Morning - Curling Canada
Transcription
Morning - Curling Canada
Morning Issue 4 – Sunday, January 19, 2014 • An Official Publication of the World Financial Group Continental Cup. N. America Keeps on Rollin’! Takes 5 Point Lead Going into Sunday The home team, which is bidding to become the first back-to-back winner in the history of this event, won two games and tied another to claim 2.5 of the three available points in Saturday night’s closing round of traditional team games. With those results, Team North America opened up a 17.5-12.5 lead in the overall standings. A total of 60 points are available, meaning the first team to 30.5 points will win the WFG Continental Cup, although as reigning champions, Team North America would need only 30 points to win. Team North America’s Jeff Stoughton (Winnipeg) recorded the most crowd-pleasing win of the evening. Bowing to the wishes of a crowd in excess of 5,000, he decided to attempt a double-takeout and made it to score four en route to a 6-2 win over Team World’s Niklas Edin (Sweden). “It’s a good thing we listened to the crowd,” said a laughing Stoughton. We were going to play the double the whole time – we wanted to see which way we wanted to hit it to miss the Today in WINTER LAND back two or at least jam off it so it was fun. It was nice to let the crowd influence you a little bit. “Going down the sheet, with everyone knowing we were going for it, then to make it, the crowd goes crazy and it’s a great feeling – it’s something else.” In other action, Team North America’s Jennifer Jones (Winnipeg), who was feeling under the weather earlier in the day, recovered enough to make a dandy double takeout with her last rock of the game for a 6-5 win over Team World’s Satsuki Fujisawa (Japan). “I wouldn’t want anyone else throwing that rock,” said Jones’s vice-skip Kaitlyn Lawes. “She had a fantastic game. Happy to see she was feeling good.” In the other Saturday night game, Team North America’s John Shuster (Duluth, Minn.) stole one in the eighth end when Team World’s Thomas Ulsrud (Norway) was just a hair tight with his last rock, producing a 6-6 tie and half a point for both sides. “Any time you can get points and add to the total the closer we are to getting that trophy back is a good thing,” said Shuster. Today at the Cup Las Vegas Sunday, January 19 1:00 pm 6:00 pm 9:00pm 9:30pm Draw 10 Draw 11 Skins Skins Cup Presentation and Closing Ceremonies Live at the Patch: In-A-Fect HOT° Page 2 Sunday, January 19, 2014 What Happened in Vegas... Draw 7 Team North America continued its winning way and added another point to its lead in the overall points race. The defending champions picked up two victories out of the three games in the concluding round in mixed doubles action on Saturday morning to take a 13-11 lead on Team World in curling’s version of the Ryder Cup. Team North America got victories from the tandems of Ryan Fry and Emma Miskew (10-4 over Team World’s Greg Drummond and Anna Sloan), as well as John Shuster and Jessica Schultz (10-2 over Team World’s Thomas Ulsrud and Miyo Ichikawa). Team World’s David Murdoch and Eve Muirhead prevented the clean sweep with a 7-2 win over Team North America’s E.J. Harnden and Rachel Homan. Fry and Miskew took control of the game by scoring threes in the first and third ends — the latter on a precision pick from Miskew to remove a Team World rock that she could only see a sliver of from the hack. “I couldn’t see a lot (of it),” said Miskew. “I threw it with normal weight, but knew it would come up a little bit, and hoped for the best.” Shuster and Schultz, meanwhile, stole deuces in the first, second, sixth and seventh ends against the struggling Team World pairing. “Luckily John and I both got our draw weight pretty quickly and we were able to come around and make the freezes that we needed to … and that’s big,” said Schultz. The Scottish duo of Muirhead and Murdoch also was in a thieving mood, stealing singles in the first three ends, then putting the win away with a stolen deuce in the seventh. “It’s a lot of fun out there,” said Muirhead. “It’s a lot different to traditional curling — you can give up threes, you can be up and give it away really easily. I got to play with Dave, which was extra special and getting to mix with the other genders is also good.” “Each draw is a little seesaw just now, one way or another, and you just have to hang in there up to the skins,” added Murdoch. Draw 8 Every half-point counts at the 2014 World Financial Group Continental Cup, and Team World picked up a couple of much-needed ties out of nowhere on Saturday afternoon at the Orleans Arena. Team World stole points in the eighth and final ends of a pair of games to salvage what could turn out to be two crucial half-points when all the smoke clears on Sunday night. There could have been another, but Team World’s Eve Muirhead (Scotland) missed on her open hit-and-roll attempt to score a game-tying deuce in the eighth end and wound up losing 5-4 to Team North America’s Rachel Homan (Ottawa). “Thankfully we got that win,” said Homan after the game. “Some disasters just happened over there (on the other sheets). It’s tough out here – there’s so many good teams..” It could have been a clean sweep for Team North America; instead, the home team took two of the available three points to lead the overall standings 15-12. The most shocking tie game was between Team World’s Margaretha Sigfridsson (Sweden) and Team North America’s Erika Brown (Oakville, Ont./Madison, Wisc.); Brown missed her last shot of the game, wrecking on a guard, to give a steal of three to Team World, producing a 7-7 tie. “We struggled a little bit in the fourth end,” said Sigfridsson’s last-rock thrower Maria Prytz, referring to Team North America’s steal of four in the fourth end. “I missed a draw and they took a four which didn’t end well. We had to fight back and there became an opportunity in the eighth end and we took it. It feels like we won, so it feels good.” In the other game, Team North America’s Brad Jacobs (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) rolled too far on his last rock of the game to give Team World’s David Murdoch (Scotland) a stolen single and a 4-4 tie. Murdoch’s deuce in the seventh end set the stage for the comeback. “Every half point does count,” said Team Murdoch vice-skip Tom Brewster. “Every point or half point you get on the board is one step closer to the total. There was two good comebacks there – the two half-points feel almost like two wins to be honest.” We Admire Your Focus We Admire Your Focus Being part of a winning team takes dedication, attention to detail and strong vision. That’s what makes TransCanada one of North America’s leading energy infrastructure companies. And it’s Being part of a winning teamthe takes dedication, to detail and strong vision.who That’s what why we’re proud to support World Financialattention Group Continental Cup and those strive to makes one of North America’s leading energy infrastructure companies. And it’s be the TransCanada best. why we’re proud to support the World Financial Group Continental Cup and those who strive to be the best. TransCanada.com TransCanada.com Page 3 2014 World Financial Group Continental Cup of Curling - Morning Cup Official POINTS TRACKER Each day in the Morning Cup, this space is yours to keep track of points scored on a match-by-match Basis. Thursday, January 16 Points Team Competition • Team World Draw 1 • Team North America Mixed Doubles Draw 2 • Team World • Team North America Team Competition • Team World Draw 3 • Team North America 3 3 0 1.5 3 1.5 1 3 2 Friday, January 17 Points Team Competition • Team World Draw 4 • Team North America Singles Draw 5 • Team World • Team North America Team Competition • Team World Draw 6 • Team North America 3 3 0 2.5 6 3.5 1 3 2 Sïku (sē-koo) meaning “ice” in Greenlandic is a gluten-free vodka uniquely crafted with pure glacier ice which is up to 60,000 years old. 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SEE YOU FOR SÏKU CAESARS AT “THE PATCH” Saturday, January 18 Points Mixed Doubles Draw 7 40% ALC./VOL. - VODKA DISTILLED FROM GRAIN - IMPORTED BY ICE CAP SPIRITS, MANHASSET, NY, 11030 • Team World • Team North America 2 3 1 Team Competition • Team World Draw 8 • Team North America 2 3 1 Team Competition • Team World Draw 9 • Team North America 2.5 3 .5 Sunday, January 19 Draw Sheet Skins (15 points) Points 10 A • Team NA - Jones • Team World - Sigfridsson 5 10 B • Team NA - Shuster • Team World - Edin 5 10 C • Team NA - *Mixed 1 • Team World - *Mixed 1 5 Draw Sheet Skins (15 points) Points 11 A • Team NA - Brown • Team World - Muirhead 5 11 B • Team NA - Jacobs • Team World - Ulsrud 5 11 C • Team NA - **Mixed 2 • Team World - **Mixed 2 5 *NA 1 - Homan, Mead, Kreviasuk, Carruthers *World 1 - Brewster, Shimuzu, Drummond, Natsumura **NA 2 - Stoughton, Miskew, Nichols, Weagle **World 2 - Murdoch, Fujisawa, Andrews, Ichikawa SikuVodkaContinentalCupDailyPaper060114-1.indd 1 2014-01-06 1:17:13 AM Page 4 Sunday, January 19, 2014 Outside Hoglines! the North Meets South By Colin Kelly Canada didn’t invade Las Vegas over the past few days. It just seems that way with the massive proliferation of words such as “beauty” and “eh” – often used together, as in: “Beauty, eh.” I actually own Bob and Doug Mackenzie’s “Great White North” album – ON VINYL – and I’ve seen “Strange Brew” more times than I can count. So this American isn’t totally unfamiliar with Canadian lingo. But people have come from many other points to take part in the World Financial Group Continental Cup. Trust me. I found some of them on Saturday morning, in the form of several members of California’s Orange County Curling Club. And they are just as amped up as all those folks from north of the border. “I take my pursuit of happiness very seriously,” said Sue Cassidy, who terms herself the official funmeister of the Orange County club. I’m doubting the officialness of such a title (along with whether “officialness” is a word), but hey, it’s curling. Whatever, right? Though Canadian by birth, Cassidy has lived in California for 23 years, so we’re gonna claim her, eh. Cassidy and her group of 20 or so Californians – hailing from not only Orange County, but Hollywood and San Francisco curling clubs – were champing at the bit to attend the Continental Cup as soon as they learned it would be in Las Vegas at The Orleans Arena. “This is like a pilgrimage, a Mecca of curling,” Cassidy said. “Here are the best curlers in the world, leading up to the Olympics, their Holy Grail. And they’re leaving it all out there on the ice. “I’m so excited. I need a drink. It’s margarita time.” Uh, it’s 9:30 a.m, Sue. To which she replies: “We’re shutting her down on Monday. I gave up an all-expenses-paid trip to Cabo to come to this.” Photos - Chris Holloman Well then, get that woman an alcohol-infused beverage, stat. It was a pretty easy jaunt to Las Vegas for Cassidy and Crew. But many people traveled ridiculous lengths to be part of this event – including a boatload of volunteers, who love curling so much that they paid their own freight to get to Vegas. Michelle Zintschenko is certainly in the running for having traveled the farthest, coming all the way up from Down Under to be a part of it. “I love a good caper, a wacky adventure,” Zintschenko said with an Aussie accent so hearty, you could practically hear Victoria Bitter dripping from it. “And this is a great caper: staging curling in Las Vegas. It’s all really quite special.” Zintschenko, 40, said this is the biggest curling event she’s ever been to, be it in Canada or the United States. “Considering how many older visitors there are, it’s a very good vibe and a good party scene,” she said. “I’m really impressed with all the people who came from Canada, wearing their team colors, their enthusiasm, how friendly everybody is. “I’m surprised at the commitment of the fans. Some of them are from Backwoods, B.C., and came all the way here just to enjoy the curling.” Zintschenko’s travel itinerary – a 14-hour flight from Australia to Los Angeles, then a short jaunt from L.A. to Vegas – would surely match up, even if her home of Melbourne isn’t as backwoods. Thomas Pautsch, another volunteer, trekked from Germany to take in the tournament. “Volunteering was the only way I can get close, because I’ve never curled,” Pautsch said. “But I love the sport.” Lest you think the Continental Cup only drew those from far and wide, plenty of Las Vegans turned out to see the best stone throwers in the business. Walk-up ticket sales have been brisk Page 5 2014 World Financial Group Continental Cup of Curling - Morning Cup USA Embraces the ‘Roaring’ Game By Colin Kelly Photo - Chris Holloman above and beyond anything I could’ve hoped for. It’s gratifying to see all the fans. “The impact has shown the international community that a large-scale curling competition can succeed in the United States. Hopefully, this success breeds more success, in terms of more events, more sponsorships, more media, and helping the sport grow.” The turnout has indeed been strong, averaging throughout the tournament. Why? Well, let Ed Gaither explain. “Because I can’t afford a ticket to Russia,” Gaither said, alluding to next month’s Sochi Games. But there’s more to it than that. “I read that this event has never been in the U.S., and with the Olympics coming up, everybody is getting the Olympic buzz,” Gaither said. (Side note: Everybody is also getting an Olympic-sized buzz at The Patch, but that’s another story.) “This is just one of those things you check off the bucket list, to say you’ve seen it,” Gaither said. Fellow Las Vegan Gina Dolci said she’s been a curling fan for several years, catching the bug while watching the 2006 Torino Games on TV. But curling in Vegas? “It’s not a town I would’ve expected to host a curling event,” Dolci said. “I’ve always been interested, so I thought I’d come out and take a look-see. To see it live, it’s not like I could get to Canada to see it. It’s a pleasant surprise. Hopefully we get it again.” If the reaction of fans over the past few days is any indication, this won’t be a one-off for Glitter Gulch. And I hope it won’t be a one-off for me either, now that I’ve gained my curling street cred and can tell you the difference between a stone and a hammer. This event has truly been a beauty, eh! days. The arena has been well received, The Patch has been all the rage, and the weather – for those who could break away for a little sight-seeing and such – has been spectacular. Sometimes, it’s best to let things really soak in. You know, like a good marinade for a juicy steak. Such is the case with the World Financial Group Continental Cup. After three days of curling at The Orleans Arena in fabulous Las Vegas, Rick Patzke feels the event has had a great soak, hit the grill and come out well done. “I think it’s been fantastic,” said Patzke, the thought all the stars aligned for this one,” Patzke said, while looking to the future. “While we have all this momentum, let’s see what the possibilities are.” Patzke was grateful that Las Vegas got a shot to host, and that the city stepped up. “We have to give a big thanks to the state of Nevada and the city of Las Vegas for welcoming curling, and the fans who attended from everywhere. The fans and the athletes made this a success,” he said. “Curling is called the roaring game, and the roar is getting louder every day in the USA.” Page 6 Sunday, January 19, 2014 The Look of Things to Come. By Colin Kelly Photo - Chris Holloman There are several cagey curling veterans competing in the World Financial Group Continental Cup. Athletes with hellacious credentials, past Olympic berths and medals, and many who will compete next month in the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. But there’s also a lot of young blood coming up through the ranks in a big hurry, and many of those players have been on display during this tournament. Two such athletes play lead roles with the quartets they head up: skips Rachel Homan and Satsuki Fujisawa. They are surely part of the sport’s present and will lead the way into the future. Mainly because they’ve spent so much of their past perfecting their craft. At the precocious age of 5, both Homan and Fujisawa were hurling stones down the ice. When I was 5, I was trying to navigate kindergarten. True story: I went through kindergarten twice. Before you laugh, just look at me now: your humble Pictured in Red (L-R): Team Fujisawa - Emi Shimizu, Chiaki Matsumura, Miyo Ichikawa, Satsuki Fujisawa Pictured in Blue (L-R): Team Homan - Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Alison Krevaziuk, Lisa Weagle correspondent for the Morning Cup. I have arrived. But I digress. Homan, now 24, is already among the best in the world. She’s the defending Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion –basically the Canadian women’s champ. The secret to her success? “Just starting early,” she said. “I started when I was 5. A lot of years, and the development is really good (in Canada), especially in Ottawa. When I was 15, I was playing against a lot of the other really good teams.” That would include the team headed by her veteran Canadian peer, Jennifer Jones. Fujisawa, 22, has been curling for 17 years, and like many Canadians, it runs in the family. Her parents both curled, with her father among those considered for the Nagano Olympics. “I was out curling every winter,” she said through interpreter Chad Maris. “I don’t ever remember not curling. My winters or snowboarding.” Not that she’s complaining, mind you. Kaaringu (car-ding-ooh), as curling would be spelled and pronounced in Japan, has given her opportunities she couldn’t have dreamed of as a young girl “I’m really happy I’ve been able to make it this far at my age, Fujisawa and Homan are pointing toward the 2018 Olympics, though Homan has some big business to tend to in just a couple of weeks here – going for a second straight Scotties crown. “To be the defending champions, it’s such a huge accomplishment, especially at such a young age,” Homan said. The past few days in Vegas have certainly helped her prepare. “You have to be thankful for every opportunity and truly enjoy it,” Homan said. “This experience has been awesome.” “Hurrry Hard!!” ...back to Vegas! By Colin Kelly Photo - Chris Holloman Russ Howard At the risk of being roundly chastised by the huge Canadian contingent here at the World Financial Group Continental Cup, I admit that until Friday afternoon, I did not know the man, the myth, the legend that is Russ Howard. Please accept the apologies of your humble Morning Cup correspondent. The important thing is that I know Howard now – an Olympic gold medal winner at age 50 in the 2006 Torino Games, a man who has played and coached this game at the highest level and who now is a respected curling analyst. Simply enough, his opinion is well-respected. And he thinks the last few days in Las Vegas have amounted to a curling coronation. “This is spectacular,” Howard said. “The venue is as good as anything I’ve ever seen for this – the sightlines, great ice, great fans. And we’re in Las Vegas, baby. It’s incredible.” Julian Dugas, director of sports marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, surely won’t argue with Howard (and smartly so – Howard is in tremendous shape). “We’re very excited at the number of attendees,” said Dugas. Indeed, the 11-draw tournament has a chance to break the all- time Continental Cup record. “And from what we’re hearing, the fans are having a ball.” Patch, and having lived to write about it. Dugas is hopeful that the Continental Cup success gets curling holding an event here every three to four years – just to keep the bloom on the rose (or the maple leaf, if you prefer, eh). “The sport’s home is in Canada. That’s where it gets its health and most of its players, and where (competitions) should be most of the time,” Dugas said. “But every three to four years, this would be the place to bring it. It’s a reward for players and fans, giving them such a great destination. We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to host such a prestigious event.” And both Dugas and Howard agreed the four-day fest gave “I would predict if they hold it here again, they’d get even more people,” Howard said. “There’s gonna be a groundswell of people going home and saying, ‘You should have been there.’ It’s fabulous. The curlers love it, the TV people love it, the fans love it. It’s wonderful.” Page 7 2014 World Financial Group Continental Cup of Curling - Morning Cup Looking Ahead Come join us after each draw in the hotel’s Mardi Gras Ballroom for By Colin Kelly Photos - Chris Holloman and Courtesy of CCA The Las Vegas Patch! ALL BEER 4 $ Kate Caithness LIVE BANDS NIGHTLY Drew Stremlaw The fans have had their say, as have the players. So what do those at the highest levels of curling have to say about the World Financial Group Continental Cup’s four-day residence in Las Vegas? Plenty. And it’s all good. From the top of the World Curling Federation, President Kate Caithness was lavish in her praise. “We have been very excited about holding a curling event in Las Vegas, but this has surpassed all expectations,” Caithness said. “To see the amount of curling fans in the stands for every single draw, and experiencing the atmosphere they are creating is very special indeed. in Vegas, but also everyone watching around the world on TV and online.” How about that? The president of the World Curling Federation, on second reference, simply calls it “Vegas.” That’s when you know it’s been a wildly successful weekend. praise for the tournament. And why not, since his countrymen and countrywomen comprised the overwhelming number of fans at The Orleans Arena. “The Canadian Curling Association had high hopes for this event when we collaboratively decided to bring it to Las Vegas. This has been part of the vision for a number of years, but the timing was ripe for 2014 to work,” Stremlaw said. “We thought we could take it to another level by taking a risk and thinking outside the box, and I think what has transpired over the past few days here has proven that to be the case, with thousands of curling enthusiasts traveling to Vegas to support the event.” GREAT FOOD, POOL, DARTS & MORE! Come and watch as Continental Cup Announcer Stuart Brown does up close and personal interviews with your favorite Curlers. See you there! SM TROPICANA & ARVILLE ı OrleansCasino.com Calgary, Here We Come! For Ticket information, visit www.curling.ca/tickets Editorial Team... Editor - Rod Palson Designer - Dave Ambroz Photographer & Layout Editor - Chris Holloman Contributing Writers - Colin Kelly, Graham Lloyd, Rod Palson Proud gold sponsor of the 2014 World financial group continental cup Page 8 Sunday, January 19, 2014 Whoa hard. Play hard. What happens here, stays here . You hope. ® Las Vegas is proud to be the first host of the WFG Continental Cup of Curling outside of Canada. Las Vegas is proud to host the 2014 WFG Continental Cup of Curling. Job #: 089102.02 Job #: 089102.02 Ref #: Ref #: