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.”
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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
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Points
Mixed Doubles
Draw 7
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• Team World
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• Team North America
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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
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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
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For Ticket information, visit
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Editorial Team...
Editor - Rod Palson
Designer - Dave Ambroz
Photographer & Layout Editor - Chris Holloman
Contributing Writers - Colin Kelly, Graham Lloyd, Rod Palson
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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.
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