Power Rankings - W7

 #BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings Week 7

Japanese women continue to make moves

The Land of the Rising Sun is becoming the land of the best female curling teams in the world.

Japan is coming in hot this season. And the results on the ice are proof.

The strength of Japanese women's teams should not be ignored. And they have been the story of the season thus far.

Team Tabata is quickly becoming a powerhouse threat.

Team Yoshimura has been steadily climbing the rankings over the years, becoming a #gsoc playoff threat.

Last season Team Kitazawa added their name to the ring of contenders and continues to make deep playoff runs at tour events.

And we can never overlook crowd fav Team Fujisawa. They have done it all and continue to be one of the toughest teams on tour to play against.

Plus, we are not even discussing the current Japanese champions, Team Ueno.

At this point in the season, one could argue for 3 or 4 of these teams to be in the Power Rankings Top 10.

While curling fans may become hyper-focused on Canadian teams starting to hit the ice for the season, do not overlook the results of the Japanese women's teams.

The fight through the season, leading into the national championship in February, might be the best competitive curling race of the year.

Could one of these Japanese teams ascend to the top of the Power Rankings? And how many Japanese teams will crack the Top 10 this week?

#TheRunback

🥌 Saville Shootout (W) - Team Tabata (JPN) def. Team Fujisawa (JPN): An All-Japanese final. We should have predicted. Both finalists entered the playoff bracket with identical 4-1 RR records. The road to the championship for Tabata included a RR redemption win over Team Gim (QF) and a SF victory over Team Lawes. Fujisawa's path to the final included playoff wins over Team Plett (QF) and Team Kitazawa (SF). Japan landed 3 of the 4 SF teams in Edmonton, quite impressive.

🥌 Saville Shootout (M) - Team McEwen (SK) def. Team McDonald (MB): What hiccup in Europe? Team McEwen returned to Canadian ice and found their winning ways quick. McEwen went 4-1 in the RR, suffering a final RR loss to McDonald. The team would run the playoff bracket though, including victories over Team Sampson (QF) and Team Kleiter (SF). For McDonald, they could not go back-to-back in Saville after winning the U25 #NextGen Classic in this same venue last weekend. McDonald would reach the playoffs with a perfect 5-0 RR record and reached a second consecutive final with playoff wins over Team Morozumi (QF) and Team Carruthers (SF).

🥌 Stu Sells Oakville (W) - Team Schwaller (SUI) def. Team Skrlik (AB): A championship final contested between 2 teams who reached championship finals the weekend prior but came up short. Schwaller would earn final redemption in Oakville though, securing the title over Skrlik. Both finalists qualified for the playoffs via the B-side draw. Schwaller playoff run included wins over Team MacMillan (QF) and Team Wang (SF). Skrlik knocked off Team Constantini (QF) and Team Strouse (SF) to reach the final.

🥌 Stu Sells Oakville (M) - Team Schwaller (SUI) def. Team Muskatewitz (GER): It took an extra end #StealPants but it completed a Swiss Double in Oakville. Schwaller, who qualified for the playoffs via the #CSideGrind, ended up playing in 6 straight draws to stay alive and then win the championship. Talk about grinding out a championship! Schwaller's playoff path included wins over Team Mouat (QF) and Team Gushue (SF). Muskatewitz, who qualified B-side with a B-qualifier win over Schwaller, reached the final with playoff wins over Team Dropkin (QF) and last weekend's tour winners Team Hoesli (SF).

🥌 Sutherland SaskTour Icebreaker (W) - Team Orsted (SK) def. Team Thevenot (SK): The SaskTour is underway folks. Both finalists qualified for the playoffs with 3-1 RR records. Orsted booked a spot in the final with a SF win over Team Enge while Thevenot defeated Team Martin. For Thevenot, it is now back-to-back tour finals after winning the Manitoba Icebreaker event last weekend.

🥌 SaskTour Mixed Doubles - Sutherland (MD) - Team Homan / Bottcher (AB) def. Team LaMontagne / LaMontagne (SK): Everyone was wondering where Team Homan was this weekend...while the skipper was hitting the MD ice in Saskatoon with partner/coach Brenden Bottcher. And they would go home with a championship title. Both teams entered the playoffs undefeated after posting 3-0 RR records. Homan/Bottcher defeated Team Springer/Springer in the SF while LaMontagne/LaMontagne knocked off Team Just/Cherpin.

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

🥌 Saville Shootout (W) - 6 of 8 playoff qualifiers.

🥌 Saville Shootout (M) - 6 of 8 playoff qualifiers, including one finalist (McEwen).

🥌 Stu Sells Oakville (W) - 6 of 8 playoff qualifiers.

🥌 Stu Sells Oakville (M) - 6 of 8 playoff qualifiers.

Of the 32 playoff qualifiers this weekend, the blog correctly predicted 24 of them. Consistent I suppose, in a weird way of going 6 for 8 at each event.

But, once again, predicting finalists and tour winners is proving to be a challenge this season. The competition level is fierce and we are seeing more parity once the playoff brackets are underway.

It sure makes for a more exciting finish to the weekend.

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 last weeks Power Rankings post.

#PowerRankings

MEN

1. Team Mouat (1)

Last Week: Stu Sells Oakville - QF

All good things have to end, thus the winning streak of Scotland's top lads. They suffered their first losses of the season and could not #3peat...both in Oakville and to start the season.

BUT, they still reached the QF and have been the hottest team on tour this season. Enjoy the view from the top boys.

2. Team Schwaller (4)

Last Week: Stu Sells Oakville - Champions

The Power Rankings warned you of a Swiss Takeover heading to Canada...and Team Schwaller did not disappoint with their championship run.

Playing 6 draws in a row, surviving the #CSideGrind and needing an extra end #StealPants may not be the ideal "takeover" path, but they proved Survival of the Fittest can win out.

3. Team Muskatewitz (5)

Last Week: Stu Sells Oakville - Finalists

Look at the results from the young Germans this season: QF, SF, F. And they are knocking off top ranked teams along the way.

The blog warned you of this #TeamUpset potential. Now consider them a regular tour title contender.

4. Team Hoesli (7)

Last Week: Stu Sells Oakville - SF

Following up their tour title in Oslo last weekend with a SF showing in Oakville is making a strong statement in the early part of the season.

Quick, how many curling fans had penciled in 2 Swiss teams in the Top 4 of the Power Rankings in September?

5. Team Gushue (HM)

Last Week: Stu Sells Oakville - SF

A solid opening weekend for the Canadian champs. They qualified for the playoffs via the A-side and reached the SF. The boys from The Rock have to be happy with a 4-1 start to the season, including wins over Team Whyte, Team Muskatewitz and Team Yanagisawa.

6. Team McEwen (NR)

Last Week: Saville Shootout - Champions

Maybe the Sask champs just like Canadian curling ice better?

They left the struggles in Europe when they arrived in Edmonton and were playing lights out curling en route to the tour title.

Plus, they survived a little fall action earlier in the event.

7. Team McDonald (HM)

Last Week: Saville Shootout - Finalists

The #NextGen cracks the Top 10. And for good reason.

Winning the U25 NextGen Classic is one thing. Following it up with a run to the final the next weekend is another.

Add it up and it results into a "Welcome to the Top 10" message for Team McDonald.

8. Team Edin (3)

Last Week: Did Not Compete (DNC)

It is a steep fall from Top 3 to #8 this week for the Swedish Vikings. But it is only a reflection of the top results of the teams above them combined with Team Edin taking the weekend off.

This is common on the mountain when having a weekend off. The caliber of top competition is high...and so is the race for a spot in the Top 10.

9. Team Whyte (2)

Last Week: Stu Sells Oakville - Did Not Qualify

Who saw this result coming? After the strong results in Europe to open the season, Whyte slipped up in Oakville and failed to reach the playoffs. They need to regroup.

Was this just a small blip on the road and the start of a trend?

10. Team Carruthers (NR)

Last Week: Saville Shootout - SF

A strong opening weekend for the new look Team Carruthers, going 4-1 in the RR and reaching the SF.

The addition of Catlin Schneider at vice seems to be going well. How high can this team go this season?

Honourable Mention: Team Retornaz, Team Kleiter, Team Nyman, Team Koe, Team Brunner

WOMEN

1. Team Tabata (6)

Last Week: Saville Shootout - Champions

We have a NEW #1 atop the mountain.

Congratulations Team Tabata!!

Before anyone starts to raise an eyebrow to this ranking, take a look at their results on the season. They just reached another championship final, their 3rd of the year.

And they just won another tour title, going back-to-back after their win last weekend in Japan.

Plus they did so on the long travel between Japan and Canada.

This team has all the momentum right now and has been an early surprise of the season.

And the mountain just could not keep the #1 team on top without stepping on the ice...yet...

2. Team Homan (1)

Last Week: DNC

The Homan Empire Returns THIS WEEK!! And the skipper already has a tour win under the slider after taking the MD title in Saskatoon.

3. Team Schwaller (5)

Last Week: Stu Sells Oakville - Champions

The top Swiss team on the Power Rankings...is Team Schwaller!!

Not sure many would have predicted this but when you play back-to-back events, reach 2 finals and secure a title, you deserve a rapid climb up the mountain.

4. Team Hasselborg (2)

Last Week: DNC

After the championship win last weekend, Hasselborg hit the gym and training (with maybe some rest and relaxation) to prepare for the upcoming Euro Qualifier series vs. rivals Team Wrana.

What a series this is going to be!

5. Team Tirinzoni (3)

Last Week: DNC

After watching fellow Swiss competitors Team Schwaller take the title in Oakville, Tirinzoni will be fired up to follow suit this weekend in Cornwall. 

Could we see a Tirinzoni vs. Schwaller All-Swiss final?

6. Team Gim (4)

Last Week: Saville Shootout - QF

Another weekend, another playoff result. Consistency is good.

But the early playoff losses are a bit surprising for this talented Korean team. And Japan is starting to press them...and beat them.

7. Team Skrlik (NR)

Last Week: Stu Sells Oakville - Finalist

A finals appearance last weekend. Another finals appearance this past weekend.

A solid start to the season for the new look Team Skrlik. They look determined to recapture the Alberta title this season...and these early season results are giving them a ton of momentum and confidence.

And a solid Happy Birthday result for the skipper over the weekend too.

7. Team Constantini (7)

Last Week: Stu Sells Oakville - QF

A run to the playoff bracket in Oakville retains the #7 spot for the Italians this week.

8. Team Yoshimura (8)

Last Week: Stu Sells Oakville - QF

Similar to Constantini above, a QF result in Oakville keeps Team Yoshimura in the Top 10.

9. Team Fujisawa (HM)

Last Week: Saville Shootout - Finalists

Add another Japanese team to the Top 10 as Fujisawa returns to the mountain after a slight slipup earlier in the season.

With the Japanese teams no longer just beating one another at tour events on home ice, they are now taking over Canada and ready to dominate the fields.

And this past weekend was proof they can do so.

10. Team Thevenot (HM)

Last Week: Sutherland SaskTour Icebreaker - Finalists

When you open your season with 9 straight wins, including a tour title, the mountain sits up and takes notice.

Sure Saskatoon's Team Thevenot took their first losses of the season but one did come in the final.

Reaching back-to-back tour finals is Top 10 worthy.

Honourable Mention: Team Kitazawa, Team Lawes, Team Einarson, Team MacMillan, Team Strouse

#StayTuned

This weekend draws the iconic Shorty Jenkins Classic in Cornwall, another iconic early season tour event many teams enjoy competing in and curling fans enjoy watching/supporting.

There will also be a men's tour event in Beaumont, AB.

For those teams competing this weekend, good luck and good curling.

The mountain is watching 👀👀