Midweek at the 2015 Scotties: Highlights, lowlights and surprises

So far, mostly to form at the 2015 Scotties Tournament Of Hearts in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The expected top four teams are just that, with Alberta (skipped by Val Sweeting), Manitoba (Jennifer Jones), Team Canada (Rachel Homan) and Saskatchewan (Stefanie Lawton) holding the four available playoff spots. Those rinks were also the top four in team shooting percentage through Draw 10, having played six games apiece. Manitoba and Alberta sat at 84%, with Team Canada just behind at 83%. Saskatchewan was fourth, shooting 80% as a team.

Whether these four continue to hold those spots for the rest of the week remains to be seen. There are dark horses stalking them. There are some big, big games to come, even before we reach Friday night's 1 vs 2 page playoff game.

The highlight so far:

Easy. Monday night's game between Manitoba and Team Canada was a thing of sheer beauty. Two elite teams battling it out and forcing each other to their top levels in order to earn every inch of ice. When Jones' team knocked off Homan's defending champions, 8-7, in an extra end (ending Homan's 22 game Scotties winning streak) you were left with one thought: "Again, please." We're not guaranteed to see the two of them in a playoff game this weekend, but, holy hell, do we ever want that match-up again.

The lowlight so far:

While I'm not an enemy of pre-qualifying (in fact, I endorse it being tried for 4 or 5 years to see how we all feel about it, long-term) it needs to be tweaked going forward. While one of the pre-qualifier games was being played on Friday, the Hot Shots competition was going on on sheets surrounding what was an important game between Northwest Territories and Yukon. As well, the Scotties' opening banquet started before the game was done, forcing the two teams to hustle over to the hotel afterward. That's adding insult to what is already injury enough. One idea that I've heard floated around is to have the pre-qualifier held well ahead of the Scotties (or Brier) with the province(s) and territories involved sending a team of their choosing to that event. Then, they could go about their jurisdictional championships fully aware of whether they'll be taking part in the full Scotties. Relegation needs some polish. However...

Relegation pays off:

The Saturday "Play-in" game between Northern Ontario and The Territories was very good, providing the tournament with a big moment right off the hop. As well, we're about to be hit with some late-in-the-week games with meaning. Traditionally, the also-rans played out the string, with some meaningless - other than pride - games. This year, the Wednesday night/Thursday schedules will see games of consequence, as lower-tier rinks scramble to avoid relegation for the 2016 event in Grand Prairie, Alberta. While many of the bottom rung teams will be taking on top squads tonight and tomorrow, they'll be forced to rev up their games as they'll be trying to be more than just spoilers.

Pays to be prepared:

Lawton's Saskatchewan side suffered a blow just before the Scotties opened. The team's usual second, Sherri Singler, badly sprained an ankle and was forced to back out. Alternate Stephanie Schmidt has stepped in and been terrific. Schmidt is not unfamiliar to Lawton's crew and that has helped. While Lawton missed the first half of the season, welcoming her son, Eric, into the world, vice Sherry Anderson took over the team and Schmidt played regularly with them through the first half of the season. Among seconds at The Scotties, Schmidt stood fourth in shooting percentage, having bumped her tournament numbers to an average of 80% after booking consecutive 84% games. Manitoba's Jill Officer led at the position with an average of 85%.

Unexpected:

Heading into Wednesday morning's game against unbeaten Manitoba, Nova Scotia's Mary-Anne Arsnenault had skipped her team to a 2 and 5 record, with playoff hopes almost totally faded. Arsenault, in her 12th Scotties appearance, knocked off the red hot Jennifer Jones team, 9-6, which must have brought smiles to the faces of Sweeting, Homan and Lawton. Jones suffered her first round-robin loss at a Scotties in 24 games, a streak that dated back to a loss to Saskatchewan's Amber Holland in 2012. Not much elbow room at the top after 11 draws, with Alberta leading the way at 6 and oh. Manitoba's first loss gives them a record of 6 and 1, while Team Canada is third at 5 and 1. Saskatchewan - winners of 3 straight - stand fourth with a record of 4 and 2.

Happily expected:

The Scotties television ratings were strong on opening weekend and those numbers will continue to grow this weekend. Four of the top ten sports broadcasts in Canada over the weekend were Scotties productions. Eleventh place went to the Scotties, too. That should make TSN and curling fans everywhere, quite happy. You might even want to brag a little about the sport you love.

Lurking: 

Prince Edward Island's Suzanne Birt is right in the mix. After Wednesday morning's 10-6 win over Quebec, the 2001 World Junior Champion has the Islanders at 4 and 3. Not only that, the team has its destiny in its own hands, with games against Team Canada (tonight), Manitoba and Ontario (tomorrow) and Saskatchewan (Friday). Northern Ontario's Tracy Horgan has her team at 4 and 3 as well, and has Saskatchewan, Ontario, Manitoba and Team Canada to finish the schedule. Ontario's Julie Hastings (4 and 3) is pressing, too, with Alberta, Northern Ontario, PEI and New Brunswick to finish out.

To come:

Val Sweeting, the three-time Alberta champ, has a tough finish to the schedule. As the skip of the only remaining undefeated team, she has the advantage. BUT... Sweeting will face Team Canada and Saskatchewan on Thursday and then Jones' Manitoba crew on Friday morning. Wouldn't ever dare underestimate Sweeting's team, but they haven't had to take on the heavyweights yet and this will be a buzzsaw ending to the round robin for them. After that, we'll get what should be a sensational playoff weekend, culminating with the 2015 Scotties champ being crowned on Sunday night.