Power Rankings - W5

 #BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings Return

Welcome to the first look at the updated mountain

Welcome back!

The blog tradition returns for another season.

When I was a little rockhead watching curling and reading the results in the newspaper (that is how old I am, predating internet results), I always wanted to understand the rankings of teams and compare the results to one another.

The internet arrived and all of a sudden we were seeing #PowerRankings in all professional sports.

Look at ESPN today as an example. They have updated Power Rankings for Major League Soccer (MLS) and the WNBA after last weeks results.

College football is back and leading into the season it seems every sports outlet has been producing their own Power Rankings for the top teams chasing down a berth in the new 12-team playoff.

When #TwineTime started 11 years ago, I thought it was time for curling to have a weekly Power Rankings and join the "big boys and girls" of the sports world.

And here we are. The blog publishing weekly Power Rankings throughout the season.

Now we are seeing major media outlets (i,e, TSN) publish Power Rankings as well. A great #growthesport moment. And one the little rockhead in me loves to see.

But #TwineTime is the ORIGINAL remember 😉

Power Rankings are a great combination of objectivity and subjectivity.

Results can move you up or down the mountain. It can be that objectively easy.

But the comparison of competition also carries some weight, hence the subjectivity.

We will stay away from the on-going, nagging this blog does with the actual world ranking formula and procedure. But, to be positive, the system is better than it was 11 years ago!

Consistency can also play into the #TwineTime Power Rankings. And the "stat" of consistency can be both objective and subjective.

Some people agree. Some people disagree. Some people read them. Some people do not.

Either way, the blog keeps rolling along.

Before we can take our first look at Power Rankings mountain, we need to look back at the results of the past weekend.

These results can really shake up the mountain, sometimes for the good and sometimes for the bad. It depends who you are and who you are cheering for.

Lets break it all down.

#TheRunback

🥌 Euro Super Series (M) - Team Mouat (SCO) def. Team Whyte (SCO): The undefeated run continues for the Euro champions. After winning the season opening title last weekend in Baden, Mouat follows it up with another undefeated title run on home ice in Stirling. Mouat went 7-0 to claim the title, including playoffs wins over Team Dropkin (QF) and Team Brunner (SF) before knocking off main rivals Team Whyte in the final. Whyte also reached the final undefeated and picked up playoff wins over Team Gosgens (QF) and Team Waddell (SF).

🥌 Euro Super Series (W) - Team Henderson (SCO) def. Team Constantini (ITA): Talk about a motivating start to the season. Henderson, the defending Scottish champs, used home ice advantage to perfection in picking up the title. After squeaking into the playoffs with a 2-2 RR record (including a loss to Constantini), Henderson knocked off defending champs Team Strouse (QF) and Team MacMillan (SF) to reach the final. Constantini, 3-1 in the RR, also took the longer road to the final with playoff wins over Team Cousins (QF) and Team Morrison (SF).

🥌 ADVICS Cup (M) - Team Abe (JPN) def. Team Yanagisawa (JPN): #DefendTheIce ✅ The defending Japanese champions proved their dominance in Japan by successfully defending their ADVICS Cup championship from a year ago. Abe went undefeated en route to the title, going 3-0 in the RR and picking up a SF win over Team Morozumi before knocking off Yanagisawa. For Yanagisawa, they also entered the final undefeated by posting an identical 3-0 RR record and a SF victory over Team Hirata. Hirata would end the event on a positive though, winning the 3rd place game over Morozumi.

🥌 ADVICS Cup (W) - Team Yoshimura (JPN) def. Team Kitazawa (JPN): An event proving how deep Japanese women's curling is this season did not disappoint. In the end, Team Yoshimura ended the long-standing championship run of Team Fujisawa (2019, 2022, 2023) by knocking them off in the SF. Yoshimura wrapped up the weekend with a perfect 5-0 record, going 3-0 in the RR and the playoff wins over Fujisawa and Kitazawa. Kitazawa took the hard road to the final. They barely made the playoff bracket after posting a 1-2 RR record but turned it on in the playoffs with a win over current Japanese champions Team Ueno in the QF and a SF win over Korea's Team Gim. Gim would win the 3rd place playoff, defeating Fujisawa.

🥌 Enns Bros Mixed Doubles Classic (MD) - Team Lott / Lott (MB) def. Team Arbuckle / Macdonell (MB): The Canadian champions started their mixed doubles season with a tour title in Morris, MB. Lott/Lott went undefeated on the weekend, going 3-0 before picking up 2 playoff wins to secure the title. For Arbuckle/Macdonell, the #NextGen duo had a successful season-opener as well. They reached the playoffs with a 2-1 record and upset undefeated Team Baker/Lott in the SF. Arbuckle/Macdonell suffered 2 losses during the event...both to the reigning Canadian champs. Not a bad start to the year.

The blog had a solid weekend of #TwineTimePredictions from last week's preview post.

🥌 Euro Super Series (M) - 7 of 8 playoff qualifiers, including both finalists.

🥌 Euro Super Series (W) - 5 of 6 playoff qualifiers, including one finalist (Constantini).

🥌 ADVICS Cup (M) - 5 of 6 playoff qualifiers, including both finalists.

🥌 ADVICS Cup (W) - 6 of 6 playoff qualifiers.

Of the 26 playoff qualifiers this weekend, the blog correctly predicted 23 of them. Not too bad to start the season.

BUT, going 0-for on the championship picks is a huge miss.

With the results of this past weekend fresh in our minds, lets go mountain climbing and check out the Power Rankings.

With many of the top teams not starting their season yet, namely on the women's side, there may be little movement this early in the season.

Remember, the parenthesis number behind each team is where they were ranked in the Season Preview Power Rankings post.

#PowerRankings

MEN

1. Team Mouat (4)

Last Week: Euro Super Series - Champions

Perhaps the Scottish lads took issue with the blog's preseason #4 ranking. If so, the blog took notice and heard you loud and clear.

Starting the season 14-0 with 2 tour titles is pure perfection. Welcome back to the top of the mountain boys.

2. Team Whyte (3)

Last Week: Euro Super Series - Finalist

The Scottish champs have opened their season with a 10-3 record, reaching a final last weekend after the SF result in Baden. A solid start to the season and moving up the mountain early.

Unfortunately, 2 of those losses happen to come against their main rivals Team Mouat.

3. Team Schwaller (6)

Last Week: Did Not Compete (DNC)

Similar to the teams above them, Schwaller played in the Baden Masters and reached the final, losing to Mouat.

Is this the season the Swiss make their move for a Euro and/or world championship?

4. Team Edin (1)

Last Week: DNC

The world champs opened their season a few weekends ago in Baden with a SF result. A solid season opener and results showing the champs are warming up nicely.

Tough to stay atop the mountain when Mouat is steamrolling early and Whyte has played more games, picking up more wins.

But the dip down the mountain is minor at this stage of the season.

5. Team Retornaz (2)

Last Week: DNC

The #1 ranked team in the world also kicked off their season in Baden, reaching the playoff round.

They started 3-0 but then suffered back to back losses to Germany's Team Muskatewitz (RR) and Whyte (QF).

Not a major concern but they are on an early 2-game losing streak now.

6. Team Brunner (HM)

Last Week: Euro Super Series - SF

The "other" Swiss team is proving Switzerland is going to be a battle this season.

They reached the QF in Baden and followed it up with a SF result in Stirling.

And losses to Mouat, Schwaller and Retornaz are not bad losses either.

7. Team Waddell (NR)

Last Week: Euro Super Series - SF

After just missing the playoffs in Baden, Waddell bounced back nicely in Stirling. They went 3-1 in the RR to qualify and scored a QF win over USA's Team Casper before falling to Whyte in the SF.

They opened the season as the #5 Scottish team but are making a move up the Scottish (and Power) rankings early on.

8. Team Gushue (5)

Last Week: DNC

The Canadian champions have yet to hit the ice this season so a fall down the mountain is expected, especially when so many other top teams are competing.

Is this where we make a shoutout to Quebec's Felix Asselin, who made a thought-provoking comment on X (formerly Twitter) noting top ranking Canadian teams (men and women) have played a combined total of 7 games this season while their international counterparts have played 92 games.

The blog has been saying this for awhile now. Early season games matter. For the Power Rankings AND for the long-term results/success of a team/nation.

9. Team Muskatewitz (NR)

Last Week: DNC

The blog warned you in the Season Preview #TeamUpset section to keep your eyes on the fast rising Germans.

And look what they did out of the gate in Baden, knocking off #1 Retornaz in the RR and reaching the QF.

Those results make the mountain take notice. Welcome to the Top 10!

10. Team Craik (NR)

Last Week: Euro Super Series - QF

A mixed bag of back-to-back events to start the season for the #NextGen Scots. They just missed the playoffs in Baden, after toughing it out in the Group of Death.

They rebounded nicely in Stirling with a QF result, including a victory over high-ranked Team McEwen (#8).

Honourable Mention: Team Abe, Team Yoshimura, Team Casper, Team Gosgens, Team McEwen

WOMEN

1. Team Homan (1)

Last Week: DNC

The world champs have not hit the ice yet...but fans are getting excited for when it does happen.

2. Team Tirinzoni (2)

Last Week: DNC

The Euro champs and world silver medal winners will have a different kind of fight in them this season. They will be hunting for the world title again. No longer the hunted.

3. Team Gim (3)

Last Week: ADVICS Cup - 3rd Place

They had a chance to move up the mountain this weekend but failing to reach the final means they stay on the #3 spot on the mountain.

Yes, they only suffered 1 loss but it was in the SF after receiving a bye. Those are games you NEED to win.

4. Team Hasselborg (4)

Last Week: DNC

The Hasselborg Circus will hit the ice this upcoming weekend in Oslo for the Oslo Cup, kicking off the Nordic Curling Tour season.

5. Team Wrana (5)

Last Week: DNC

Similar to their main rivals above, Wrana will also be in Oslo looking to start their season on the right slide.

We will once again be watching the Wrana / Hasselborg comparison results all season.

Note, the Euro Qualifier series between the two teams is coming up in early September.

6. Team Constantini (6)

Last Week: Euro Super Series - Finalist

A missed opportunity to move up the mountain this weekend. Yes, they made the finals. But, they took a RR loss to Scotland's Team Morrison and went down in defeat in the final to the "other" Scots Team Henderson.

Rankings wise, this was their event to win...or lose!

7. Team Yoshimura (NR)

Last Week: ADVICS Cup - Champion

When you wrap up the weekend undefeated and knocking off your main national rivals along the way, you earned your bump up the mountain.

This team flirted with the Power Rankings Top 10 throughout most of last season, jumping in and out.

We are always keeping an eye on this team.

8. Team Einarson (8)

Last Week: DNC

The Canadians have yet to hit the ice this season. With the end of season / off-season distractions and chatter, one would think they cannot wait to get back on the ice competing to silence those whispers and let the results on the ice do the talking for them.

9. Team Henderson (NR)

Last Week: Euro Super Series - Champions

How do you silence doubters from last season heading into a new season?

You open the season with a championship win!

The Scottish champs looked strong and look ready to tell the world how the #1 Scottish team is.

Given the drama surrounding them at the end of last season, this had to be a huge weight off their shoulder to start the season with a tour title.

And props to new British Curling coach Clancy Grandy. She makes her debut over the weekend and sees Henderson lift the hardware over a higher ranked Team Constantini.

10. Team MacMillan (NR)

Last Week: Euro Super Series - SF

Speaking of Grandy, you have to wonder if the temperature was as cold off the ice as it was on the ice when her old team was competing in Stirling while she was there coaching?

I kid of course (😏) as former teammates were probably very polite and cordial to one another.

But a strong opening season result for a new look team who lost their skip last season, reaching the SF as the far away visitors. 

Honourable Mention: Team Morrison, Team Hirata, Team Fujisawa, Team E. Kim, Team Carey

#StayTuned

It will be a busy upcoming weekend of curling action as the Nordic Curling Tour kicks off with the Oslo Cup while Canadian curling tour action starts in Morris, MB with the annual Icebreaker Challenge.

Plus we see the top #NextGen athletes compete in Edmonton, AB for the U25 Next Gen Classic.

The blog will return later in the week for all your upcoming weekend action previews and predictions.

Enjoy the final week of August rockheads.