Playdown Party Part II

 #BetweenTheSheets: Playdown Party Continues

Handing out final tickets to Calgary and more for Regina

As one weekend of provincial/territorial playdowns comes to an end, we gear up for another week of playdown party action.

And this upcoming week will be THE BIGGEST PLAYDOWN PARTY EVER!!

We have EIGHT (8!!) women's provincial playdown championships to watch.

We have SEVEN (7!!) men's provincial playdown championships to watch.

And #TwineTime has the FULL PREVIEW of all FIFTEEN (15!!!!!) championships for you rock heads.

Can we say it again?

Welcome to THE BIGGEST PLAYDOWN PARTY post in the history of the blog.

No wonder the blog brought back the Wayne's World graphic to open this post.

Ready to "Party On"??!!

Before we dive into the playdown previews, lets take a quick moment to congratulate our recent #gsoc champions.

Team Mouat completed the career grand slam with their Canadian Open championship win over Team Bottcher. For the world champs, the final victory completed a perfect week of curling by going 7-0 overall.

2024 has been a great year thus far for the Scottish lads. They now have 2 championship wins and a SF result, culminating in an overall record of 18-2 in January.

Their next event comes at the beginning of February for the Scottish Curling Championships in Dumfries.

Team Homan collected #gsoc title #15 with their Canadian Open finale win over world champions Team Tirinzoni.

Homan went 3-1 in the RR and wrapped up the championship week with an overall record of 6-1.

Homan improved their season record to 38-5 with their results in Red Deer, including reaching 3 straight GSOC finals and winning the past two titles.

Since the 2-2 result at the Tour Challenge in October, failing to qualify for the playoffs, the team is now 24-3 with 4 straight final appearances and 3 championship wins.

And now they get to sit back and watch the playdown party for the VIP suite as they already have a ticket to Calgary as one of the pre-qualified teams.

Imagine surviving the grueling provincial playdown schedule only knowing Team Homan is watching and waiting for you from the skybox.

Yikes!

Lets get caught up on the STOH and Brier fields.

#STOH2024

Four more tickets were punched to the Scotties with playdown championships wrapping up in NWT, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

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

#PurplePower:  Team Scoffin

#PolarPower:  Team Galusha
#TeamGreen:  Team Ackerman

#TeamAcadia:  Team Adams

#TeamBluenose:  Team Smith

We have the return of some familiar faces...and a #NextGen debut.

Kerry Galusha continued her domination as Queen of the North, going undefeated in claiming another NWT Scotties title, defeating Team Cormier in the final.

Melissa Adams will make her 5th Scotties appearance and a return trip to Calgary where she last played in the event in 2021. Adams knocked off main rival, and partial defending champ, Team Quillian in the final.

Heather Smith will make her return to the Scotties for the first time since 2014 (ok, she was there last year as alternate with Team Kelly out of New Brunswick). Her #SuperTeam out of Halifax knocked off #Fav defending champ Team Black (last year's Scotties 4th place finisher) in the final.

And we have a debut coming out of Saskatchewan. Team Ackerman, whom the blog tabbed as the #Fav last week, dominated the field in the RR and survived a tough battle vs. Team Martin in the final.

The full Scotties field will be finalized in one week's time when the remaining provincial championships wrap up and the final 2 #WC teams are decided based on the CTRS.

#Brier2024

The field in Regina added another team to the draw this past weekend. Congratulations to the following qualified teams:

#TeamCanada - Team Gushue
#PQ1 - Team Bottcher

#PQ2 - Team Dunstone

#TeamArctic - Team Latimer
#PurplePower - Team Scoffin

#TeamBluenose:  Team Manuel

Nova Scotia was the only men's provincial championship to hit the ice last weekend. And the end result saw a #DefendTheIce moment when Team Manuel proved last year's NS Tankard title was no fluke.

Manuel knocked off #Fav contender Team Purcell in the championship final for the second straight season.

The field will almost be complete in one week's time when 7 provincial/territorial champions will be decided.

As the blog asked last week, are you ready? Keep the cold beverages and hot eats coming rock heads.

Bring on the #PlaydownPreviews.

Playdown Previews

#STOH2024

#TeamPacific

Victoria, BC

2023 Champion: Team Grandy

Format: 8 team RR with Top 4 qualifiers advancing to Page Playoff.

#Fav: Team Brown / Team Grandy

This is almost too close to call. So the blog is doubling down with listing co-favs this week.

Team Brown is ranked #24 on the world rankings. Team Grandy is ranked #26.

Team Brown (34-15) has qualified in 7 of 8 events this season, including 2 finals and 1 tour title.

Team Grandy (30-29) has qualified in 5 of 11 events this season, with 1 tour title. Their lone title just happens to be their last event played a few weeks ago in Scotland when they won the Perth Masters.

And note Grandy has competed in 3 #gsoc events this season, posting a 2-10 combined record at the Tour Challenge, National and Masters.

These teams have only faced off once this season, in Swift Current at the Western Showdown in December.

Grandy won the game 7-5.

#TeamUpset: Team Gushulak / Team Bowles 

Diane Gushulak has more experience in this event than most of the field, if not a majority of the field combined.

And remember, Gushulak is fresh off representing B.C. at the Canadian Senior Curling Championships in December, where she won bronze.

She will be competing in Victoria with her ladies team not her provincial champion senior team though.

But still, coming off any type of a success on a national level has to carry some momentum and confidence.

From experience to #NextGen, lets also give special #TeamUpset eyes to Team Bowles.

The University of Victoria team just competed at the Canada West championships this past weekend, winning a TB for 2nd place and booking them a spot at the USport National Curling Championships.

#W2W4

As we saw with last week's Playdown Party previews, provinces seem to be bouncing around with format.

For the past 3 seasons this event was a triple knockout with 8 teams. This season is a return to a round robin format with 8 teams.

Could the different format help or hinder a team? Who knows?

But we do know the 4 qualifiers from last season (Brown, Grandy, Reese-Hansen, Ryan) are all back this season.

Different format, same 4 qualifiers?

And keep your eyes on how Team Brown does this week. Should they fail to win the B.C. Scotties title, they are still in the running for one of those #WC tickets to Calgary.

Qualifiers: Team Brown, Team Grandy, Team Reese-Hansen, Team Ryan

British Columbia Championship: Team Grandy def. Team Brown

#ABStrong

St. Paul, AB

2023 Champion: Team Skrlik

Format: 8 team RR with 3 qualifiers. 1st place earns bye to final while 2nd vs. 3rd advance to SF.

#Fav: Team Skrlik

The champs are back to #DefendTheIce. But being the hunted could be much more difficult compared to being the hunter.

Skrlik has won 3 tour events this season but they also have 4 events where they DNQ.

Consistency will be key for them to replicate their success of last season.

If they can get on a roll, gain momentum and confidence, they could repeat as Alberta champs.

And added pressure/excitement knowing your home city is the also the host city for the Scotties.

#TeamUpset: Team Kaufman

Nicky Kaufman returns to the Alberta Scotties for the first time since 2020 and she could end up being the surprise team in the field.

We have only seen the team compete in 4 tour events this season but they have qualified in 3, including back-to-back SF results at their last 2 events.

Having played all their events in Alberta, almost entirely against Alberta opposition, could be an advantage. They will be familiar with their opposition. They have a 7-4 H2H record this season against the field, including wins over higher ranked Team Sturmay and Team Hunkin.

Do not let that #69 ranking fool you either. Kaufman's experience could be a wildcard factor in her favour.

#W2W4

This is a field of teams who have been here before yet only Team Skrlik has tasted championship glory.

Team Hunkin has an advantage with vice Jessie Haughian of course with Haughian winning this championship with her sister, Casey Scheidegger, in the past.

There will still be a sister connection in the field with Jessie Hunkin and Nicky Kaufman.

Plus keep your eye on Team Sturmay. They are still in the thick of the #WC battle too.

#NextGen will be well represented in the field with Team Gray-Withers. We just saw Team Ackerman win Saskatchewan last weekend. Could Gray-Withers use their win as motivation towards saying "hey, if they can do it, we can do it!" They did just win the Canada West title this past weekend representing the University of Alberta.

Qualifiers: Team Skrlik, Team Sturmay, Team Hunkin

Alberta Championship: Team Hunkin def. Team Skrlik


#BuffaloHunt

Morden, MB

2023 Champion: Team Jones

Format: 12 team RR with 2 pools of 6. Top 3 in each pool advance to Championship Pool RR. Top 3 qualify for playoffs with 1st place earning a bye to the final and 2nd vs. 3rd in the SF.

#Fav: Team Lawes

The #11 ranked team in the world should enter this event with the #Fav label but after the tough result in Red Deer, they may not enter with momentum.

Consistency has plagued this team all season.

On paper, they are one of the strongest teams in the world. They have experience and championship pedigree.

On the ice, they are a modest 26-21 overall. They have qualified in 4 of 8 events. But they did reach a final. Remember their run to the championship game at the #gsoc Tour Challenge Tier I?

The flip side of that argument is their performance in their last 2 events, both #gsoc events as well. They went 2-2 at The Masters and 1-3 at The Canadian Open.

Which team shows up in Morden?

The one who reached a slam final or the one who struggles for wins on a consistent basis?

They do have a slight advantage right now, knowing they are in the pole position for one of the two #WC spots.

But you know they want to earn and win their ticket to Calgary with the buffalo on their backs.

#TeamUpset: Team Kaatz

18-18 on the season. Ranked #98 on the world rankings. 7 tour events. Only 3 qualifiers.

So why is Team Kaatz a #TeamUpset who could make some noise?

It is not how you start the season but how you finish.

After struggling in the first part of the season, Kaatz has improved since November.

They have qualified in 3 straight tour events. They have reached 1 final alongside 1 SF and 1 QF.

They are 9-6 overall in those Manitoba Curling Tour events.

But the big advantage is the 5-1 H2H record vs. fellow pool opposition/#TeamUpset possible challenger Team McLeod.

Kaatz and McLeod could end up fighting for that 3rd spot in the group, behind Team Cameron/Team Campbell.

Kaatz has the advantage. Perhaps we call it the Kadriana Lott advantage? Not to mention Cathy Gauthier as their coach.

#W2W4

No Einarson. No Jones. Advantage everyone else!

But who will seize the day on one of the most wide open, opportunistic Manitoba Scotties fields ever?

The Canadian Open didn't reveal anything for the 3 teams who competed. All 3 missed the playoffs. Lawes was the only team to even secure a win.

And none of them did themselves any favours towards the #WC standings either.

With the Big 3 coming in vulnerable, could a "surprise" challenger emerge from the opening RR?

Beth Peterson is back. And she has tasted Scotties fever before.

Kristy Watling is also a dangerous dark horse.

And Peterson and Watling are both in the same pool as Lawes.

Cameron and Campbell find themselves together in the other pool, with both not only fighting for the MB title but also wanting to one-up one another in the #WC standings.

But if they aren't careful, dark horse challengers like Team McLeod and Team Kaatz could be ready to ruin one (or both) of their Scotties dreams.

If we look ahead, based on rankings, imagine a final playoff bracket featuring Lawes, Cameron and Campbell.

Winner gets the Buffalo. Loser MIGHT get a #WC? 3rd place MIGHT ALSO get a #WC?

PLUS, how about last year's teammates/Scotties participants Meghan Walter/Mackenzie Elias vs. Abby Ackland/Sara Oliver?

Walter/Elias now curl with Team Cameron. Ackland/Oliver curl with Team Campbell.

All 4 went to the Scotties as #WC3 last year.

This year, could they end up playing against one another for a Scotties berth? One duo sending their former teammate duo home early?

Bring on THAT drama.....

Championship Pool Qualifiers: Team Lawes, Team Peterson, Team Watling, Team Cameron, Team Campbell, Team Kaatz

Playoff Qualifiers: Team Lawes, Team Cameron, Team Campbell

Manitoba Championship: Team Lawes def. Team Campbell


#CurlON

Dorchester, ON

2023 Champion: Team Homan

Format: 12 team triple knockout with 4 qualifiers.

#Fav: Team Inglis

Danielle Inglis is no stranger to provincial championships.

She is no stranger to national championships either, having won a Canadian (and world) mixed championship in 2018.

She also lost the Ontario Scotties final in 2018 to main rival Team Duncan.

But this year will be unfamiliar territory for Inglis.

She enters this year's Ontario Scotties as the #Fav.

No Homan mean Inglis is in.

And this should not be a surprise.

The team is 33-19 on the season, having qualified in 7 of 9 events played. They have 2 tour titles and recently reached the SF in Scotland at the Perth Masters.

They also have a 5-2 H2H record vs. the field this season. Those 2 losses came at the same tour event in North Bay to Team Brandwood and Team Duncan.

Of course, Inglis ended up beating both in the playoff bracket, including Duncan in the final, to avenge those losses quickly.

We have seen Inglis at the Scotties before, as an alternate for Team Duncan in 2018 and winning silver as an alternate for Team Homan in 2021 inside the #IceBubble.

And of course we are familiar with seeing Inglis at Curling Canada events behind the scenes.

But could this finally be the season we see Inglis on the ice wearing the Ontario jacket and skipping her own team to Scotties glory?

It has been a long time coming....

#TeamUpset: Team Auld

The world ranking may show #76 but the experience factor could be a difference maker.

Skip Courtney Auld and vice Chrissy Cadorin have provincial championship experience.

And while they struggled for the majority of the season, they do arrive at this event on a momentum high.

In their opening 3 tour events, they failed to qualify and racked up an unimpressive 3-10 record. At one point they were on an 8-match losing streak in September.

But at the Stu Sells event in Brantford in December, the team went 7-1 overall and captured the title.

They posted victories over fellow Ontario Scotties qualifiers Team Ladouceur, Team Markle and Team Jewer.

They also picked up a win over newly crowned Nova Scotia Scotties winner Team Smith and NWT Scotties winner Team Galusha in the final.

If they can keep that magic in a bottle from December flowing into this week in January, they could surprise a few of those higher ranked teams in the field and make a "surprise" push for the playoffs.

#W2W4

Since her first Ontario Scotties win in 2013, this championship really has been owned by Rachel Homan.

She has 6 provincial titles. She has represented the province at 7 Scotties (2021 was awarded).

2014 and 2015 she was already at the Scotties as Team Canada.

And 2018 she was representing Canada at the Winter Olympics.

Since that 2013 title, she only has one Ontario Scotties where she failed to win the title (2016 losing the final to Team Jenn Hanna).

Why are we talking about Rachel Homan?

Because she is not here and this is the BEST opportunity for any of the 12 teams in this field to make a Scotties without her being here to stop them.

Allison Flaxey took advantage in 2014. Julie Hastings did the same in 2015. And Hollie Duncan seized the day in 2018.

Who can reap the benefits this year?

There are a number of top quality teams in Ontario but getting through Homan always seems to be a problem.

No Homan, No Problem.

The question is WHO??

And remember, Team Inglis is right in the hunt for one of the #WC spots so all eyes will be on her not only within the province but from neighbour provinces as well.

Lets also give a special shout out to fellow non-traditional media member and multi-Scotties participant Lori Eddy, who has joined Team Ladouceur as vice for this event. Her experience could be a wild card factor for the #NextGen team.

Qualifiers: Team Inglis, Team Duncan, Team Ladouceur, Team Brandwood

Ontario Championship: Team Inglis def. Team Duncan


#FearTheMoose

Little Current, ON

2023 Champion: Team McCarville

Format: 6 team RR with Top 2 advancing to final.

#Fav: Team McCarville

No surprise here.

2023 and 2010 Scotties bronze medal winner.

2022 and 2016 Scotties silver medal winner.

10-time Scotties participant.

2009 and 2021 Canadian Curling Olympic Trials bronze medal winner.

Krista McCarville has one impressive curling resume.

But she is missing that coveted gold medal on the national stage.

This season she added 11-time Scotties participant Andrea Kelly to the fold, with Kelly moving into the vice position.

They have played 4 tour events this season, winning their season opener in September and qualifying in one other.

They also reached the QF at the highly competitive Northern Ontario Major League of Curling, an combined gender event with men's and women's teams entered.

McCarville will attempt the #4peat as well, having won the championship in 2019, 2020 and 2023.

Remember they declined the invite bid in 2021 and were awarded the Scotties bid in 2022, both due to COVID-19.

#TeamUpset: Team McCormick

Curling fans may not be as familiar with skip Jackie McCormick but they may be familiar with the front end.

Sisters Jan and Amanda Gates are back on the ice together and their experience lends a wild card advantage to Team McCormick.

Remember last year's Northern Ontario Scotties folks. Team McCormick finished the RR with a 5-1 record, tied for top spot with Team McCarville.

They ended up losing the SF and winning the bronze medal.

We may not see them compete on tour but do not discredit their potential to challenge for this title.

They may arrive here with a sense of unfinished business after last year's result.

#W2W4

Can anyone dethrone McCarville?

This is the ultimate storyline to watch out for.

McCarville did take a RR loss last year to Team Bella Croisier so she is beatable.

But can anyone beat her twice? It might take a RR and playoff win to do the trick.

Krysta Burns is back, having lost the 2020 and 2023 final.

McCormick gave a good run last year as well.

Qualifiers: Team McCarville, Team Burns, Team McCormick

Northern Ontario Championship: Team McCarville def. Team Burns


#Labelleprovince

Drummondville, QC

2023 Champion: Team St-Georges

Format: 6 team RR. Top 3 qualify for playoffs with 1st place earning a bye to the final and 2nd vs. 3rd in the SF.

#Fav: Team St-Georges

Laurie St-Georges won her first Quebec Scotties title last season...and made her 3rd straight Scotties appearance.

After being awarded the Quebec berth in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, St-Georges finally got to taste provincial victory last season.

And now she enters the 2024 Quebec Scotties as the actual defending champion.

Pressure. On.

They are the highest ranked team in the field, sitting #53 overall.

And they have a positive 22-15 record on the season, including qualifying in 3 events and winning 2 titles.

They also arrive in Drummondville on an impressive 7-match winning streak after winning the Bogside Cup in PEI in December at their last event.

But the real advantage for this team this season is the new additions.

Scotties runner-up Marie-France Larouche has joined the team at vice. 

3-time USA Curling champion Jamie Sinclair is their alternate.

To say they are a #Fav in this field might be an understatement. 

#TeamUpset: The Field? 

Team St-Georges just appears to be such a stacked team in comparison to the competition. And the blog says this with respect to the other 5 teams in the competition.

St-Georges is beatable.

But, similar to the Northern Ontario preview above, can anyone beat her twice?

If online betting was making a case for the Quebec Scotties, it would be Team St-Georges vs. The Field.

And I think a majority of bets would still go to St-Georges.

Can any of the other 5 challengers make a surprise run here?

#W2W4

Having said that, Team Horton and Team Verreault made their run last year.

All 3 teams finished the RR with identical 4-1 records.

Horton ended up in 1st place.

Verreault handed St-Georges their sole RR loss.

But St-Georges extracted revenge in the SF.

And Horton could not solve the St-Georges puzzle at all, losing the RR and final. 

Beating St-Georges once can be done. We saw it last season.

But beating her twice to take away "her" title? Lets see if anyone can accomplish that feat.

Qualifiers: Team St-Georges, Team Horton, Team Verreault

QC Championship: Team St-Georges def. Team Horton

#TheIslanders

Summerside, PEI

2023 Champion: Team Birt

Format: 8 team triple knockout with 3 qualifiers. If same team wins A, B and C event, they win the title with no playoff bracket needed.

#Fav: Team DiCarlo

I preface this pick by saying they are the highest ranked team in the field, sitting at #161 in the world.

But the tour results do place them in the front-runner position as well.

They have played 2 tour events this season, qualified in both and reached a championship final.

They also have a positive 3-2 H2H record vs. the field.

Plus Veronica Smith is on this team, playing vice.

For those who pay attention to Canadian Junior Curling Championships, you will be familiar with the name Veronica Smith as she has represented PEI on the junior national stage for a number of years.

#TeamUpset: The Field

Honestly, the entire field could also be listed as #TeamUpset.

The teams entered in the field are close in rankings.

DiCarlo is #161 with Team Blades #162, Team White #170, Team Power as #175 and Team Ferguson at #205 as an example.

This is WIDE OPEN!

#W2W4

Who wants to take the lead?

With powerhouse Suzanne Birt not competing, this championship is ripe for the taking.

Birt had won the last 4 PEI Scotties titles and represented the province in the past 5 Scotties.

Is this the official changing of the guard season?

If so, who wants to seize the day?

One team will emerge victorious and earn a debut spot in the Scotties field in Calgary.

Give this event special attention curling fans. We could be seeing the next Suzanne Birt emerge before our eyes this season.

Qualifiers: Team DiCarlo, Team Power, Team White 

Prince Edward Island Championship: Team DiCarlo def. Team Power 

#TheRock

St. John's, NL

2023 Champion: Team Curtis

Format: 4 team double RR with Top 2 advancing to the final.

#Fav: Team Curtis

Stacie Curtis is back to #DefendTheIce and try to capture her 7th NL Scotties title.

Curtis has played 3 events this season, reaching 1 final in the season-opener back in September.

Their last 2 events have not been as kind though, failing to qualify and putting together an overall record of 2-7.

They arrive here as defending champions but on a 4-match losing streak after going winless at their last tour stop at the Stu Sells event in Halifax.

And against their competition this season, they are 0-2 vs. Team Boland and 2-1 vs. Team Godsland. They have yet to play Team Gushue.

They may be listed as #Fav based on NL Scotties wins alone.

#TeamUpset: Team Gushue

Hello Hayley Gushue.

Oh yes, she is a member of THAT Gushue family. You know, the one who owns curling in NL.

Gushue will be making her NL Scotties debut.

It will be tough against a strong and experienced field but everyone starts somewhere.

And when you have a guy named Brad Gushue in your corner, never underestimate the possibilities.

Win or lose, consider this year the coming out party for Hayley Gushue.

We guess the future is going to be bright!

#W2W4

Curtis is the #Fav based on defending champion status.

Godsland has a tour title this season, defeating Curtis in the final. Plus they reached the SF in their only other tour event.

Boland did not qualify in either of the two events played this season but owns a 2-0 record vs. Curtis this year.

And Gushue has name recognition but is making her debut.

Something has to give in this field.

But who takes the advantage?

Qualifiers: Team Curtis, Team Godsland

Newfoundland and Labrador Championship: Team Godsland def. Team Curtis 

#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 Sturmay (AB), Team Inglis (ON), Team Brown (BC), Team Cameron (MB), Team Campbell (MB)

#W2W4

The big news here is Alberta's Team Sturmay jumping ahead of Ontario's Team Inglis.

It should be noted Sturmay's results at the Canadian Open did not improve her CTRS point total as CTRS only takes the best 7 results of the season.

Last week's blog post was made before the standings were updated, thus having Inglis ahead of Sturmay.

NOW, fast forward a week, and Sturmay has a 1.25 lead on Inglis heading into playdown weekend.

This could be the difference between playing in Calgary or staying home folks, assuming of course Lawes wins Manitoba and Sturmay/Inglis falter in Alberta and Ontario respectively.

Both Sturmay and Inglis still control their own fate of course. Survive the week and earn a Scotties heart, no stress.

And keep your eyes on BC's Team Brown and the Manitoba duo of Team Cameron and Team Campbell.

Cameron leads Campbell by 0.937 points. Brown leads both by a few points.

If Lawes wins Manitoba and one of the 3 teams ahead of the Manitoba duo falter, the final spot could come down to who does better at the Manitoba Scotties: Team Cameron or Team Campbell.

And what if Brown falters in BC? Could a run to the Manitoba final by Cameron and/or Campbell displace Brown from a WC spot?

But if all the teams above the Manitoba duo win, both should advance to Calgary as the two #WC recipients.

So many possibilities still in play here folks.

Wildcard Predictions: Team Sturmay, Team Campbell

#Brier2024

#TeamPacific

Victoria, BC

2023 Champion:  Team Gauthier

Format:  12 team triple knockout with 4 qualifiers advancing to Page Playoff.

#Fav: Team Schneider

The majority of this team are the defending champs so they arrive in Victoria looking to #DefendTheIce.

New to the team is skipper Catlin Schneider.

But Schneider is no "new" player. He has 3 Brier appearances under his belt, including winning a bronze medal in 2020 while representing his home province of Saskatchewan.

And, with the 2024 Brier being in Regina, you can bet the Sasky boy would love to compete in front of home family and friends...even if it is representing Team B.C.

Schneider has made the transition back to skip for the first time since his University of Regina Cougars days...and it has led to success.

Ranked #35 in the world, the team has compiled a 29-24 record on the season, including 2 final appearances.

They are capable of beating top ranked teams, as shown in victories this season over Team Mouat, Team Edin, Team Dropkin and Team McEwen.

But they are also prone to taking losses against lower ranked teams.

Consistency has been the the crux of their success.

In a triple knockout event, against tough provincial opposition and wearing the target as defending champs, consistency is what they need to find to earn a spot back on Brier ice.

#TeamUpset: Team Kolomaya

Jared Kolomaya is not a new name. He was part of Team Pierce's 2022 BC Tankard title as second.

And he is once again joined at lead by Nicholas Meister, also part of the Pierce championship team.

Now he is back to skipping and has added former skip Cody Tanaka at vice.

At last year's championship, Tanaka surprised a few people with his run to the playoffs after surviving the #CSideGrind.

And who did Tanaka face in the page playoff game? Team Pierce with Kolomaya and Meister.

Now they have joined forces and it will be interesting to see if the combination can lead back to a playoff appearance.

The team is 15-9 on the season, qualifying in 4 of 5 events.

This is a very experienced field but Kolomaya could emerge as the surprise challenger.

#W2W4

This field is deceptively difficult. There may not be familiar #gsoc-type of names in the field but there are worthy contenders and dark horse challengers all over this draw.

Team Schneider. Team Pierce. Team Richard. Team Robillard. Team Montgomery. Team Norbert. Team Kolomaya. Team de Jong.

But also watch out for Team Chester with Paul Cseke at vice.

Team Fenton could be a surprise as well.

This might be the most difficult championship to predict this week.

The field is equally strong and while no team stands out high and above the rest, each team is capable of beating one another.

Is this an expect the unexpected championship? Or, when the last rock stops spinning, will a past champion remain on top of the B.C. curling scene?

It really is anyone's guess...

Qualifiers: Team Schneider, Team Pierce, Team Robillard. Team Kolomaya

British Columbia Championship: Team Schneider def. Team Robillard

#CurlON

Dorchester, ON

2023 Champion: Team McEwen

Format: 12 team triple knockout with 4 qualifiers.

#Fav: Team Epping

It has been a weird season for Team Epping.

Curling fans are used to seeing this team on #gsoc ice yet the closest they got was competing at the Tour Challenge Tier II event (2-2 record, DNQ).

They have played 10 tour events this season though, qualifying in 6 and winning a tour title at a Stu Sells event in November.

Plus they just reached the SF at the Golden Wrench tour stop in Arizona last weekend, so they will have some momentum entering this championship.

Could Regina be a lucky Brier destination for John Epping?

He made his Brier debut in 2018 in Regina. Could he make his 4th appearance, first since 2021, back in Regina?

#TeamUpset: Team King 

Ranked #53 in the world and owning a positive 26-20 record on the season, Team Jayden King looks primed to become a dark horse challenger this week.

They have qualified in 5 of 9 events this season, including a tour championship win in September. They also reached another tour final at the Stroud Sleeman Cash Spiel in October.

They even had a 10-match winning streak going between last September and early October.

But the ice has gone a bit cold since November for the young team, failing to qualify in their past 3 events. This includes an 0-4 weekend in Halifax with losses to fellow Ontario Tankard participants Team Fournier and Team Epping.

If they can recover their magic from earlier in the season, they could turn some heads this week.

#W2W4

This field has former champions all over the place.

John Epping. Mark Kean. Greg Balsdon.

We cannot forget Team Howard either. Glenn Howard hurt his surgically repaired knee at a tour event in December (an event the team won btw) and was ruled out indefinitely for the season.

But this is still Glenn Howard and this is still his strong team so never count them out.

Michael Fornier is here too. He may not have an Ontario title to his credit but he has 3 Brier appearances representing Quebec under his slider.

And what about #NextGen contender Sam Mooibroek? His team has had a breakout season on tour, currently sitting #25 on the world rankings right behind #Fav Team Epping (#23).

This is going to be one fun, and possibly hectic, triple knockout to watch curling fans.

Qualifiers: Team Epping, Team Mooibroek, Team Fournier, Team Howard

Ontario Championship: Team Mooibroek def. Team Epping


#FearTheMoose

Little Current, ON

2023 Champion: Team Horgan

Format: 14 team triple knockout with 3 qualifier positions.

#Fav: Team Horgan

The defending champions may have lost 2 players from their championship win last season but there is no slowing them down with a new lineup.

Sitting with an impressive 22-11 record on the season, Team Horgan has won 2 straight tour events.

After failing to qualify in their opening 3 events of the season, they have now reached a SF and won back-to-back titles.

They are on an 11-match winning streak entering this event.

And that SF loss that started the win streak? It just happened to be to some guy named Matt Dunstone.

With Brad Jacobs gone from Northern Ontario curling, Tanner Horgan is becoming the new face that runs the place.

The question is whether he can win his second Northern Ontario championship and survive the pressure of having a target on your back.

This is new territory for him in the men's game. 

#TeamUpset: Team Adams Jr.

The blog was keeping a keen eye on Bryan Adams Jr. last year and thought he could make a deep run at this event.

Instead he went 2-3 and bowed out relatively quick.

Is this the season he makes his run?

The team reached the SF of the Northern Ontario Major League of Curling.

They also reached the SF of a tour event in Thunder Bay at the start of January.

There is momentum building.

#W2W4

If the Major League of Curling results tip the hat to a team to watch out for it would be 2024 champions Team Bonot.

They claimed the title this past weekend, defeating Team Johnston in the final.

But what about last year's Tankard finalist Team Sandy MacEwan? Could they make another final run in 2024?

Jordan Chandler and Bryan Burgess are familiar Northern Ontario names as well who have not won this event but have made playoffs runs in the past.

Brad Jacobs won this championship from 2010 to 2022. Tanner Horgan took over last year.

Is this the start of a Horgan streak?

Or are we ready to see a new face emerge?

Qualifiers: Team Horgan, Team Bonot, Team MacEwan 

Northern Ontario Championship: Team Horgan def. Team Bonot


#Labelleprovince

Drummondville, QC

2023 Champion: Team Asselin

Format: 16 team triple knockout with 4 qualifiers advancing to Page Playoff.

#Fav: Team Asselin

Can Felix Asselin #DefendTheIce as skip?

Asselin has been to 4 Brier's already, including the past 3.

But last year was his first Brier as skip. And his first season winning the Quebec championship as skip.

Can he handle the pressure of being the hunted while standing in the house?

Ranked #30 in the world, Asselin has put together an outstanding season.

The team is 23-6 overall. They have qualified in 4 of 5 tour events. They have reached 3 tour finals. They have won 2 tour titles.

And they enter this event riding a 6-match winning streak after claiming the Stu Sells Brantford title in December.

Sounds like a #Fav to me.

#TeamUpset: Team Wise

Zackary Wise and his team from Montreal have been a team the blog has been keeping a close eye on this season.

When they reached the SF in Valleyfield back in September it was almost like firing a warning shot into the air for their fellow Quebec opponents.

The following week they won a tour title in Ottawa and then reached a QF at their next event.

On the flip side, they have not played since November when they went 0-3 at a tour event in Clermont and are on a 4-match losing streak heading into this provincial championship.

They have beaten higher ranked teams this season. They have also lost to lower ranked teams.

Which team shows up in Drummondville?

#W2W4

This is a large field but the list of main contenders may be small.

Team Asselin of course.

Team Wise as a #TeamUpset dark horse.

Team Desjardins is always a contender.

Team Martel earned their spot in the field as the Circuit Field winner.

Team Tremblay and Team Lawton could also be dangerous.

Remember 3 of the 4 members on Team Trembley reached the final last year as members of Team Vincent Roberge.

Outside of those 6 teams, it would be a "surprise" to see another challenger emerge.

But who knows? This is why we play the games. And why we love sports.

Team Leduc surprised the field last year with their #CSideGrind qualification.

And they earned the last ticket in this field via the Last Change Qualifier event. Maybe they surprise again?

Or someone else becomes the #TeamLeduc of 2024?

Qualifiers: Team Asselin, Team Desjardins, Team Martel, Team Wise

QC Championship: Team Asselin def. Team Desjardins

#TheIslanders

Summerside, PEI

2023 Champion: Team Smith

Format: 7 team triple knockout with 3 qualifiers.

#Fav: Team Smith

Tyler Smith has represented PEI at the past 2 Briers, winning the PEI Tankard last season and being awarded the spot in 2022.

Can he #DefendTheIce for the first time?

Smith does not play a ton of tour events, having only entered 4 this season. But they did qualify in 2 events, including winning the title in Summerside in November.

At their last event in Moncton, they went 2-3 and DNQ.

#TeamUpset: The Field 

Smith has proven himself to be PEI championship pedigree.

Can another team in this field give him a run?

Team Higgins made the provincial final last year.

Jamie Newson, Tyler Harris and Blair Jay have been here before too and made deep runs.

Will one of them emerge as the main challenger to the top contender?

#W2W4

The last time PEI had a successful #DefendTheIce moment was 2018 when Eddie MacKenzie won his 2nd straight title.

And where was the Brier held in 2018? Regina.

Could we see a bit of #HIStory repeating in PEI with a #DefendTheIce championship leading to a Brier berth in Regina?

Or will a surprise team emerge from the field and make their debut?

Qualifiers: Team Smith, Team Higgins, Team Harris

Prince Edward Island Championship: Team Smith def. Team Higgins 

#TheRock

St. John's, NL

2023 Champion: Team Young

Format: 9 team RR with 3 qualifiers. 1st place earns bye to final with 2nd vs. 3rd playing the SF.

#Fav: Team Smith / Team Young

It is not often a defending champion is not listed as a #Fav and, to be fair, this is a fairly tight contest for #Fav designation.

Team Smith is ranked #70. Team Young is ranked #81.

Greg Smith has won this title twice (2018, 2021).

Nathan Young is the two-time defending champion aiming for a #3peat.

Team Smith has qualified in 4 of 6 tour events this season, having reached 3 SF and 1 QF.

They have qualified in their last 2 tour events at the end of 2023, reaching the SF in Clemont and the QF in Moncton.

But, they are 0-1 vs. Young this season.

Team Young has only played 3 tour events this season but does have a tour title under the slider having won the Rick Rowsell Classic in September.

They also reached the SF at the #NextGen U25 event to start the season in August.

We last saw them at a tour event in October though, where they went 2-3 at the Soo Curlers Fall Classic and DNQ.

Both are the prime contenders of this event but both look equally beatable.

#TeamUpset: Team Tipple

Looking for a #NextGen up and comer to "rock" the boat in NL curling?

Team Tipple could tip the entire fleet upside down and shock the system at their NL Tankard debut.

Yes, they are a young team and they are competing against a very experienced field but is that not what we look for in #TeamUpset challengers?

We saw them at the Rick Rowsell event where they lost their opening 3 games but then made a spirited run winning their final 2, including a W over higher ranked (and fellow 2024 NL Tankard participant) Team McNeil Lamswood.

They are playing with house money. Everything to gain. Nothing to lose.

#W2W4

Smith. Young. Ryan McNeil Lamswood. Matthew Blandford/Trent Skanes. Andrew Symonds.

This is a sneaky strong field.

And with only 3 playoff spots available, good teams will go home early.

With Brad Gushue continuing to hold down the Team Canada jacket, the rest of the province continues to try and capitalize on him not being here.

But when Gushue finally relinquishes that maple leaf, he will be back. And the path to the Brier will get that much more difficult.

Teams in NL have been enjoying the ride. Continue to enjoy it while you can.

And try to be the one to seize the day...and the opportunity.

Fun fact: the last player to beat Brad Gushue at the NL Tankard was Matt Blandford (2010 RR). 

Qualifiers: Team Young, Team Smith, Team Skanes

Newfoundland and Labrador Championship:  Team Smith def. Team Young

#PolarPower

Inuvik, NWT

2023 Champion: Team Koe

Format: 2 team Best of 5 format

#Fav: Team Koe

Jamie Koe is back and looking to claim his 17th Brier appearance this season.

Always a crowd favourite, Koe remains the King of the North.

And with twin sister Kerry dubbed the Queen of the North, it is no surprise which family sits atop the ice throne in NWT.

Similar to sister Kerry, Jamie is undefeated at the NWT Tankard.

If he enters, he wins. He has won every NWT championship he has entered since its inception in 2015.

The lone time another team represented NWT at the Brier was 2021 (Team Skauge), when Koe did not participate.

His overall record at the event? 50-0!

Yup, undefeated...literally. How impressive is that?!?!

This season, Koe entered 2 tour events. While failing to qualify in their first event in Beaumont (1-3), they returned to the same location in December and reached the final (5-1 overall).

A run to a tour event final is a good indicator of this team being ready to make some noise.

#TeamUpset: Team Saturnino

Koe has been so dominant at this event over the years, it almost seems impossible for it to end.

But all streaks in sport end eventually, right?

Is this the year another team from NWT makes the move and knocks the King off his throne?

It won't be easy of course.

But anything can happen?!

#W2W4

Can anyone beat Jamie Koe?

And maybe not even beat him for the championship.

Just beat him period.

50-0 and counting....

Will the streak continue?

Northwest Territories Championship: Team Koe def. Team Saturnino - 3 games to 0

#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 Koe (AB), Team Carruthers (MB), Team McEwen (SK), Team Sluchinski (AB)

#W2W4

With Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan not taking the ice this weekend, not much changes on the #WC front of teams in contention.

However, the Canadian Open results did reconfigure the standings.

Team Koe and Team Carruthers moved past Team McEwen.

Koe is in the driver's seat right now, should he falter at the upcoming Boston Pizza Cup.

Carruthers will become the biggest Koe fan in the country, knowing a Koe win should protect them a spot in Regina if they falter in Manitoba.

And Team Sluchinski, the last team out last year, is hoping Carruthers and McEwen win their respective provinces. Should Sluchinski be unable to win Alberta, they could squeak into the Brier field if the other 3 prevail. 

Wildcard Prediction: Team Sluchinski

#StayTuned 

There you have it rock heads.

The BIGGEST PLAYDOWN PARTY PREVIEW blog post EVER!!!

If you made it to the end, congratulations and THANK YOU!

Most important though, enjoy ALL the curling action this week. There is streaming everywhere so your curling eyes will have lots to watch.

You might want to have a few TVs and monitors set up to stay on top of all the action.

For those competing and chasing Scotties/Brier dreams, good luck and good curling.