Hold the phone everybody, Annie Lemay is coming to town!
Before I get into my predictions for the Olympic trials, a quick few lines about our play the last two games.
It was perhaps our most disciplined efforts as a curling team. We faced reigning Thursday night champions Sherman Jackson last week and to say we were disappointed at not getting a result is an overstatement.
Jackson led 2-1 heading into end number three and we proceeded to exchange single points throughout. It was a weird game in the sense that we made most of our shots and they missed most of theirs but we couldn't take the bull by the horns.
The game was tied at 4 all in the last end when we had a guard up front and our blue rock in the eight foot. Their skip was attempting to get around the guard and make the draw to the four foot but it crashed on the guard only for it to deflect to the edge of the button for the win.
A tough loss but we will play worse than this and win games.
But we won for the third time in four games in the Capital Curling League after an 8-5 win over Greg Hawthorne. It was the 9th time out of 12 that we went the full 8 ends which can only up us down the road. We stole two in the first but gave up three in the second end.
Leading 5-4 at the midway point, the opportunity for us to get four fell by the wayside when Peter's takeout shot led to a jam and only a single.
In typical Cadiens fashion we stole the win with two in the sixth and one more in seven. A routine eighth end gave us the victory and moved us to fifth in the standings, but more importantly, it gave us back-to-back games where we didn't give up any steals with the hammer.
And to top it off, we WILL be back in Meteghan for the Gold Star Bonspiel on the weekend of January 27-29. Keep the ladies inside (actually don't keep them inside) because the Cadiens are on the prowl.
OLYMPIC TRIALS
Darren and I have waited two years for this and now it has finally arrived. The Roar of the Rings gets underway this weekend at the Halifax Metro Centre.
We plan on getting as many photos as possible. I'll have to take them, however, since Darren plans to be loaded most of the 10 days. I say 10 days because the kick-off party is the night before the tourney starts on December 2.
And Darren is absolutely thrilled that Marie-France Larouche's team qualified because he gets to see his woman, Annie Lemay, in the flesh. I told him that Annie is married now but he either didn't understand what married meant or he was too loaded at the time I spoke with him.
I was doubly disappointed that Toni Wells of BC didn't qualify so I could see Teri Fister up close and personal and then found out she will be married herself oh well!
My only hope is that we have no controversy and that the teams from Nova Scotia put in a creditable performance. The 2003 Brier was a wonderful occasion and here's to another great spectacle this time around.
So enough talk, here are my picks for both the women and men:
WOMEN
Power Rankings
1. Colleen Jones - Perhaps a hometown call from yours truly but I think she will want to make up for last year's disappointment at the Scott.
2. Jennifer Jones - I would have put her ahead of Colleen but for the insertion of Georgina Wheatcroft for Kathy Gauthier. That shot to win last year's Scott is still engraved in my memory.
3. Sherry Anderson - Is this her time? They always seem to be the bridesmaids and never the brides but it wouldn't surprise me if they won.
4. Shannon Kleibrink - A darkhorse team for me. Not the flashiest team but Kleibrink has won a national title in the mixed and the entire team is under-rated.
5. Marie-France Larouche - Darren's second team after Colleen but I think the occasion might be too much for the girls from Quebec.
6. Jan Betker - A feel good story in that this is the team that won gold at the 1998 Olympics with the late Sandra Schmirler at skip. They could make the playoffs but winning is a bit of a stretch.
7. Sherry Middaugh - You could lump Middaugh in with Anderson but the former has been known for some big time collapses. I don't see this team in contention for a playoff spot and even if they do make it, the heartbreak will continue.
8. Stefanie Lawton - An up and coming team from Saskatchewan. They know how to win as Lawton and sister Marliese won Canadian Junior titles but 2006 is not their time. Watch out in 2010 for this team though.
9. Kelly Scott - They won't contend but why do I get this feeling I might bump into them at the Keith's patch at some point during the week.
10. Jo Ann Rizzo - I put them last because I have never seen them play perhaps I should send them an email of my predictions and they might just go out and win this thing.
MEN
Power Rankings
1. Randy Ferbey - Nothing too much to say here. This team has done everything except make it to the Olympics and their win here in 2003 will not leave them short of confidence.
2. Kevin Martin - I don't dislike Kevin but I have never been his biggest fan so heaven help me if he meets Ferbey in the final. A contender at every event he plays and this will be no different.
3. Jeff Stoughton - A fan favorite and one of the few bright lights in a dismal period for Manitoba curling. They should make the play-offs but will fall short when it matters.
4. Glenn Howard - Darkhorse pick for sure. Many will be surprised if he contends but the educated supporter will not be.
5. Shawn Adams - I look for him to be Nova Scotia's best hope amongst the men. He can play with the big guns so I expect him to be up there with the lead pack.
6. Mark Dacey - This will probably be the last hurrah for third Bruce Lohnes. Darren and I kept chanting BRRRRUUUUCCCCEEEE whenever he made a good shot in 2003. The Alberta contingent didn't like it so Darren said 'get out of my building!'
7. Brad Gushue - I'm glad he is here because it means the atmosphere will be extra special with the Newfies coming down from da rock. The only problem is that he changes his team around more than Jennifer Lopez changes men so for that they will not be in the mix.
8. John Morris - It must be tough to curl in a province with Randy Ferbey and Kevin Martin. He has done OK on the World Curling Tour or the Grand Slam or whatever you call it nowadays but I don't see them in the hunt.
9. Pat Ryan - A good performance by Ryan in 2003 when he made the semi-finals but if they make the play-offs it will be a major surprise.
10. Jay Peachey - The ultimate underdog. I would love to see them make a run but like Ryan, if he makes the play-offs it will exceed expectations.
There you have it. If you care to agree or disagree send me an email but no death threats as my heart can only take so much at work each day.
Cheers,
Terry
http://www.curlingrocks.com/team/rajuncadiens/
It was perhaps our most disciplined efforts as a curling team. We faced reigning Thursday night champions Sherman Jackson last week and to say we were disappointed at not getting a result is an overstatement.
Jackson led 2-1 heading into end number three and we proceeded to exchange single points throughout. It was a weird game in the sense that we made most of our shots and they missed most of theirs but we couldn't take the bull by the horns.
The game was tied at 4 all in the last end when we had a guard up front and our blue rock in the eight foot. Their skip was attempting to get around the guard and make the draw to the four foot but it crashed on the guard only for it to deflect to the edge of the button for the win.
A tough loss but we will play worse than this and win games.
But we won for the third time in four games in the Capital Curling League after an 8-5 win over Greg Hawthorne. It was the 9th time out of 12 that we went the full 8 ends which can only up us down the road. We stole two in the first but gave up three in the second end.
Leading 5-4 at the midway point, the opportunity for us to get four fell by the wayside when Peter's takeout shot led to a jam and only a single.
In typical Cadiens fashion we stole the win with two in the sixth and one more in seven. A routine eighth end gave us the victory and moved us to fifth in the standings, but more importantly, it gave us back-to-back games where we didn't give up any steals with the hammer.
And to top it off, we WILL be back in Meteghan for the Gold Star Bonspiel on the weekend of January 27-29. Keep the ladies inside (actually don't keep them inside) because the Cadiens are on the prowl.
OLYMPIC TRIALS
Darren and I have waited two years for this and now it has finally arrived. The Roar of the Rings gets underway this weekend at the Halifax Metro Centre.
We plan on getting as many photos as possible. I'll have to take them, however, since Darren plans to be loaded most of the 10 days. I say 10 days because the kick-off party is the night before the tourney starts on December 2.
And Darren is absolutely thrilled that Marie-France Larouche's team qualified because he gets to see his woman, Annie Lemay, in the flesh. I told him that Annie is married now but he either didn't understand what married meant or he was too loaded at the time I spoke with him.
I was doubly disappointed that Toni Wells of BC didn't qualify so I could see Teri Fister up close and personal and then found out she will be married herself oh well!
My only hope is that we have no controversy and that the teams from Nova Scotia put in a creditable performance. The 2003 Brier was a wonderful occasion and here's to another great spectacle this time around.
So enough talk, here are my picks for both the women and men:
WOMEN
Power Rankings
1. Colleen Jones - Perhaps a hometown call from yours truly but I think she will want to make up for last year's disappointment at the Scott.
2. Jennifer Jones - I would have put her ahead of Colleen but for the insertion of Georgina Wheatcroft for Kathy Gauthier. That shot to win last year's Scott is still engraved in my memory.
3. Sherry Anderson - Is this her time? They always seem to be the bridesmaids and never the brides but it wouldn't surprise me if they won.
4. Shannon Kleibrink - A darkhorse team for me. Not the flashiest team but Kleibrink has won a national title in the mixed and the entire team is under-rated.
5. Marie-France Larouche - Darren's second team after Colleen but I think the occasion might be too much for the girls from Quebec.
6. Jan Betker - A feel good story in that this is the team that won gold at the 1998 Olympics with the late Sandra Schmirler at skip. They could make the playoffs but winning is a bit of a stretch.
7. Sherry Middaugh - You could lump Middaugh in with Anderson but the former has been known for some big time collapses. I don't see this team in contention for a playoff spot and even if they do make it, the heartbreak will continue.
8. Stefanie Lawton - An up and coming team from Saskatchewan. They know how to win as Lawton and sister Marliese won Canadian Junior titles but 2006 is not their time. Watch out in 2010 for this team though.
9. Kelly Scott - They won't contend but why do I get this feeling I might bump into them at the Keith's patch at some point during the week.
10. Jo Ann Rizzo - I put them last because I have never seen them play perhaps I should send them an email of my predictions and they might just go out and win this thing.
MEN
Power Rankings
1. Randy Ferbey - Nothing too much to say here. This team has done everything except make it to the Olympics and their win here in 2003 will not leave them short of confidence.
2. Kevin Martin - I don't dislike Kevin but I have never been his biggest fan so heaven help me if he meets Ferbey in the final. A contender at every event he plays and this will be no different.
3. Jeff Stoughton - A fan favorite and one of the few bright lights in a dismal period for Manitoba curling. They should make the play-offs but will fall short when it matters.
4. Glenn Howard - Darkhorse pick for sure. Many will be surprised if he contends but the educated supporter will not be.
5. Shawn Adams - I look for him to be Nova Scotia's best hope amongst the men. He can play with the big guns so I expect him to be up there with the lead pack.
6. Mark Dacey - This will probably be the last hurrah for third Bruce Lohnes. Darren and I kept chanting BRRRRUUUUCCCCEEEE whenever he made a good shot in 2003. The Alberta contingent didn't like it so Darren said 'get out of my building!'
7. Brad Gushue - I'm glad he is here because it means the atmosphere will be extra special with the Newfies coming down from da rock. The only problem is that he changes his team around more than Jennifer Lopez changes men so for that they will not be in the mix.
8. John Morris - It must be tough to curl in a province with Randy Ferbey and Kevin Martin. He has done OK on the World Curling Tour or the Grand Slam or whatever you call it nowadays but I don't see them in the hunt.
9. Pat Ryan - A good performance by Ryan in 2003 when he made the semi-finals but if they make the play-offs it will be a major surprise.
10. Jay Peachey - The ultimate underdog. I would love to see them make a run but like Ryan, if he makes the play-offs it will exceed expectations.
There you have it. If you care to agree or disagree send me an email but no death threats as my heart can only take so much at work each day.
Cheers,
Terry
http://www.curlingrocks.com/team/rajuncadiens/
posted by curlerboi @ 5:20 p.m.
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