Curling on Any Sport Any Time
Tuesday, March 6th, 2012
With all the talk of Glenn Howard breaking Russ Howard’s Brier record for 175 all-time career games, there was another historical anecdote at the Brier that caught my eye on Tuesday.
When Team Nova Scotia played Team Saskatchewan in Saskatoon tonight, history of another sort was made. It is believed that it was the first time where two female coaches opposed each other. Kay Montgomery coaches Team Saskatchewan and Helen Radford coaches Team Nova Scotia.
The issue though is that the records are a little foggy. I have watched the Brier regularly since 1987, and I can honestly never have remembered a female coach.
At the end of the day Team Nova Scotia defeated Team Saskatchewan 10-7 to improve to 4-3. Team Saskatchewan dropped to 2-5.
Team Alberta and Team Ontario continue to lead at 6-1. Calgary’s Kevin Koe lost his first game of the week this afternoon by a score of 7-6 to Team Northern Ontario. Kevin Koe will play his brother, Jamie Koe of the Yukon/Northwest Territories tomorrow morning at 7:30am.
Tags: glenn howard, helen radford, jamie koe, kay montgomery, kevin koe, russ howard
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Monday, March 5th, 2012
Brier Tankard (Wikimedia Commons)
Move over Serena and Venus Williams. Move over Daniel and Henrik Sedin. You have company now in the world of curling.
After Day three of the 2012 Tim Horton’s Brier in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Alberta’s Kevin Koe is a perfect 5-0, and his brother Jamie, is a solid 4-1. That’s a 90% winning percentage for the curling brothers. The sport of curling hasn’t seen this type of dominance by brothers since Russ and Glenn Howard six years ago.
Team Alberta out of the Glencoe Club in Calgary, may be 5-0 after a convincing 8-2 win over Prince Edward Island this afternoon and a 6-3 win over home town Saskatchewan tonight, but I have been slightly more impressed with Jamie Koe’s 4-1 because of the strength of schedule factor.
Jamie Koe has defeated 2006 Olympic Champion Brad Gushue of Newfoundland, 2007 World Champion Glenn Howard of Ontario and 2010 Bronze medallist Brad Jacobs of Northern Ontario to date. Northwest Territories/Yukon are tied with Ontario at 4-1.
In Tuesday morning’s television action, Kevin Koe takes on Brad Gushue of Newfoundland, who is currently a surprising 1-4.
Tags: 2012 tim horton's brier, brad gushue, brad jacobs, daniel sedin, glenn howard, henrik sedin, jamie koe, kevin koe, russ howard, serena williams, venus williams
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Saturday, March 3rd, 2012
Brier Tankard (Wikimedia Commons)
The 2012 Tim Horton’s Brier commences today from Saskatoon. Alberta will be represented this year by Kevin Koe who curled out of the Saville Sports Centre in Edmonton in recent years before making the switch to the Glencoe Curling Club in Calgary for this season.
Koe’s opening game will be seen live tonight at 5:30pm on TSN against British Columbia’s Jim Cotter.
In my opinion there are four teams that will contend for the championship. Koe, the 2010 World Champion, will be joined by Glenn Howard of Ontario, the 2007 World Champion, Brad Gushue of Newfoundland, the 2006 Olympic Winter Games Champion, and Brad Jacobs of Northern Ontario, who finished in third place at the 2010 Tim Horton’s Brier.
The field will not have Winnipeg’s Jeff Stoughton, who won the 2011 World Curling Championship, and defeated Howard 8-6 in last year’s final. Stoughton failed to make the Manitoba Provincial Semi-Final in Dauphin, Manitoba this year.
The first televised game is Manitoba versus Quebec today at 12:30pm with draw times of 7:30am, 12:30pm and 5:30pm tomorrow.
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Tags: 2012 tim horton's brier, boston bruins, brad gushue, brad jacobs, brad richards, buffalo sabres, c;aude giroux, calgary flames, Chicago Blackhawks, dallas stars, detroit red wings, glenn howard, henrik lundqvist, joffrey lupul, kevin koe, marian gaborik, montreal canadiens, new york rangers, phil kessel, Philadelphia Flyers, randy carlyle, ryan callahan, ryan miller, toronto maple leafs, Vancouver Canucks, washington capitals
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Sunday, February 26th, 2012
Heather Nedohin’s team are the 2012 Canadian Curling Champions.
Sunday in Red Deer Nedohin defeated Team British Columbia by a score of 7-6.
It was simply a dominating performance by Nedohin’s team–especially second Jessica Mair and third Beth Iskiw. Both made more than one incredible clutch shot in the final. Iskiw curled 93%, compared to British Columbia’s third Sasha Carter who struggled all day long and only curled 69%.
With the win, Nedohin will now represent Team Canada at the 2012 Women’s World Curling Championships in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Remarkably Nedohin might be a World Champion without leaving her province for the second time. In 1996, she won the Canadian Junior Championship in Edmonton and then won the World Junior Championship in Red Deer starting March 17.
Nedohin, whose team is out of the Saville Sports Centre in Edmonton, is the wife of former World Champion David Nedohin, who threw fourth stones for Randy Ferbey. Nedohin is a three-time World Champion himself.
This is the first time the host province has won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts since Kelley Law accomplished the feat in 2000.
Tags: beth iskiw, david nedohin, heather nedohin, jessica mair, kelley law, randy ferbey, scotties tournament of hearts
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Sunday, February 26th, 2012
Heather Nedohin’s team will try to make history on Sunday.
Nedohin, third Beth Iskiw, second Jessica Mair and lead Laine Peters will try to become the first Alberta curling team to win the Scotties Tournament of Hearts on Alberta soil.
This afternoon in Red Deer, Nedohin’s rink will take on Team British Columbia’s Kelly Scott, the 2006 and 2007 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Champion.
In the round robin, Alberta won 7-4 when they faced each other Tuesday afternoon. But you can basically throw that result out the window because British Columbia was hit by the flu bug at that time. B.C. third Sasha Carter is curling phenomenal at the moment, and made two unbelievable shots in the 1-2 game Friday night.
In yesterday afternoon’s semi-final, Nedohin won 6-5 by the absolute slimmest of margins. A measure was needed to prove that the final stone she threw was closer to the rings than the Manitoba rock at the top of the four foot. A major reason why Alberta won Saturday as well was the fact that Manitoba third Kaitlyn Lawes was off her game. Lawes missed several key shots to give Alberta the win.
Tags: beth iskiw, heather nedohin, jessica mair, kelly scott, laine peters, sasha carter, scotties tournament of hearts
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Saturday, February 25th, 2012
This is a big weekend in Alberta curling. Edmonton’s Heather Nedohin will try to win Alberta’s first Canadian Women’s Curling Championship on Alberta soil in Red Deer. She has the capability and overall team skill. Nedohin just has to put it together and notch three victories against Team Quebec, Team Manitoba and Team British Columbia.
A major reason for Alberta’s success this week has been the solid play of their overall team. Lead Laine Peters was second to Manitoba’s Dawn Askin in overall shooting percentage (87%). Alberta’s Jessica Mair was second among seconds at 83% and Alberta’s Beth Iskiw was second among thirds at 84%.
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Tags: 2012 scotties tournament of hearts, ales hemsky, ben becker, beth iskiw, calgary flames, dawn askin, Edmonton Oilers, heather nedohin, hunter mahan, jennifer jones, jessica mair, jurgen melzer, kelly scott, laine peters, lee westwood, marie france-larouche, mark wilson, martin laird, matt kuchar, milos raonic, peter hanson, Philadelphia Flyers, phoenix coyotes, radek stepanek, rory mcilroy, sang-moon bae, world golf matchplay championship
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Friday, February 24th, 2012
Jennifer Jones (Lynn Guy, Wikimedia Commons)
We now know the four teams left at the 2012 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Red Deer.
Team Manitoba led by skip Jennifer Jones (9-2) will play Team British Columbia led by skip Kelly Scott (8-3). In the 3-4 game tomorrow Team Quebec led by Marie-France Larouche (7-4) will play the host, Team Alberta led by Heather Nedohin (7-4).
It was an outstanding night of curling if you are an Alberta fan like me on Thursday. Nedohin’s team was strong enough in generating a 7-6 victory over Team Nova Scotia. They also grabbed the fourth spot all alone with Team Canada’s 11-5 loss to Team Saskatchewan.
Amber Holland, the 2011 Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion, was simply off her game Thursday. Saskatchewan skip Michelle Englot generated three points in the seventh end and four points in the ninth end.
Scott and Jones meanwhile have won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts before as a skip. Scott won the 2006 and 2007 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, while Jones won in 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
Tags: heather nedohin, jennifer jones, kelly scott, marie france-larouche, michelle englot, scotties tournament of hearts
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Thursday, February 23rd, 2012
Heading into the final day of the round robin at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Red Deer, the team to beat is simply Team Manitoba.
Team Jennifer Jones, a four time winner of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, and the 2008 World Champion, clearly seems the most consistent squad.They currently lead the standings at 7-2, and have the best team shooting percentage at 84%.
In Wednesday’s action, Jones stole two points in an extra end in an 8-6 win over Team British Columbia’s Kelly Scott and then last night thumped Team Northwest Territories/Yukon 8-2. Yes, the same Team Northwest Territories/Yukon that surprised Alberta in draw one.
Team British Columbia, Team Quebec and Team Canada are tied for second at 6-3 with Team Alberta and Team New Brunswick also in the hunt at 5-4.
In a massive game Wednesday, Heather Nedohin came up light with her final stone, allowing Marie-France Larouche to pick up a deuce in a 6-5 Quebec win over Alberta.
What team has impressed you so far? Please let us know at anysportanytime.ca.
Tags: 2012 scotties tournament of hearts, jennifer jones, marie france-larouche
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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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With all the talk of Glenn Howard breaking Russ Howard’s Brier record for 175 all-time career games, there was another historical anecdote at the Brier that caught my eye on Tuesday.
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