ Kim Kelly on the bench.

Will Purcell make the quick jump from junior to Brier?

Or will experienced names like Flemming, Stuart Thompson or Brent MacDougall win out at the end?

Keep your eyes on a few other names like Bryce Everist and Colten Steele too. They could surprise.

Qualifiers: Team Purcell, Team Manuel, Team Everist

Nova Scotia Championship: Team Purcell def. Team Manuel

#WC

2023 Representatives: Team Bottcher (#WC1), Team Carruthers (#WC2), Team Sturmay (#WC3)

Format: Top team who did not win their provincial/territorial championship based on CTRS.

Teams In Contention: Team McEwen (SK), Team Koe (AB), Team Carruthers (MB), Team Sluchinski (AB)

#W2W4

Unlike the Scotties field, the Brier will only be handing out 1 WC spot.

And the contender pool is fairly small.

If McEwen loses in Saskatchewan, the bid could be his for the taking. He is the prime position...for now.

Alberta could be the decider here. Koe and Sluchinski are both right in the hunt. If one wins the Boston Pizza Cup, the other could steal the WC ticket.

Carruthers will also be a team to watch in Manitoba. They should be the favs for the Buffalo but if they are upset in the chase, this WC conversation could get very interesting.

And with McEwen, Koe and Carruthers all competing at the Canadian Open this week, these WC standings could change. Note, Carruthers and McEwen are in the same pool in Red Deer and will play one another in the final draw.

We might want to check the heart rates on Team Sluchinski as well. They JUST missed out on the final WC spot last year. Could they be the "first team out" again this season?

Regardless of "who", it is probably safe to assume the prairie provinces are going to benefit from the WC spot this year.

Given the Brier is in Regina, this is a double win for the organizers.

Wildcard Prediction: Team Sluchinski

#StayTuned

The blog will return next week with all the Playdown Party discussions. Plus this party is not just your normal run of the mill one-nighter. Heck it is not even your normal weekend festival. This party keeps bumping and grinding for a few weeks. Get ready for more #PlaydownPredictions next week!

And ICYMI, the #PowerRankings mountain has its first update in 2024. Check out where the top teams land HERE.

The #PowerRankings will be updated next week as well after the Canadian Open wraps up in Red Deer.

ICYMI, the newest #TwineTime podcast episode was released on Monday. Tyler Powell joined the #TwineTimeFam to break down the men's and women's fields in Red Deer.

Who are the #Favs? #TeamUpset? What should we be watching for this week?

Go #BetweenTheSheets with Tyler Powell HERE or listen on your fav podcast app.

Party on Wayne....