PCCC2024 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Pan Continental Curling Championships Preview

World championship and Olympic hopes on the ice in Lacombe 

The 2024 Pan Continental Curling Championships will be historic in many ways.

One, world championship spots will be handed out at the conclusion of the event with the Top 4 nations earning a ticket. Note, Canada (world men's) and Korea (world women's) have already earned world championship tickets as the host nations.

Two, the results next week in Lacombe will factor into 2026 Winter Olympic Games qualification. For nations wanting a direct pass to Italy, the first step is qualifying for the world championships. But even for nations who do not directly qualify, you must compete in your nations respected continental A-Division to earn a ticket to the pre-qualification event.

Three, this will be the 3rd offering of these championships. On the scale of World Curling events, this event is still in its infancy stage. There has been some growth with new nations stepping on the ice. But there has also been some setbacks with nations who competed previously not entered this year.

Four, will previous domination trends continue? Canada has won both men's titles. Japan and Korea have contested both women's finals, with each nation picking up a gold medal win. If these trends are to end, who steps up and takes advantage?

This is going to be a fun week of curling action rock heads.

Power Rankings - W13

 #BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings - Week 13

#ROCKtober crowns a world champion

#ROCKtober is always a busy month on the curling schedule.

There are more tour events scheduled across all the disciplines of the sport.

Teams are chasing points, money and #GSOC qualification.

But it is not just tour life taking centre ice in our curling house.

We also crown our first world champion of the season.

And we prepare for continental championships, which serve as world championship qualifiers.

This past weekend we also witnessed a back-and-forth battle for a European Curling Championships ticket to Finland.

And how can we forget the off-ice DRAMAAAA in Canadian men's curling with new teammate announcements?!?!

Oh yes, #ROCKtober has brought all the excitement back into the arena for curling fans. 

What more could happen in the final 10 days of the month?

Perhaps the Halloween spooks and scares will continue?

Power Rankings - W12

 #BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings - Week 12

To play "Library" or not to play "Library"? That is the question!

It is often believed the week or two after a #GSOC event is when top curling teams play a little game called "Library".

You know this game, right? If you ever babysat siblings or young ones, you should be very familiar.

The game where everyone has to pretend they are in a library and be quiet.

Similar to the curling environment after a slam event. The top teams go quiet and stay out of the house for a week or two.

Or do they?

We may want to start putting *some* of that notion to bed because this past weekend we saw many top teams compete at tour events, especially many top international women's teams.

And while the blog has been riding high on the Japanese women making moves this season, this weekend pointed out another nation should be raising curling fan eyebrows as well.

Watch out for Korea. 

The Korea women took home 2 tour titles this weekend, both successful #DefendTheIce moments too.

Plus another Korean women's team reached a tour final as did a Korean men's team.

Is Korea the "new Japan" for the season?

And will these results equate to Korean teams making moves up the Power Rankings mountain?

Lets go climbing and find out...

WMxCC2024 Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Happy Thanksgiving Canada

Lets give thanks...for a packed curling weekend

If you are Canadian, live in Canada or are visiting Canada this weekend, you are in for a long weekend of giving thanks.

Canadians spend the second weekend of October celebrating Thanksgiving.

Unlike our neighbours to the south who celebrate the holiday in November and on a Thursday, Canadians celebrate in October and on a Monday.

And this year, curling fans have LOTS to be thankful for.

Are you ready for a full slate of curling action?

We have tour events happening from the West coast to the East coast.

We even have a tour event in Europe.

Plus we kick off the first world championship event of the season.

Rockheads, we will have stuffing on our plates and in our (curling) houses this weekend.

No time to waste, lets slide into the action with our #TwineTimePreviews and #TwineTimePredictions.

Power Rankings - W11

#BetweenTheSheets: Power Rankings - Week 11

The Sweep 16 + Tour Challenge shake up the mountain

The Power Rankings are back!

After taking last week off in preparation for the start of the season-opening #gsoc of the season, mountain viewings are now open once again.

And there is A LOT of curling for the Power Rankings to consider this week.

We saw Team McEwen and Team Homan dominate the #Sweep16 competition in winning the PointsBet Invitational.

This past weekend, Team Einarson silenced critics with their Tour Challenge win while Team Mouat showed up to remind everyone why they should be considered the #1 team in the world.

What will the mountain do with #TeamUpset results too?

We see you Team McDonald (Sweep 16 Final Four appearance) and Team Skrlik (Sweep 16 Finalist).

The mountain also had watchful eyes on the Tour Challenge Tier II 👀👀

How did these results shake up the Power Rankings Top 10?

Lets go climbing and find out...

Tour Challenge Preview

#BetweenTheSheets: Tour Challenge Preview

Bracket Mania continues in PEI

 As one Bracket Mania event ends, another begins.

The #Sweep16 is a mere days entered into the record book and we are already watching another major curling event.

Oh how this schedule can be both fun and cruel at the same time.

And those teams who competed in Alberta at the PointsBet Invitational before flying across Canada to compete at the Tour Challenge in PEI...You are true rock stars. At least they are racking up those travel points, right?

Notice the statement above using the word "watching" for the #gsoc?

We are FINALLY able to WATCH Grand Slam of Curling action when the event actually starts.

What a concept!!

ALL games for ALL draws are now available for Live Streaming HERE.

Not all sheets will have commentary however but you can still watch your favourite teams compete and enjoy the sights and sounds of the arena.

New #GSOC logo. Live streaming. Triple knockout format.

What's next for the new-look Grand Slam of Curling?

We see you The Curling Group...and we await what "surprises" you have for us next.