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We're Back On! In August?


As I'm typing this, a fan is oscillating and the trusty old A/C is cranked up. It's the last few weeks of August and I swear the curling season starts earlier and earlier every year that passes. Hey, I'm not complaining.


Numerous events with high-profile teams have already concluded and we've already seen some 'surprises'. Nik Edin and Bruce Mouat finished 1-3 in their first tourney, failing to make the playoffs. Wouter Gosgens from the Netherlands leading his team to a final finish and two Norwegian teams (men's and women's!) came within a whisker of a double-double. If this isn't a reminder of what this hectic start-of-the-Olympic cycle season has in store for us, I don't know what is. 


I've personally taken a break from this blog for quite a while now and I've finally found some time through the endless heat to revive it again. Last season was quite crazy, with all the on-and-off covid closures, the hustle and bustle of the Olympics, and the non-stop shuffling of seemingly every team. If you told me to name all the players on each of the world's top 15 or so squads, I'm not sure I'd be able to give you an accurate result. But if you're overwhelmed like me, we'll surely figure it out in no time with the packed schedule ahead of us. The first Grand Slam starts October 4th, which I'm pretty sure is a new record. 


Let's not get too ahead of ourselves. There's been a flurry of bonspiels flaring up so let's talk a little more about them. Talk about a blizzard in August!



Men's: Baden Masters (Aug 19-21)


The opening event for some of the world's best men's teams kicked off in Baden, Switzerland. Fittingly, it contained a full slate of home Swiss teams, notably the revamped Yannick Schwaller squad with Benoit Schwarz and Sven Michel hopping on board from Peter De Cruz's old team (Peter along with Valentin Tanner are taking a break). Benoit once again throws the fourth stones, with Yannick skipping. Pablo Lachat, who served as the De Cruz fifth man, joins as the lead. The remnants of Team Schwaller formed their own team, skipped by then-third Michael Brunner.


Okay, back to Wouter Gosgens. Any avid curling fan should recognize the Dutch men’s team on the European circuit and the World Championships. They’ve made an appearance in practically every Worlds in the past few years, but haven’t quite cracked the top ten in the standings. Anyway, a stellar week of play netted them a final finish, losing to Steffen Walstad’s Norwegian side 5-3 in the final. They even finished tied for first in their pool with Schwaller, picking up a win over Mouat in the process. 


Joel Retornaz and the Italians delivered great results last season, with Amos Mosaner of course claiming gold at the Olympics in Mixed Doubles. They finished top of their pool, but would lose in the quarters. Korey Dropkin made the trip over from the USA and Ross Whyte’s Scottish team similarly topped their pools, but exited in the quarterfinals. Coincidentally, Retornaz triumphed over the Americans to win bronze at the men’s Worlds this year. 


Aside from Edin and Mouat’s slow 1-3 starts to the season, another potential surprise arose. Lukas Hostmælingen’s young team from Norway finished in the semis. Another interesting fact: that same team knocked off Mouat almost one year ago at a similar event (although Bruce and Co. probably lost like ten games in total last season, so we’ll give them that).


Congrats again to Team Steffen Walstad for winning the 2022 Baden Masters! 


Photo: British Curling

Women’s: Euro Super Series (Aug 18-21)


Some of Europe’s best women’s teams hit the ice in Stirling, Scotland. This year’s roster isn’t quite as strong as the inaugural edition last year, with the likes of Hasselborg, Tirinzoni, etc. not entering. 


Many curling fans may not know Marianne Roervik’s name, but many will know Kristin Skaslien. The two-time Olympic mixed doubles medallist threw third stones, while another mixed doubles player in Maia Ramsfjell threw fourth stones this week. Maia, who actually attends university in Stirling, finished in 4th with brother Magnus in this year’s MD Worlds. The team didn’t make the playoffs at the women’s Worlds in Prince George, but had a formidable showing, including a defeat over Canada’s Einarson.


Team Norway would cruise through their pool undefeated, and would remain so winning the semi. However, the other pool winner in Germany’s fan favourites of Team Daniela Jentsch had other plans. Although falling behind 3-0 in the final, a string of steals would seal their victory. Their win actually makes them the most successful team in the event’s (short) history, as they finished tied for third last year.


No home Scottish teams would fare too well, with the country’s young teams not being able to generate any momentum. Team Muirhead is now officially disbanded, with former lead Hailey Duff playing third on Beth Farmer’s squad (but more on that later!)


Olympic Gold Medallist Stefania Constantini would guide her Italians to a quarterfinal finish, as well as Raphaela Keiser, Michele Jaeggi, and Eirin Mesloe.



Photo: Wakkanai Cup

Men’s/Women’s: Wakkanai Midori Challenge Cup (Aug 18-21)


Curling never seems to end in Japan, with a few events happening periodically over the summer.


Two women's headlined this week's spiel in Wakkanai. 2019 Masters finalists and 2021 Japanese Champions Team Sayaka Yoshimura were undefeated in their championship, running through pool play 3-0 and winning the semifinal. The other notable name is Team Ikue Kitizawa, this year's Japanese champions and world rep. They won their pool 2-1, but would go on to lose the semifinal and bronze medal match. Yoshimura would defeat Asuka Kanai in the final 9-2, while Honoka Sasaki (with the help of Japanese legend Mari Motohashi) won bronze with a win over Kitizawa 6-5.


Similarly, the men's division saw two heavyweights capture their respective pools. The familiar Yusuke Morozumi (with former skip Yuta Matsumura now playing third) won their pool 3-0, while juniors and Japanese reps at the 2021 World Qualification Event Team Takumi Maeda also topped their group. The two would clash in the final in a battle of the veterans vs. the young guns. Youth would prevail, as Maeda scored three in the final end for a 6-4 decision over Morozumi. Kotaro Noguchi finished third winning the bronze medal game.



End to an era


Some bittersweet news developed late this summer that Team Muirhead has come to an end. A string of periodic retirement announcements were made throughout the offseason. First was fifth Mili Smith, then came vice Vicky Wright, and finally the update from the ever-so iconic Eve Muirhead coming mid-August. 


Mili wasn’t known to most fans before last season. She and Hailey Duff were added to Muirhead’s squad after British Curling’s trial process to select a new team after some lukewarm results. Many would’ve argued that Muirhead wasn’t a gold medal contender for Beijing 2022, but boy did they prove those predictions wrong. After the final team announcement was made last season, former teammate and longtime friend of Eve Lauren Gray retired after being cut. Mili Smith didn’t get much ice time, but Duff, Dodds, Wright, and Muirhead made quick work winning a Challenger in Estonia before claiming gold at the Euros and eventually Beijing. Dodds and Wright marked their first prominent international appearance in North Bay at the women’s Worlds with a team skipped by Hannah Fleming. Dodds has now chosen to focus on mixed doubles with Bruce after the lineup changes and Duff now serves as the vice (or mate if you’re Scottish) for Beth Farmer.


When Vicky’s update came around, I got a little sad that the “HARD VICKY!” would finally come to an end. But it looks like now an entire era has come to a close. Hope to see these women around! Could coaching be a possibility?



Looking ahead


We’ve already touched upon the first slam being in early October. But the first Curling Canada major is set for September 21-25! The March Madness-esque PoinsBet Invitational will provide us with a good first look on some of the new and existing Canadian lineups heading into the quad. 


The A-Division of the inaugural Pan-Continental Championship featuring teams from the Americas and Pacific-Asia regions is sure to be entertaining. It’ll kick off October 31-November 6 at…wait for it…the Winsport Arena in Calgary Olympic Park! Seriously, everyone knows that place by now. 


There are still some men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles events even before that though. The men’s and MD segments of the Euro Super Series have yet to come. And the revamped Nordic Curling Tour will begin, with the Oslo Cup in particular being the first spiel for many women’s teams.


It’s been great getting back into the curling groove of things. If you’ve read this far, thanks so much for stopping by! I can’t promise weekly blog postings any more, but I’ll be sure to do my best. Things are heating up!


Thank you for reading! Make sure to follow me on Twitter/Instagram @onthebuttonblog if you haven't already to support my blog :)


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