Power Rankings - W6

 #BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings Week 6

Did results in Norway, Japan and Canada rock the mountain?

The Power Rankings are always watching.

And, after spending a long weekend curled up in bed with food poisoning, it is a good thing there was some streaming options available.

What else is a curling fan to do?

We saw #DefendTheIce successes in Norway.

We saw the on-going rivalry in Japanese women's curling continue to heat up.

We saw former teammates now rival competitors face off for a title in Manitoba.

And we crowned new #NextGen champs in Alberta.

With TwineTime still feeling the lag of the sickness, lets dive it for a short and quick Power Rankings update.

#TheRunback

🥌 Oslo Cup (W) - Team Hasselborg (SWE) def. Team Schwaller (SUI): Call it a #3peat. And an undefeated weekend. Team Hasselborg won their 3rd successive Oslo Cup, going 7-0 to claim the title. After a 5-0 RR record, they earned a bye to the SF where they shut out Team Dupont before knocking off Schwaller in the final. Schwaller also booked a SF bye with a 1st place RR record (4-1) and defeated Team Yildiz in the SF. Hasselborg's record at this event over the past 3 years is now 20-1, with the only loss being in the 2022 RR (vs. Team Wrana).

🥌 Oslo Cup (M) - Team Hoesli (SUI) def. Team Edin (SWE): It was a battle of undefeated teams in the final...as well as a battle between the past 2 champions. Defending champ Hoesli would successfully #DefendTheIce knocking off 2022 champ Edin. The road to the championship for the Swiss team included playoff wins over world junior champs Team Hostmaelingen (QF) and Nordic Curling Tour powerhouses Team Nyman (SF). For Edin, their path to the final included wins over Team Stocker (QF) and Team Muskatewitz (SF).

🥌 ARGO Graphics Cup (W) - Team Tabata (JPN) def. Team Fujisawa (JPN): Last weekend it was Team Yoshimura and Team Kitazawa in the final. This weekend it was Team Tabata and Team Fujisawa. As the blog predicted, Japanese women's curling is going to be one of the most highly contested national competitions of the season. Tabata did not make it easy on themselves or their fans in the playoffs, needing an extra end W in the SF vs. Korea's Team Ha and wearing the #StealPants in the final end for the championship point. Fujisawa reached the final undefeated, including a SF win over Kitazawa. Ha would win the bronze medal with a victory over Kitazawa.

🥌 Icebreaker Challenge (W) - Team Thevenot (SK) def. Team Skrlik (AB): It was a final between former teammates with Brittany Tran (Thevenot) facing off against Team Skrlik. The one who left got the last laugh in this season-opening finale. Thevenot went a perfect 6-0 on the weekend. With a 4-0 RR record, the team earned a bye to the SF and defeated Team McMakin to reach the final. For Skrlik, they went 3-1 in the RR and took the longer path to the final, needing playoff wins over Team Workin (QF) and Team Cameron (SF). Tran is now 2-0 against her former teammates, having also defeated them in the RR.

🥌 Icebreaker Challenge (M) - Team Sinnett (USA) def. Team Sampson (USA): It was an All-American final in Morris, MB. And an All-Minnesota final too. Minneapolis was the victor in the end with Team Sinnett defeating Chaska's Team Sampson. Both teams entered the playoffs with 3-1 RR records, topping their respected pools. Sinnett knocked off Team Grassie while Sampson defeated Team Norris in the SF games.

🥌 U25 #NextGen Classic (W) - Team Reese-Hansen (BC) def. Team Richards (AB): A perfect start to the new season for the up and coming BC foursome out of Victoria, BC. And they denied the two-time defending champions (Team Gray-Withers) the #3peat in the process with their SF victory. The 7-0 championship record included a 5-0 RR before the 2 playoff wins to capture the title. For Richards, they went 3-2 in the RR to sneak into the final playoff spot before knocking off previously undefeated Team Artichuk in the SF.

🥌 U25 #NextGen Classic (M) - Team McDonald (MB) def. Team King (ON): It was a redemption final for Manitoba's Team McDonald. After losing their final RR game vs. Team King in an extra end, they still qualified for the playoffs with a 4-1 RR record and booked a rematch in the final with a SF win over Team Adams. For King, they could not go 2-0 on the weekend against their neighbouring province rivals. They did enter the final undefeated, after posting a 5-0 RR record and a SF win over 2022 champ Team Mooibroek.

🥌 U25 #NextGen Classic (MD) - Team Zheng / Pietrangelo (ON) def. Team Arbuckle / Macdonell (MB): From last year's finalist to this year's champions, Team Zheng / Pietrangelo continue to prove why they are one of the best up and coming MD duos in Canada. They reached the playoffs with a 4-1 RR record and made the final after wins over Team Rainseth/Crough (QF) and Team Wynter/Sallaj (SF). Team Arbuckle/Macdonell qualified for the playoffs with a 3-2 RR record, securing one of the final spots in the playoff bracket. Their path to the final included playoff wins over Team Gray-Withers/Nowell (QF) and Team Cinnamon/Tao (SF). Still a solid start to the season for the Arbuckle/Macdonell duo, who also reached the final of the MD event last weekend.

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

🥌 Oslo Cup (W) - 5 of 6 playoff qualifiers, including the champion (Hasselborg).

🥌 Oslo Cup (M) - 5 of 8 playoff qualifiers, including one finalist (Edin).

🥌 AGRO Graphics Cup (W) - 3 of 4 playoff qualifiers, including the runner-up (Fujisawa).

Of the 18 playoff qualifiers this weekend, the blog correctly predicted 13 of them. Again, a solid weekend of #TwineTimePredictions.

Plus, after going 0-for on the championship picks last weekend, it was nice to finally get one right.

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

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

#PowerRankings

MEN

1. Team Mouat (1)

Last Week: Did Not Compete (DNC)

After a 14-0 start to the season, the Scots took a much deserved weekend off.

2. Team Whyte (2)

Last Week: DNC

Similar to their main rivals above, the "other" Scots also enjoyed some rest and relaxation. And maybe some birthday celebrations for the skipper over the weekend. 

3. Team Edin (4)

Last Week: Oslo Cup - Finalists

A championship win this past weekend probably would have moved the world champs up to #2. Alas, falling in the final to the defending champs is still a move up the mountain.

4. Team Schwaller (3)

Last Week: DNC

The Swiss champs are getting ready for a Canadian takeover?

5. Team Muskatewitz (9)

Last Week: Oslo Cup - SF

They already made their Top 10 debut on the mountain. Now they are making their Top 5 debut.

The German champs are looking like the real deal folks.

6. Team Retornaz (5)

Last Week: DNC

Already losing the #1 world ranking, Retornaz will hit the ice next riding a 2-game losing streak but on the hunt to regain the top spot. They are VERY dangerous as the hunters.

7. Team Hoesli (NR)

Last Week: Oslo Cup - Champions

When you can not only defend a tour title but do so by knocking off the defending world champions, the mountain takes notice.

Welcome to the Top 10!

8. Team Nyman (NR)

Last Week: Oslo Cup - SF

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

And yes, that statement above might sound familiar as it was the same one used to introduce Team Muskatewitz to the Top 10 last weekend.

But hey, when you are right, you are right.

Welcome to the Top 10!

9. Team Brunner (6)

Last Week: Oslo Cup - Did Not Qualify

Another "other" Swiss team leaps them on the mountain and knocks them down a few spots. This is what happens when you miss qualifying for the playoffs though. The mountain can be unforgiving.

10. Team Waddell (7)

Last Week: DNC

The SF spot from last weekend is enough to hold on to a spot in the Top 10...for now.

Honourable Mention: Team Abe, Team Craik, Team Gushue, Team McDonald, Team Sinnett

WOMEN

1. Team Homan (1)

Last Week: DNC

The Homan Empire Returns NEXT WEEK!! Are you ready?

2. Team Hasselborg (4)

Last Week: Oslo Cup - Champions

The exact start to the season many expected from Team Hasselborg. Undefeated. #3peat. Momentum and confidence ✅

3. Team Tirinzoni (2)

Last Week: DNC

The Swiss have to be hungry to get back on the competitive ice...and start their path towards reclaiming their world championship.

4. Team Gim (3)

Last Week: DNC

The Korean champions are ready to get back to Canadian ice and continue to show why they are one of the teams no opposition wants to see on their side of the draw.

5. Team Schwaller (NR)

Last Week: Oslo Cup - Finalist

A solid result this weekend in Norway, reaching the final and reminding people why this team is on the cusp of the Top 10 world rankings.

6. Team Tabata (NR)

Last Week: ARGO Graphics Cup - Champions

We may need to start giving the team from Sapporo a bit more attention curling fans. This past weekend was their 4th event of the season and their 2nd championship win (ICE Gold Cup - June). Their other 2 events were a bronze medal win (Wakkanai Midori Challenge Cup - August) and last weekend's QF result (ADVICS Cup).

Do we have our Japanese front-runner now?

And just WHO is the skip of the team? Momoha Tabata is listed as skip but keen eyes noticed this past weekend the team was also listed as Team Nihira (vice Miku Nihira).

7. Team Constantini (6)

Last Week: DNC

They hold their spot on the Top 10, more in thanks to the struggles this past weekend from Team Wrana and Team Yoshimura.

8. Team Yoshimura (7)

Last Week: ARGO Graphics Cup - Did Not Qualify

Not the result we expected this past weekend, coming out of a championship win the weekend prior. They remain on the Top 10 mountain but they are slipping.

9. Team Wrana (5)

Last Week: Oslo Cup - Did Not Qualify

Well that was not the start of the season many expected from Team Wrana, failing to make the playoffs with a 2-3 record.

How will this result, coupled with Hasselborg's win, play into the mind of Wrana leading into the upcoming Euro Qualifier Series?

10. Team Henderson (9)

Last Week: DNC

The Euro Super Series champions from last weekend maintain their spot on the mountain. Last weekend was just too good of a result to punish them with a severe drop out of the Top 10.

Honourable Mention: Team Einarson, Team MacMillan, Team Fujisawa, Team Thevenot, Team Reese-Hansen

#StayTuned

If these past few weekends of curling action were an appetizer, get ready for the main meal to really kick off the season this weekend.

The Saville Shoot-Out and Stu Sells Oakville Tankard events hit the ice. Both becoming iconic events known to draw the best teams from around the world.

This is going to be fun.

Hopefully the blog will return later in the week with previews...and be fully recovered. Wish me well.

Happy Back to School Season everyone!!