Power Rankings - W8

 #BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings Week 8

Is this a Switzerland vs. The World season?

Last week's Power Rankings post focused on the surging Japanese women's teams early on this season.

This week, lets talk about another country making moves: Switzerland.

The Shorty Jenkins Classic may have felt like a Swiss homecoming with Team Schwaller and Team Tirinzoni reaching the championship finals.

For Schwaller, they accomplished the Ontario Double in winning Stu Sells Oakville and the Shorty Jenkins in back-to-back weeks.

For Tirinzoni, it was back on the ice and picking up exactly where one of the best teams in the world is expected to be. They beat teams. They made a deep playoff run. They ran into their newest rival Team Homan.

But do not think Switzerland is just a one-team race for the men and women.

Team Hoesli picked up a tour title a few weeks ago in Oslo and reached the SF in Oakville.

Team Brunner reached the QF in Baden and the SF in Stirling to start their season.

And we now have 3 Swiss men's teams ranked in the Top 15 in the world.

Compare that to Scotland also having 3 teams and Canada, which has more curlers than anywhere else, has 6 teams in the Top 15.

Lets not forget the Swiss women. Tirinzoni is the front-running flag bearer for the Alpine nation but Team X. Schwaller is gaining ground.

Schwaller was a runner-up in Oslo and won the title in Oakville.

If these early season results hold true for the remainder of the season, the Swiss championships in early 2025 will be one of the most hard fought national championships of the season.

And if you aren't practicing your #HoppSchwiiz chant now, you might want to start.

I have a feeling we are going to be hearing it a lot this season...for a number of teams.

The unofficial Swiss motto is "Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno" which translates to "One for all, all for one".

Sounds fitting for a nation producing multiple top contenders. It really could be Switzerland vs. The World this season.

But how do these teams rank on the Power Rankings? Are they also making moves up the mountain?

#TheRunback

🥌 Shorty Jenkins Classic (W) - Team Homan (ON) def. Team Tirinzoni (SUI): The #WWCC2024 final rematch...to start the season. Team Homan starts the new season how it ended the last season, defeating Switzerland's Team Tirinzoni for a title. It may not be the world title but it is a major annual tour event title. And it carries significant weight, from ranking points to bragging rights. And this final ended with Homan wearing the #StealPants for 2 points in 8 to steal, literally, the title away. Expect this to be the first of MANY battles between these top ranked teams this season. Homan went a perfect 8-0 to start their season, going 5-0 in the RR and picking up playoff wins over Team St-Georges (QF) and Team Skrlik (SF). For Tirinzoni, they reached the playoffs with a 4-1 RR record and their path to the final included wins over Team Gim (QF) and Team Fujisawa (SF).

🥌 Shorty Jenkins Classic (M) - Team Schwaller (SUI) def. Team Mouat (SCO): #HoppSchwiiz indeed. Both event finals featured Swiss teams. And while Tirinzoni came up just short, Schwaller continued their winning ways in Ontario. Not only did Schwaller win the title but they did so undefeated, going 8-0 on the weekend. They reached the playoff bracket with a 5-0 RR record and secured playoff wins over Team Waddell (QF) and Team Asselin (SF). For Mouat, they qualified for the playoffs with a 4-1 RR record and picked up playoff victories over Team Dunstone (QF) and Team Retornaz (SF).

🥌 Alberta Curling Series Major (M) - Team Totzek (GER) def. Team Kalthoff (SK): There is more than 1 hot throwing curling team in Germany folks. While rivals Team Muskatewitz have been turning heads this season, Team Totzek said "Don't forget about us" this weekend. They picked up a huge tour title in Beaumont, qualifying for the playoffs via the #CSideGrind. Once there, they reached the final with playoff wins over A-qualifier Team Carruthers (QF) and B-qualifier Team Bonot (SF). For Kalthoff, they also had a "Don't forget about us" moment this weekend as many Sasky curling fans are focusing on Team McEwen and Team Kleiter early in the season. Kalthoff qualifed for the playoffs via the similar #CSideGrind and knocked off two Japanese A-qualifiers in the playoffs: Team Maeda (QF) and Team Morozumi (SF).

🥌 Tallinn Mixed Doubles International (MD) - Team Zelingrova / Chabicovsky (CZE) def. Team Skaslien / Nedregotten (NOR): Is this our first #TeamUpset MD title result of the season? The Czech pairing, ranked #65 in the world to start the season, surprised many higher ranked teams to "steal" the title in Estonia. The Czechia team reached the playoffs with a 4-1 RR record and knocked off Denmarks Team Holtermann/Holtermann (QF) and host nation's Team Kaldvee/Lill (SF) to reach the final. The #2 ranked Norwegian couple also reached the playoffs with a 4-1 RR record and picked up playoff wins over Poland's Team Walczak/Augustyniak (QF) and Czechia's Team Paulova/Paul (SF).

As the blog was still in sickness recovery mode last week (combined with the previous weekend's events ending on Monday), there were no #TwineTimePredictions last week.

Sorry rock heads. But the previews and predictions will return.

And maybe in a future post we can discuss the weirdness of tour event playoff formats.

Like how the Shorty Jenkins only had 7 women's teams in the playoff bracket?

Or how we have pool play formats but Head 2 Head RR results really mean nothing if we just take the Top 8 overall to the playoffs? This is especially interesting when you have a large handful of teams tied for one or two of the final playoff spots.

Do we really ALWAYS want/need LSD to determine our playoff brackets each week?

If you, dear #TwineTime follower, have any thoughts on this topic share them in the comments below or on social media. Lets chat...

This past weekend may have only seen a small handful of events hit the ice but there were many major highly ranked teams competing. And the mountain was paying attention.

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

#PowerRankings

MEN

1. Team Schwaller (2)

Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - Champions

When you accomplish the Ontario Double in September, the Power Rankings takes notice and you move to the #1 spot.

Team Schwaller is on a roll right now, having won the Stu Sells Oakville and Shorty Jenkins Classic titles in back-to-back weeks.

Plus they knocked off the previous #1 team in the championship final.

2. Team Mouat (1)

Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - Finalist

The Scottish lads may not be happy dropping their #1 ranking this week but consider the Shorty Jenkins final as also being the game for #1. The Swiss pulled out the win.

But these are two very strong teams, consistent week in and week out. They may retain the top spots on the mountain for a majority of the season if they continue playing like this.

3. Team Muskatewitz (3)

Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - Did Not Qualify

Perhaps all the early season curling and travel caught up to the German team as they just missed the playoffs in Cornwall with a 3-2 record (and that lovely debatable TB rule).

Still, as teams charging beneath them either did not compete this past weekend or also failed to capitalize on the opportunity, they retain (barely) their Top 3 spot on the mountain.

4. Team Hoesli (4)

Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - Did Not Qualify

Similar to Muskatewitz above, Switzerland's Hoesli missed the playoffs in Cornwall with a 3-2 record. Yet they opened the event with a win over eventual playoff bound Team Dunstone, who also finished the RR with an identical 3-2 record.

The weird TB procedure is not enough for the mountain to punish teams...for now anyway.

5. Team Gushue (5)

Last Week: Did Not Compete (DNC)

After a SF start to open their season last weekend, the boys from The Rock took the weekend off.

We have seen this schedule approach in the past from Team Gushue, where they do not load up on too many tour events before or in between the #GSOC schedule.

They will be on the ice at the #Sweep16 starting next week in Calgary.

6. Team McEwen (6)

Last Week: DNC

What do you do after winning a tour title the weekend prior?

Rest and recover and enjoy the winnings.

After a busy last few weekends, including putting on major Air Miles, the SK champs relaxed in preparation for the #Sweep16.

7. Team Whyte (9)

Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - QF

Another weekend of mixed emotions for Scotland's Team Whyte.

They dominated the RR, qualifying with a perfect 5-0 record.

They took a quick elimination in the playoff bracket though, losing their QF game to Quebec's Team Asselin.

One has to think this is one of the best teams in the world who have yet to reach their potential this season.

Is it a disappointing present OR a danger warning sign for the future?

8. Team Retornaz (HM)

Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - SF

There are the Italian Stallions we have grown to love and cheer for.

A solid return to ice for the Italians in Cornwall, reaching the playoffs with a 5-0 record and ending up with a strong SF result.

9. Team Carruthers (10)

Last Week: Alberta Curling Series Major - QF

Back-to-back playoff weekends is a strong start to the season for the new look Manitoba foursome.

But they may also be left asking themselves "What If?" after playing so well qualifying A-Side in Beaumont only to get tripped up in the QF by the eventual champions.

10. Team McDonald (7)

Last Week: DNC

The #NextGen team holds on to their Top 10 spot on the mountain, a result combining some missed opportunities for teams below them and the mountain still recognizing the stellar September they have put together.

Are they the #BracketBuster team to watch out for next week?

Honourable Mention: Team Edin, Team Totzek, Team Asselin, Team Dunstone, Team Nyman

WOMEN

1. Team Homan (2)

Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - Champions

The Homan Empire Returned...and apparently were not happy with last week's Power Rankings where they were displaced from the #1 spot.

They stepped on the ice for the first time this season, as current world champions, and went undefeated in claiming the title.

The blog apologizes to The Empire. You are back on top.

2. Team Tirinzoni (5)

Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - Finalist

They may not have won the title but they showed up this past weekend in Cornwall and put opposition on notice that they remain one of the best, and more feared, teams in the world.

Homan landed the first blow of the season but one would think these two teams are going to go blow for blow all season in an epic 10 round contest.

3. Team Hasselborg (4)

Last Week: European Qualifier - Winner

Well that was a bit of an anti-climatic Euro Qualifier over the weekend.

Team Hasselborg came to play and dominated their rivals Team Wrana, sweeping the qualifier series 4-0 and punching their ticket to the 2024 European Curling Championships in Finland.

Anyone who follows Team Hasselborg knows how important Euro's are to this team. After missing the opportunity last season, losing the qualifier series to Wrana, they are back and looking very dangerous once again.

4. Team Tabata (1)

Last Week: DNC

It was a short week on top for Japan's Team Tabata. But when Team Homan and Team Tirinzoni get on the ice to compete and reach a championship final, against a strong field, expect to get bumped down on the mountain when you aren't competing.

Not to mention Team Hasselborg's domination over their main rivals.

Lets not take anything away from this team though either. Keep taking notice of how good this team is.

They will have a chance to make a move back up the mountain this upcoming weekend when they step on the ice in Beaumont, AB for the women's Alberta Curling Series Major event.

5. Team Skrlik (7)

Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - SF

Talk about an incredible three weeks of curling for the new look Team Skrlik.

Finalists the past two weeks, this weekend they reached the Final Four in Corwall before falling to eventual champions Team Homan.

They are playing great and have a ton of momentum right now. A dangerous #BracketBuster for the #Sweep16 perhaps?

And hey, when you are taking playoff losses only to teams who win titles, it isn't all bad.

6. Team Gim (6)

Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - QF

Another weekend, another playoff result. Another QF loss.

Consistency is there. Playoff wins are not.

Still one of the most feared teams to play in an event...until the playoffs right now?

7. Team Fujisawa (9)

Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - SF

A finals appearance last week followed by a SF run this past weekend, Japan's Team Fujisawa is putting it all together at the right time.

They also benefited from the weird playoff format, featuring only 7 teams instead of 8 and giving the top RR team a bye to the SF.

One could argue they should be ranked higher, perhaps above Team Gim. BUT, the handed SF spot coupled with the SF loss, is almost similar to a QF finish.

But they are making moves and climbing....

8. Team Constantini (8)

Last Week: DNC

The Italians took the weekend off as they prepare to compete this upcoming weekend at the Womens Masters Basel event in Switzerland. An event where they reached the SF last season too.

9. Team Schwaller (3)

Last Week: Shorty Jenkins Classic - Did Not Qualify

While their fellow Stu Sells Oakville champions on the men's side, Team Schwaller, continued their winning ways this weekend, the women's Team Schwaller did not have the same result in Cornwall.

If was a tough weekend, missing the playoffs with a 2-3 record.

Now we will see how they rebound as they will be in Basel, SUI this upcoming weekend.

10. Team Thevenot (10)

Last Week: DNC

After back-to-back tour final weekends, Saskatchewan's Team Thevenot took the weekend off to rest up. The #NextGen team retains their spot on the Top 10 as well...for now anyway...

Honourable Mention: Team Kitazawa, Team Lawes, Team Yoshimura, Team MacMillan, Team Morrison

#StayTuned

Creeping eyes may start looking into the future as the PointsBet Invitational hit the ice in Calgary next week.

Plus the first #GSOC event of the season, The Tour Challenge, is only a few weeks away.

But lets not overlook this upcoming weekend's tour action as there will be men's events in Okotoks, AB, Winnipeg, MB, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON and Jonkoping, SWE.

We will have women's tour events to focus on as well, taking place in Beaumont, AB, Winnipeg, MB, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON and Basel, SUI.

Before welcoming the top Canadian teams for the #Sweep16 next week, Calgary will host top international mixed doubles teams for a tour event this weekend as well.

Enjoy the few days off rock heads. The season is in full swing and the weekend's are lining up with top notch curling action.