Curling on Any Sport Any Time
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012
They may be 4-3 and in fourth place at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, but the typical Alberta curling fan should be shaking their head after Day Four of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Red Deer.
The bottom line is that Alberta’s Heather Nedohin has been oh, so inconsistent. She has won games where she was the underdog (over World Champions Jennifer Jones of Manitoba and Kelly Scott of British Columbia) and then lost games where traditionally Alberta has been the heavy favourite against their opponent (to Yukon/Northwest Territories and New Brunswick).
The leaderboard is all jammed together at the moment with Team Manitoba, Team British Columbia and Team Canada at 5-2, followed by Team Quebec, Team New Brunswick, Team Saskatchewan and Team Alberta all at 4-3.
In a match of former World Champions, Jones takes on Scott this morning with first place on the line. Team Alberta plays Team Saskatchewan this morning and Team Quebec this afternoon.
Speaking of Team Quebec, they had a great comeback against Team Canada Friday night. Down 5-4 in the ninth end, they stole one in the tenth to tie and then stole three more in the extra end in the 11th to win when Team Canada skip Amber Holland came up light with her final rock.
Tags: 2012 scotties tournament of hearts, jennifer jones, kelly scott
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Monday, February 20th, 2012
Her team may not be 100% health wise, but British Columbia’s Kelly Scott came away with a huge 7-5 victory over defending champion Amber Holland of Yorkton, Saskatchewan after day three of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Red Deer.
In a battle of the titans as both teams were a perfect 3-0 heading into play, Scott stole one point in the tenth and final end to preserve the victory.
B.C. won without regular third Sasha Carter who had a stomach flu. So that meant rookie Dailene Siverston went to third and fifth Sherry Fraser got some playing time.
In an upset this afternoon, Prince Edward Island delivered a great comeback in a victory over Saskatchewan. Kim Dolan, P.E.I.’s 53 year-old skip was down 7-4 after seven, but got one back with the hammer in the eighth end and then stole two in the ninth end before getting the win in the tenth end.
As for Team Alberta after their first four games, they are 2-2. They have defeated co-favourite Jennifer Jones of Manitoba and Ontario, and were upset by Kelly Gelusha of the Yukon/Northwest Territories and also lost a tight 6-5 game last night to Team Canada.
Tags: amber holland, dailene siverston, kelly gelusha, kelly scott, kim dolan, sasha carter, sherry fraser
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Monday, February 13th, 2012
Kevin Koe (Verne Equinox, Wikimedia Commons)
It was an intriguing Sunday at the Boston Pizza Cup in Camrose.
In the men’s semi-final, Brock Virtue of Calgary, an unknown curling team on the Canadian scene, shocked Olympic champion Kevin Martin 8-7.
Then in the final, Kevin Koe, the 2010 World Champion, now living in Calgary, defeated Virtue 6-3 to win his second Alberta Men’s Curling Championship in three years.
But I feel the story of the tournament was Virtue’s team because nobody expected anything but a Koe/Martin final. But it was Virtue that came out with the stunning victory. The 25-year old from the Glencoe Club in Calgary recorded a key steal of two points in the fourth end to take a 5-1 lead.
The field is now set for the 2012 Tim Horton’s Brier in Saskatoon. Other high profile Canadian curling teams that have booked their ticket to Saskatchewan are 2006 Olympic Champion Brad Gushue of Newfoundland, 2007 World Champion Glenn Howard of Ontario, and Brad Jacobs of Northern Ontario, who finished third at the 2010 Tim Horton’s Brier, and scored eight points in one end in his 14-3 Northern Ontario playdowns semi-final victory on the weekend.
Tags: 2012 tim horton's brier, brad gushue, brad jacobs, brock virtue, glenn howard, kevin koe
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Monday, February 13th, 2012
Brendan Bottcher (Wikimedia Commons)
A second Alberta curling team has qualified for the 2012 World Junior Curling Championship.
On Sunday in Napanee, Ontario, Brendan Bottcher from Sherwood Park, Alberta defeated Brennan Wark of Northern Ontario 9-6 in the final of the M & M Meat Shop Canadian Junior Curling Championship.
Bottcher got off to a great start as Alberta took an early 3-0 lead after the first two ends and never looked back. Things did get a little interesting though as Wark pulled within one point after eight ends of play, but Bottcher scored a deuce in the tenth end to seal the victory.
The Bottcher rink also consisted of third Evan Asmussen, second Landon Bucholz, and lead Bryce Buchholz.
With the win, Bottcher will represent Canada at the World Junior Curling Championship from March 3-11 in Ostersund, Sweden.
On Saturday, Jocelyn Peterman of Red Deer beat Manitoba’s Shannon Birchard to win the Ladies Championship. It is the first time since 1978 that Alberta won the men’s and women’s junior championship in the same year. That year Darren Fish won on the men’s side, and a young Cathy King (who would later win the 1998 Scotties Tournament of Hearts as a skip) won on the women’s side.
Tags: brendan bottcher, brennan wark, bryce bucholz, cathy king, darren fish, evan asmussen, jocelyn peterman, landon bucholz
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Sunday, February 12th, 2012
Curling Rock (Earl Andrew, Wikimedia Commons)
Red Deer’s Jocelyn Peterman is off to the World Junior Curling Championship from March 3-11 in Ostersund, Sweden.
On Saturday in Napanee, Ontario, Peterman representing Team Alberta, defeated Team Manitoba’s Shannon Birchard 12-6 in the M & M Meat Shop Canadian Junior Curling Championship Final.
Peterman’s victory was a complete blowout. She once led 9-1 at the half-way point of the match. Peterman’s team includes third Brittany Tran, second Rebecca Konschuh and lead Kristine Anderson.
Edmonton’s Brendan Bottcher could make it an Alberta sweep. Bottcher, of Edmonton, will play either Kyle Doering of Manitoba or Brennan Wark of Northern Ontario in the men’s final today.
It is also getting interesting at the Alberta’s Men’s Provincial Championship in Camrose. This morning Olympic champion Kevin Martin is taking on Calgary’s Brock Virtue in the semi-final with the winner taking on former World Champion Kevin Koe. Don’t count out Virtue though, as he upset Martin 7-4 in the B qualifier Friday night.
Tags: alberta men's curling championship, boston pizza cup, brendan bottcher, brennan wark, brittany tran, brock virtue, canadian junior curling championship, jocelyn peterman, kevin koe, kevin martin, kristine anderson, kyle doering, rebecca konschuh, shannon birchard
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Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
We now know what curling teams will represent their respective provinces at the 2012 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Red Deer from February 18-26.
Team Alberta will be represented by Edmonton’s Heather Nedohin who will be skipping at her second National Championship. She finished 6-5 at the 2000 Scott Tournament of Hearts in Prince George, British Columbia. Nedohin defeated Jessie Kaufman 8-5 Sunday in Leduc.
Nedohin has significant experience at the National Championship. She won the Scott Tournament of Hearts in 1998 as a third to Cathy King. Nedohin also represented Alberta at the 1997 Scott Tournament of Hearts.
Other very notable names are defending champion Amber Holland of Team Canada, 2007 World Champion Kelly Scott of British Columbia and 2008 World Champion Jennifer Jones of Manitoba.
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Tags: 2012 scotties tournament of hearts, amber holland, beth iskiw, cathy king, colleen jones, heather nedohin, heather smith-dacey, jennifer jones, jessie kaufman, kelly scott, laine peters, marie france-larouche
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Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
Curling rock (Earl Andrew, Wikimedia Commons)
According to TSN, the city of Edmonton is hosting the 2013 Brier.
The event will take place from March 2-10, 2013. Tickets are expected to go on sale in February.
This will be the first time since 2005 Edmonton will host the Brier, an event I attended with my Grandma and had a wonderful time despite suffering from a doozy of a head cold.
Randy Ferbey was representing Alberta that year and defeated Shawn Adams of Nova Scotia in an outstanding final.
I attended several of the round robin events and found out something I had thought of for years. Attending a Brier is much better than watching on television because you get to see four games at once. This is fantastic for any curling fan.
The Canadian Curling Association also announced a month ago that Victoria will host the 2013 World Men’s Curling Championship.
Saskatoon is hosting the 2012 Tim Horton’s Brier, Red Deer is hosting the 2012 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Lethbridge is hosting the 2012 Women’s World Curling Championships.
Tags: randy ferbey, shawn adams, tim horton's brier
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Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
Kevin Martin (Wikimedia Commons)
With the World Curling Tour starting its Grand Slam season in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario this weekend with the Grey Power World Cup of Curling, Winnipeg’s Mike McEwen is the number one seed.
I’m sorry, but what on Earth has McEwen accomplished in his curling career that has given him the right to be number one?
I know McEwen won two Grand Slam events last year–the World Cup in Windsor, Ontario and the Canadian Open in Oshawa, Ontario.
But at the end of the day, is he the World Champion? No, that’s Jeff Stoughton. Is he the Olympic Champion? No, that’s Kevin Martin. Has he ever represented his province of Manitoba at one single Brier as a skip? Nope.
The only Gold medal McEwen has to his name was at the 2003 Winter Universiade in Tarvisio, Italy.
I’m sorry folks, but am I missing something here. How can a curler be considered number one when he hasn’t even represented Canada at a single significant international event?
Kevin Martin is still the best curler in the world in my books. How can you argue with four Tim Horton’s Briers, a World Championship and an Olympic Gold medal? Oh yeah, he also has 14 World Curling Tour titles, $2 million in career winnings and this past year won his 100th career game at the Brier.
I know there is a saying, what have you done for me lately. McEwen did win two Grand Slam events last year on the World Curling Tour, and has shown consistency on the Tour so far in 2011-12, but those factors should not be the only ones in giving a team number one status.
Tags: jeff stoughton, kevin martin, mike mcewen, world curling tour
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Saturday, April 16th, 2011
Scott Hannan (Bridget Samuels, Wikimedia Commons)
One of the more interesting storylines so far in the 2010-11 Stanley Cup Playoffs has been the strategy of the Washington Capitals. The players have bought into head coach Bruce Boudreau’s defensive mindset and limited the quality of scoring opportunities by the New York Rangers considerably. One Capital defenceman that is receiving considerably high praise is defenceman Scott Hannan who was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche for Tomas Fleischmann on November 30. Hannan had four blocked shots and two hits in 28:39 in Game One Wednesday and was a +1 with a blocked shot in 21:34 last night. Offensively, two former Oilers have been producing for the Capitals. Jason Arnott and Jason Chimera found the puck past Henrik Lundqvist last night. Game three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal is set for Sunday at 1pm (NBC) at New York’s Madison Square Garden with the Capitals leading the series 2-0.
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Tags: aaron hill, adam lind, anaheim ducks, andy murray, ben smith, boston bruins, boston red sox, brian gionta, buffalo sabres, carey price, Chicago Blackhawks, colorado avalanche, corey perry, david ferrer, detroit red wings, glenn howard, henrik lundqvist, ilya bryzgalov, jason arnott, jason chimera, jeff stoughton, joe pavelski, johan franzen, jojo reyes, jonathan quick, Jose Bautista, josh beckett, kevin koe, kevin martin, los angeles kings, montreal canadiens, nashville predators, new york rangers, niklas edin, patrick kaleta, pekka rinne, Philadelphia Flyers, phoenix coyotes, RAFAEL NADAL, ryan getzlaf, ryan miller, San Jose Sharks, scott hannan, shea weber, tomas fleischmann, toronto blue jays, Vancouver Canucks, washington capitals, winnipeg jets
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Sunday, April 10th, 2011
Jeff Stoughton (Bing Images)
For the second time in his career, Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton has won a World Men’s Curling Championship.
This evening in Regina, Saskatchewan, Stoughton’s Team Canada rink defeated Tom Brewster of Scotland 6-5 in the championship final.
The turning point came in the fifth end when Stoughton made a spectacular shot to punch a Scotland stone out of the four foot to score three points. Stoughton’s shot gave Canada a 4-3 lead, and put him in control for the rest of the game.
After Scotland tied the game at 4, lead Steve Gould recorded a fantastic double hit and roll behind cover which would lead to substantial separation of Canadian stones in the house. Stoughton would record his deuce and put Canada up 6-4.
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Tags: jeff stoughton, kevin koe, steve gould, world men's curling championship
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Friday, April 8th, 2011
Jeff Stoughton (Bing Images)
Jeff Stoughton’s Winnipeg rink is now in the final of the World Men’s Curling Championship Sunday night in Regina (TSN, 5PM). This evening in the 1-2 game, Stoughton defeated Scotland’s Tom Brewster 5-2.
A major reason why Stoughton advanced to the final was because of two significant mistakes by Brewster. Down 3-2 to Stoughton in the eighth, Brewster was heavy with his final draw and gave up a steal. Then in the ninth, Brewster flashed his final stone and was unable to remove the Canadian stone, allowing Stoughton to steal another point.
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Tags: alviro quiros, boston bruins, brian gionta, carey price, Chicago Blackhawks, detroit red wings, geoff ogilvy, jason day, jeff stoughton, jon mead, k.j. choi, masters, mikhail grabovski, montreal canadiens, Ottawa Senators, phil kessel, rory mcilroy, steve gould, tiger woods, tim thomas, toronto maple leafs, tuukka rask, world men's curling championship
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Friday, April 8th, 2011
Pat Simmons (Mark Blinch, Bing Images)
Edmonton curling star Kevin Koe will have a new third on the 2011-12 World Curling Tour.
According to TSN’s Vic Rauter, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan’s Pat Simmons will team up with Koe next season.
Koe needed to find a new third when Blake MacDonald announced his decision to retire from the game.
Koe, the 2010 World Champion, will still have his solid front end of Carter Rycroft and Nolan Thiessen next season. Koe, with MacDonald, defeated Glenn Howard of Ontario at the 2010 Tim Horton’s Brier Final in Halifax 6-5 and Norway’s Torger Nergard 9-3 at the 2010 World Men’s Curling Championship Final in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
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Tags: kevin koe, pat simmons
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Tuesday, April 5th, 2011
Jeff Stoughton (Bing Images)
Jeff Stoughton of Winnipeg is on fire.
This afternoon he recorded three three-enders as Canada defeated France 11-5.
Then tonight, Stoughton went head-to-head against Scotland’s Tom Brewster and beat the Scottish skip with ease 7-3. Both teams entered the game with a perfect 6-0 record.
Stoughton took complete control of the game early with a deuce in the first and a steal in the second. He then recorded a remarkable double takeout in the ninth to finish the deal. Canada now improves to a perfect 7-0, and will play the Czech Republic and Sweden Wednesday and then China and Norway Thursday.
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Tags: jeff stoughton
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Monday, April 4th, 2011
Jeff Stoughton (Bing Images)
The entire country of Canada was holding their breath at the top of their lungs this evening as Canada’s Jeff Stoughton was in a dog fight with American Pete Fenson at the World Men’s Curling Championship in Regina.
It’s ok now. We can exhale. Stoughton’s Team Canada rink won 5-3. Stoughton now sits at 5-0.
It wasn’t easy, and it was back-to-back steals by Stoughton that gave him the victory at the end of the day.
There’s something about curling that is Canadian, and losing to the Americans at a World Men’s Curling Championship destroys our national psyche.
But we can relax for now. With the loss Fenson drops to 1-4, making it unlikely that the United States will be in playoff contention at Regina.
Next up for Stoughton tomorrow is a date with the French (1:30pm MT) and Scotland (7:30pm MT). French skip Thomas Dufour has been the surprise team at the Worlds with a record of 4-1, while Scotland’s Tom Brewster, like Stoughton, remains on top of the standings at 5-0.
Tags: jeff stoughton, pete fenson, thomas dufour, tom brewster, world men's curling championship
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They may be 4-3 and in fourth place at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, but the typical Alberta curling fan should be shaking their head after Day Four of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Red Deer.
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