If you have any sense of what is right and good, you should be happy for Eugene Hritzuk.
It took 20 years, but the Saskatchewan skip is finally a Canadian curling champion. Hritzuk, with support from Kevin Kalthoff, Verne Anderson and Dave Folk won the 2008 Canadian Senior Men's Curling Championship this past weekend. The boys from the Wheat Province finished the round robin with a 9-2 record, which earned them a semi-final berth against Brian Rafuse and his Brier vets from Nova Scotia. Hritzuk and company used the hammer in the tenth end to full advantage in claiming their 6-5 victory.
So it was on to the final of a national curling championship. Great news, right? Well for anyone not named Eugene Hritzuk it would be fantastic news. Unfortunately for Hritzuk, there were probably mixed emotions arising after the semi-final win.
The year was 1988 and the setting was the Chicoutimi-Jonquiere Labatt Brier. After spanking Paul Savage's Ontario contingent 6-1 in that year's semi-final, Hritzuk was well on his way to claiming the 59th Brier crown against Alberta's Pat Ryan in the final when the wheels fell off. Leading 7-5 playing the tenth end, Hritzuk's fortunes turned and before you could say Moosomin, Ryan counted three and had earned his ticket to Lauzanne, Switzerland and the World Championships. It was a heart breaker for Hritzuk, who was never able to make it back to the national men's shootout.
Sunday's final against New Brunswick's Russ Howard gave Hritzuk the opportunity to vanquish a number of ghosts and he rose to the occasion in fine fashion. Howard and his mates Wayne Tallon, Mike Flannery and Martin Mockler dug themselves a bit of a hole early, but tied things up at 4 apiece after six ends. Hritzuk took a deuce in the seventh and forced Howard to a single in the eighth before the ninth was blanked. One up coming home with the hammer.
Saskatchewan scored the single in the tenth and secured the 7-5 win.
Eugene, the Canadian curling community couldn't be happier for you!
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
A New World Order
Maybe it has something to do with that mammoth Antarctic ice shelf falling into the ocean but be assured; the world as we knew it just a few days ago, no longer exists! At least the curling world.
How else to explain why China's Bingyu Wang has today off to explore Vernon's spring time beauty, while Canada's Jennifer Jones will spend the afternoon fighting for her playoff life at this year's Ford World Women's Curling Championship. And get this, Jones won't be playing the Americans, Swiss or the Swedes. She has a date with Moe Meguro and her Japanese champions in today's semi-final game. What a world.............What a world.
Wang and her support crew of Ying Liu, Qingshuang Yue and Yan Zhou are starting to make sports writers remember how hard it was to spell Schmirler initially as well. This team seems to be channelling the late great one as they make their way toward the championship medal podium.
In Friday night's 1-2 game, they did everything right in building an impressive 6-1 lead after five ends and cruising to the 7-5 victory against Canada's Jones. Wang and Liu made like Schmirler and Betker in outcurling their opposites at the key backend positions. Jones curled a dismal 79% and missed opportunities to right the team's floundering fortunes on more than one occasion in the first half of the game. After critical misses, Jones would make like Dana Carvey's "Church Lady" and look quite dismayed. The Canadians don't look like they're having much fun.
The Chinese, who have today's bye, and the Japanese, who have the opportunity to spoil Canada's week completely, seem to be having the time of their lives.
How else to explain why China's Bingyu Wang has today off to explore Vernon's spring time beauty, while Canada's Jennifer Jones will spend the afternoon fighting for her playoff life at this year's Ford World Women's Curling Championship. And get this, Jones won't be playing the Americans, Swiss or the Swedes. She has a date with Moe Meguro and her Japanese champions in today's semi-final game. What a world.............What a world.
Wang and her support crew of Ying Liu, Qingshuang Yue and Yan Zhou are starting to make sports writers remember how hard it was to spell Schmirler initially as well. This team seems to be channelling the late great one as they make their way toward the championship medal podium.
In Friday night's 1-2 game, they did everything right in building an impressive 6-1 lead after five ends and cruising to the 7-5 victory against Canada's Jones. Wang and Liu made like Schmirler and Betker in outcurling their opposites at the key backend positions. Jones curled a dismal 79% and missed opportunities to right the team's floundering fortunes on more than one occasion in the first half of the game. After critical misses, Jones would make like Dana Carvey's "Church Lady" and look quite dismayed. The Canadians don't look like they're having much fun.
The Chinese, who have today's bye, and the Japanese, who have the opportunity to spoil Canada's week completely, seem to be having the time of their lives.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Scots Skip Scuttled
When it comes to the root causes of a team dumping their skip, it usually starts with the little things. Perhaps you and the second are completely ignored after having swept your fearless leader's "free" draw for it's entire 24 second trip to the rings. Perhaps, as vice, it's always your fault when that last rock cross -house double takeout misses its mark by a rock and a half. If only you had the sweepers on it just a little quicker. Yeah right.
It's that time of year when curlers sit back and access just how far their season's goals and aspirations have gone awry. At a club I formerly curled at in the less than politically correct '80's, the men's closing dinner was more affectionately known as "Dump Night". Every year there would be six or eight poor oblivious lads who started the evening thinking everything was just perfect for the next season's lineup, only to find out after 5 or 6 beers that they had become free agents. These things happen in late March; just not normally at a world championship.
When Gail Munro led her Scottish women's champions across the pond to Vernon for this year's Ford shootout, little did she know that her status as skip of the team would be in jeopardy as the week unfolded. The Scots started off with a fine performance in the tourney's opening draw when they downed Russia 8-7. Unfortunately for the girls from Caledonia, it would not be until Thursday in Draw 16, that they recorded their second win of the event. By then, all semblance of team unity among the Scots was long gone.
Reports out of Vernon suggest that Scottish national coach Derek Brown asked Munro to step down after the team's Wednesday night loss to Japan. With a record at the time of 1-8, and her confidence slipping, the skip agreed to the request but team mate Lyndsay Wilson informed the coach that she wouldn't play unless Munro was at the helm. The Scottish brain trust then apparently re-approached Munro about filling Wilson's spot in the lineup. She refused so the Scots played their last two round-robin games with a three member squad.
It took an extra end, but they triumphed over Italy 5-4 in Draw 16, then doubled up on the underwhelming Czech Republic 8-4. The Scots finish the tourney with a record of 3-8.
You can bet your last dollar that it'll be a frosty flight back to Edinburgh!
It's that time of year when curlers sit back and access just how far their season's goals and aspirations have gone awry. At a club I formerly curled at in the less than politically correct '80's, the men's closing dinner was more affectionately known as "Dump Night". Every year there would be six or eight poor oblivious lads who started the evening thinking everything was just perfect for the next season's lineup, only to find out after 5 or 6 beers that they had become free agents. These things happen in late March; just not normally at a world championship.
When Gail Munro led her Scottish women's champions across the pond to Vernon for this year's Ford shootout, little did she know that her status as skip of the team would be in jeopardy as the week unfolded. The Scots started off with a fine performance in the tourney's opening draw when they downed Russia 8-7. Unfortunately for the girls from Caledonia, it would not be until Thursday in Draw 16, that they recorded their second win of the event. By then, all semblance of team unity among the Scots was long gone.
Reports out of Vernon suggest that Scottish national coach Derek Brown asked Munro to step down after the team's Wednesday night loss to Japan. With a record at the time of 1-8, and her confidence slipping, the skip agreed to the request but team mate Lyndsay Wilson informed the coach that she wouldn't play unless Munro was at the helm. The Scottish brain trust then apparently re-approached Munro about filling Wilson's spot in the lineup. She refused so the Scots played their last two round-robin games with a three member squad.
It took an extra end, but they triumphed over Italy 5-4 in Draw 16, then doubled up on the underwhelming Czech Republic 8-4. The Scots finish the tourney with a record of 3-8.
You can bet your last dollar that it'll be a frosty flight back to Edinburgh!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Chinese Curling Comes Of Age
If only they knew! With the world's largest potential fan base behind them, the Chinese women's curling team of Bingyu Wang, Yin Liu, Qingshuang Yue and Yan Zhou should be the most popular girls in that country this morning. Millions and millions of citizens should be waking up to read in their Beijing Globe & Mail's and their Shanghai Star's of the exploits of their nation's newest sports phenoms. I'm thinking however, that the most successful day in Chinese curling history will probably be relagated to page six of the sports section.
What Wang and company accomplished yesterday in Vernon, British Columbia was akin to the New York Giants beating the undefeated New England Patriots for the Super Bowl, and then two hours later, trouncing the Indianapolis Colts for good measure.
In a battle of the undefeated in Draw 9 of this year's Ford World Women's Curling Championships, the Chinese team took Canada's Jennifer Jones down to last rock in a see-saw match for first place in the standings. Facing two Chinese counters, Jones was uncharacteristically heavy with her draw to the four foot and dang if Wang didn't steal the 9-7 win! Both teams curled 79% for the game, but China's second, Qingshuang Yue led all shooters with an 89% proficiency rating.
After a brief respite, the Chinese foursome returned to battle against former world champ Debbie McCormick of the U.S.A. The Americans were less than stellar in their execution and Wang took full advantage of their miscues en route to an abbreviated 10-1 victory.
Make no mistake, this is not a case of smoke and mirrors. After 11 draws, Wang is tied with Canada's Jones on top of the stats board as the sharpest shooting skips in the shootout at 80%.
These ladies know how to curl. The Chinese have all but assured themselves a place at the playoff table and have got to be liking their prospects. If only the world's largest potential fan base knew!
What Wang and company accomplished yesterday in Vernon, British Columbia was akin to the New York Giants beating the undefeated New England Patriots for the Super Bowl, and then two hours later, trouncing the Indianapolis Colts for good measure.
In a battle of the undefeated in Draw 9 of this year's Ford World Women's Curling Championships, the Chinese team took Canada's Jennifer Jones down to last rock in a see-saw match for first place in the standings. Facing two Chinese counters, Jones was uncharacteristically heavy with her draw to the four foot and dang if Wang didn't steal the 9-7 win! Both teams curled 79% for the game, but China's second, Qingshuang Yue led all shooters with an 89% proficiency rating.
After a brief respite, the Chinese foursome returned to battle against former world champ Debbie McCormick of the U.S.A. The Americans were less than stellar in their execution and Wang took full advantage of their miscues en route to an abbreviated 10-1 victory.
Make no mistake, this is not a case of smoke and mirrors. After 11 draws, Wang is tied with Canada's Jones on top of the stats board as the sharpest shooting skips in the shootout at 80%.
These ladies know how to curl. The Chinese have all but assured themselves a place at the playoff table and have got to be liking their prospects. If only the world's largest potential fan base knew!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Laurier Tops The Class in University Curling
The Laurier Golden Hawks went to school on the competition and graduated at the head of the class in both men's and women's action at the 2008 CIS/CCA Canadian University Curling Championships. Both teams utilized impressive playoff runs in capturing their respective titles in play which concluded at the Guelph Curling Club on Sunday, March 16.
After downing a determined University of Regina foursome in a tie-breaker just to make the playoffs, Laurier's Hollie Nicol led Laura Hickey, Danielle Inglis, Erica Butler and Hilary McDermott to a quarter- final matchup with #1 seeded Brock. Throughout the week's pool play, the Badgers looked like a team to be reckoned with as they rolled to an unblemished 6-0 record. Alas, it was not to be as the Golden Hawks put a three count in the seventh end to good use en route to the 9-6 victory.
Laurier's 9-3 semi-final win against #4 seeded Laurentian was never really in doubt. The Lady Vees finished pool play with a 4-2 record and had subdued Alberta in an exciting quarter final matchup, but they got behind early and stayed there in this contest.
The University of Manitoba gained their berth in the final with impressive playoff wins over Guelph and Calgary. Keileigh Strath skipped the #2 ranked Bison team of Theresa Cannon, Jolene Rutter and Danielle Schrumm. The championship game was a back and forth affair which held the spectators on hand spell-bound throughout. Laurier trailed 4-2 after six ends, and managed to take only a single in the seventh. They rallied however, to steal the eighth and ninth ends to lead 5-4 coming home. In the tenth, when Manitoba's last rock effort didn't go according to plan, the Golden Hawks had stolen two more for the 7-4 victory.
At the end of men's pool play there was only one undefeated team on the board and it wasn't skipped by Charley Thomas, Codey Maus or even eventual champion Mike Anderson. Trevor Bonot led his Lakehead University Thunderwolves down from Superior and made short work of the competition in "C" pool. His 6-0 record was good for top seed in the playoffs and a date with a determined University of Regina squad which had survived tie-breakers against McGill and Western. Byron Moffatt and his Cougars upended the Thunderwolves 9-4, but fell
7-5 to CharleyThomas and theUniversity of Calgary Dinos in semi-final play.
The Laurier team of Mike Anderson, Bill Francis, Paul Arkilander, Matt Mapletoft and Scott McGregor made their way to the final game with convincing playoff wins over Guelph in the quarters and Brock in the semi's.
Calgary's Thomas, who had J.D. Lind, Matthew Ng and Cameron Rustad along for support, got down early, but made a game of it in the latter ends. The Dinos trailed 5-4 playing the ninth when Laurier cracked a four count and the game was decided. Make the final score 9-4.
Both Laurier teams will prove to be fine ambassadors for Candian university curling when they travel to China and the 2009 FISU Games.
After downing a determined University of Regina foursome in a tie-breaker just to make the playoffs, Laurier's Hollie Nicol led Laura Hickey, Danielle Inglis, Erica Butler and Hilary McDermott to a quarter- final matchup with #1 seeded Brock. Throughout the week's pool play, the Badgers looked like a team to be reckoned with as they rolled to an unblemished 6-0 record. Alas, it was not to be as the Golden Hawks put a three count in the seventh end to good use en route to the 9-6 victory.
Laurier's 9-3 semi-final win against #4 seeded Laurentian was never really in doubt. The Lady Vees finished pool play with a 4-2 record and had subdued Alberta in an exciting quarter final matchup, but they got behind early and stayed there in this contest.
The University of Manitoba gained their berth in the final with impressive playoff wins over Guelph and Calgary. Keileigh Strath skipped the #2 ranked Bison team of Theresa Cannon, Jolene Rutter and Danielle Schrumm. The championship game was a back and forth affair which held the spectators on hand spell-bound throughout. Laurier trailed 4-2 after six ends, and managed to take only a single in the seventh. They rallied however, to steal the eighth and ninth ends to lead 5-4 coming home. In the tenth, when Manitoba's last rock effort didn't go according to plan, the Golden Hawks had stolen two more for the 7-4 victory.
At the end of men's pool play there was only one undefeated team on the board and it wasn't skipped by Charley Thomas, Codey Maus or even eventual champion Mike Anderson. Trevor Bonot led his Lakehead University Thunderwolves down from Superior and made short work of the competition in "C" pool. His 6-0 record was good for top seed in the playoffs and a date with a determined University of Regina squad which had survived tie-breakers against McGill and Western. Byron Moffatt and his Cougars upended the Thunderwolves 9-4, but fell
7-5 to CharleyThomas and theUniversity of Calgary Dinos in semi-final play.
The Laurier team of Mike Anderson, Bill Francis, Paul Arkilander, Matt Mapletoft and Scott McGregor made their way to the final game with convincing playoff wins over Guelph in the quarters and Brock in the semi's.
Calgary's Thomas, who had J.D. Lind, Matthew Ng and Cameron Rustad along for support, got down early, but made a game of it in the latter ends. The Dinos trailed 5-4 playing the ninth when Laurier cracked a four count and the game was decided. Make the final score 9-4.
Both Laurier teams will prove to be fine ambassadors for Candian university curling when they travel to China and the 2009 FISU Games.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
We're off and Running!
The first day of the 2008 CIS/CCA University Curling Championships is officially history and things are unfolding relatively smoothly here in Guelph, Ontario. All thirty six teams arrived safe and on time for the first draw action which got underway at both the Guelph and Elora Curling Clubs at 4:30 this afternoon. Reports from the student athletes suggest that ice conditions at both clubs are competition ready. There's four feet of curl to the lid at the Guelph Curling Club with both turns and somewhat less than that at the four sheet Elora Club.
No real surprises after the event's first two draws. In men's action Laurier has continued to play with the diligence and drive which earned them the 2008 OUA championship title, while Calgary, Brandon and Waterloo have also impressed. In women's play, three Ontario based teams have shown well thus far. Brock was full measure in stealing an eighth end win from the Laurier Golden Hawks, while Queens and Western looked impressive in their opening game wins over Regina and Memorial respectively.
With the pool play format being employed in advance of the playoffs, it looks like a record of
4-2 should pretty much guarantee you at least a tie breaker come Saturday afternoon.
Playoff seeding is based upon pool play records so it's in your best interest to have the best possible record you can generate. The short term goal of all nineteen men's and seventeen women's teams is to be left in the mix when the eight quarter finalists are announced. From there, it's just a matter of manufacturing three straight wins in order to punch your ticket to China and the 2009 Winter Universiade.
So the curling is as it should be at any major national curling championship. And then there were the opening ceremonies............
What a schmozzle! To be fair to the organizers, it's always going to be a bit of a challenge when you're trying to get almost two hundred athletes to file out onto the ice behind one lonely piper.
The introductions went smoothly enough, but then the sound system bogged down just about the time that the dignitaries were scheduled to deliver their words of welcome. Oh well, by then 9/10ths of the people in the building were on the ice and too busy laughing and kibitzing to really care. If that's the biggest gaffe that the organizers have to deal with this week then everything about this event will be A O-K.
We'll keep you posted.
No real surprises after the event's first two draws. In men's action Laurier has continued to play with the diligence and drive which earned them the 2008 OUA championship title, while Calgary, Brandon and Waterloo have also impressed. In women's play, three Ontario based teams have shown well thus far. Brock was full measure in stealing an eighth end win from the Laurier Golden Hawks, while Queens and Western looked impressive in their opening game wins over Regina and Memorial respectively.
With the pool play format being employed in advance of the playoffs, it looks like a record of
4-2 should pretty much guarantee you at least a tie breaker come Saturday afternoon.
Playoff seeding is based upon pool play records so it's in your best interest to have the best possible record you can generate. The short term goal of all nineteen men's and seventeen women's teams is to be left in the mix when the eight quarter finalists are announced. From there, it's just a matter of manufacturing three straight wins in order to punch your ticket to China and the 2009 Winter Universiade.
So the curling is as it should be at any major national curling championship. And then there were the opening ceremonies............
What a schmozzle! To be fair to the organizers, it's always going to be a bit of a challenge when you're trying to get almost two hundred athletes to file out onto the ice behind one lonely piper.
The introductions went smoothly enough, but then the sound system bogged down just about the time that the dignitaries were scheduled to deliver their words of welcome. Oh well, by then 9/10ths of the people in the building were on the ice and too busy laughing and kibitzing to really care. If that's the biggest gaffe that the organizers have to deal with this week then everything about this event will be A O-K.
We'll keep you posted.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Canadian University Curling Championships
The Tim Horton's Brier isn't the only national curling championship being contested this week.
Many of the country's best young curlers have made the trip to Waterloo County and the Canadian University Curling Championships which are being held at the Guelph and Elora Curling Clubs from March 12 - 16. Nineteen men's and seventeen women's teams representing a total of twenty-one universities are on hand vying for the title and the chance to represent Canada next February at the Winter Universiade in Harbin, China.
While the Winnipeg rock-toss has names like Howard, Simmons, Martin & Gushue, Guelph will feature two time world junior champ Charlie Thomas, Lethbridge's Brock Virtue, Dominic Daemen from St. F X and Western's Codey Maus in men's play. Reigning Universiade champion Brittany Gregor will lead her powerhouse Calgary team in women's competition, while Memorial's Stephanie Guzzwell, Laurier's Hollie Nicol and Alberta's Kalynn Park will skip teams worth watching.
First draw action gets underway at 4:30 on Wednesday afternoon and continues until Saturday morning at which time three pool winners and the next best five records in both men's and women's competition will advance to the quarter finals. It sounds straight forward and simple but with the talent on hand there could be a whole slew of tie breakers needed to determine the playoff teams.
Due to the open nature of the competition, the affair should be a fine balance of serious no holds barred warfare on the ice and serious, anything goes socializing back at the host hotel. As the week unfolds and the teams are divided into the haves and the have nots, look for the latter group to be exploring all types of various and sundry leisure pursuits in their off hours.
This "Student of the Game" will be on hand throughout the event, to keep you apprised of the happenings both on and off the ice. By Sunday night it'll all be over and we'll know who has been crowned as national university curling champions for 2008. As the Canadian geri-rock group Trooper sings at each and every summer reunion tour stop
"We're here for a good time; not a long time."
Many of the country's best young curlers have made the trip to Waterloo County and the Canadian University Curling Championships which are being held at the Guelph and Elora Curling Clubs from March 12 - 16. Nineteen men's and seventeen women's teams representing a total of twenty-one universities are on hand vying for the title and the chance to represent Canada next February at the Winter Universiade in Harbin, China.
While the Winnipeg rock-toss has names like Howard, Simmons, Martin & Gushue, Guelph will feature two time world junior champ Charlie Thomas, Lethbridge's Brock Virtue, Dominic Daemen from St. F X and Western's Codey Maus in men's play. Reigning Universiade champion Brittany Gregor will lead her powerhouse Calgary team in women's competition, while Memorial's Stephanie Guzzwell, Laurier's Hollie Nicol and Alberta's Kalynn Park will skip teams worth watching.
First draw action gets underway at 4:30 on Wednesday afternoon and continues until Saturday morning at which time three pool winners and the next best five records in both men's and women's competition will advance to the quarter finals. It sounds straight forward and simple but with the talent on hand there could be a whole slew of tie breakers needed to determine the playoff teams.
Due to the open nature of the competition, the affair should be a fine balance of serious no holds barred warfare on the ice and serious, anything goes socializing back at the host hotel. As the week unfolds and the teams are divided into the haves and the have nots, look for the latter group to be exploring all types of various and sundry leisure pursuits in their off hours.
This "Student of the Game" will be on hand throughout the event, to keep you apprised of the happenings both on and off the ice. By Sunday night it'll all be over and we'll know who has been crowned as national university curling champions for 2008. As the Canadian geri-rock group Trooper sings at each and every summer reunion tour stop
"We're here for a good time; not a long time."
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