Goodbye CCL, Hello Twin Cities!
Our 9-2 loss to Paul Hunt Jr. in the second round of the Capital Curling League playoffs meant we were unable to duplicate our great run of a year ago when we reached the semi-finals.
After a 7-6 win over Peter Richardson in the preliminaries, we faced a rink that had lost just three times all season. One of those losses was to us by a 9-6 scoreline.
But the 9-2 scoreline on Sunday was rather harsh as I felt we more than matched the regular season champions for the first four ends. We stole the first end and gave up two in the second but played a good third end only to pick up a single because of a Hunt double takeout.
There were chances to steal in four but they converted a take-out to go ahead 4-2. We were still confident we could battle back but it went downhill from that point. I don't think we made a single good shot in the fifth but just gave up one.
The sixth was more of the same only this time we paid the price. Peter missed a hit and roll attempt for one and Hunt stole four to put us out of our misery. It was disappointing but I think they will win the playoffs so the sting won't be as bad.
With the CCL season all but done, we now focus our attention to the Twin Cities Bonspiel, which gets started on Saturday at the five local rinks in the Halifax Regional Municipality. For those that do not know they are CFB Halifax, Halifax Curling Club, Mayflower, Dartmouth and Lakeshore.
We feel confident that we can match our successful run down in Meteghan where we reached the last eight. This is a 64 team field, sort of like the NCAA Basketball, but the level of competition will be a notch higher so we know we have to have our A game our we could be done early.
A 2-7 record in the last two years of the Twin Cities is not very good but our style of play has been known to throw several teams off so we think this is actually an advantage. It also doesn't hurt that 95% of the time you won't face somebody from your own club and believe me after facing the same teams 2 and 3 times a year we hope this doesn't happen.
To be honest, I get excited for bonspiels more than league play, the Thursday league has no playoffs and usually the CCL is done by now but because of the holidays falling on Sunday the year has been extended, I would also compare the Twin Cities to the English FA Cup in Soccer.
Some of you may be scratching your head wondering what I am talking about but the FA Cup is a tournament open to all amateur and professional clubs in the country. While the Twin Cities accepts just the first 64 teams the background of those involved is very different which we can't say for a Provincial Playdown or National Championship.
You will see established competitive teams that play in a super-league or the cash circuit, mixed teams, junior teams or average league teams like us involved in the Twin Cities, but just like the FA Cup it gives the little guy the opportunity to knock off a big scalp.
Do these 'little' teams honestly believe they can win the whole thing? Probably not. But for one weekend a year they can say they stepped on the ice with an established quartet of seasoned curlers and gave their best. And if they were to win or even compete with one of the big teams they could always look back and say how they held their own and how they look forward to doing it again next year.
The draw comes out Wednesday and I can hardly wait!
Cheers,
Terry
http://www.curlingrocks.com/team/rajuncadiens/
After a 7-6 win over Peter Richardson in the preliminaries, we faced a rink that had lost just three times all season. One of those losses was to us by a 9-6 scoreline.
But the 9-2 scoreline on Sunday was rather harsh as I felt we more than matched the regular season champions for the first four ends. We stole the first end and gave up two in the second but played a good third end only to pick up a single because of a Hunt double takeout.
There were chances to steal in four but they converted a take-out to go ahead 4-2. We were still confident we could battle back but it went downhill from that point. I don't think we made a single good shot in the fifth but just gave up one.
The sixth was more of the same only this time we paid the price. Peter missed a hit and roll attempt for one and Hunt stole four to put us out of our misery. It was disappointing but I think they will win the playoffs so the sting won't be as bad.
With the CCL season all but done, we now focus our attention to the Twin Cities Bonspiel, which gets started on Saturday at the five local rinks in the Halifax Regional Municipality. For those that do not know they are CFB Halifax, Halifax Curling Club, Mayflower, Dartmouth and Lakeshore.
We feel confident that we can match our successful run down in Meteghan where we reached the last eight. This is a 64 team field, sort of like the NCAA Basketball, but the level of competition will be a notch higher so we know we have to have our A game our we could be done early.
A 2-7 record in the last two years of the Twin Cities is not very good but our style of play has been known to throw several teams off so we think this is actually an advantage. It also doesn't hurt that 95% of the time you won't face somebody from your own club and believe me after facing the same teams 2 and 3 times a year we hope this doesn't happen.
To be honest, I get excited for bonspiels more than league play, the Thursday league has no playoffs and usually the CCL is done by now but because of the holidays falling on Sunday the year has been extended, I would also compare the Twin Cities to the English FA Cup in Soccer.
Some of you may be scratching your head wondering what I am talking about but the FA Cup is a tournament open to all amateur and professional clubs in the country. While the Twin Cities accepts just the first 64 teams the background of those involved is very different which we can't say for a Provincial Playdown or National Championship.
You will see established competitive teams that play in a super-league or the cash circuit, mixed teams, junior teams or average league teams like us involved in the Twin Cities, but just like the FA Cup it gives the little guy the opportunity to knock off a big scalp.
Do these 'little' teams honestly believe they can win the whole thing? Probably not. But for one weekend a year they can say they stepped on the ice with an established quartet of seasoned curlers and gave their best. And if they were to win or even compete with one of the big teams they could always look back and say how they held their own and how they look forward to doing it again next year.
The draw comes out Wednesday and I can hardly wait!
Cheers,
Terry
http://www.curlingrocks.com/team/rajuncadiens/
posted by curlerboi @ 10:29 p.m.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home