McEwen's Young Team Tops thecurler.com's Mid-January Manitoba Team Ranking

Monday Jan 19 2009

In a fairly slow month, competition-wise, Safeway zone playoffs and the Manitoba Tour Championships are the primary events with an impact on thecurler.com’s rankings. Where they were on December 15 is a record of my assessment of season-long accomplishment. Movement this month is based strictly on the results of the past month.

And that’s why I’m moving Mike McEwen to the top of my list. It might only be for a short time, with the BDO Classic Canadian Open upon us. However, I had told some that if Mike McEwen won the MCT Championship, the only thing that could keep him out of my #1 spot would be Kerry Burtnyk winning the Perth Masters.

As always, so you don’t have to go look it up, I‘ve included the LR (Last Ranking) and SOS (start of season) rankings. If they were NR (not ranked) in my previous list, that is also noted.

thecurler.com`s mid-January Men`s team rankings:

#1: Mike McEwen: (LR: 4 & SOS: 2) The Manitoba Tour Championship, including the Safeway berth it carries with it, moves the young team to the top of my list – perhaps justifying my start of season rank of #2. We’ll see in the month ahead.

#2: Kerry Burtnyk: (LR: 3-SOS: 1) Semi-finals in Perth but I had said he had to win it to stay ahead of McEwen.

#3: Jeff Stoughton: (LR: 1& SOS: 3) Had no fun in Morris. If ice and rocks were an issue, McEwen’s kids adjusted – Stoughton’s veterans didn’t.

#4: Allan Lyburn: (LR: 2-SOS: 8) A Safeway berth in a still tough Brandon zone is enough to keep him ahead of McNamee.

#5: Terry McNamee: (LR: 5 & SOS: N-R) Finalist at the MCT Championship. He needed Lyburn to stumble in zones in order to move into my top four.

#6: Reid Carruthers : (LR: 9 & SOS: 7) Maybe had the best month of everyone. Qualified at the Fort Rouge Shaw Digital Spiel, qualified at the MCT Championship, and won a Safeway Zone to earn this good young team a move up the list.

#7: David Bohn: (LR: T10 & SOS: 4) A surprise shuffle of David Hamblin to lead seems to have paid dividends. Semi-finals at the MCT championship and a Safeway Zone win keep them on Carruthers’ heels.

#8: Brendan Taylor: (LR: 12 & SOS: 11) Like Bohn, semi-finals at the MCT championship and a Safeway Zone move them up the list.

#9: Kelly Skinner: (LR:6 & SOS:NR) Won a Safeway Zone but that doesn’t compare too well with the three who moved ahead of him.

#10: Peter Nicholls: (LR: 8 & SOS: 13) This is the one that people mention the most. And yes, after a darn good season they won a zone but like Skinner, they didn’t make the grade at the MCT so they have to slide a little on the list this month.

#11: Randy Dutiaume: (LR: 7 & SOS: 6) Never certain who the former champ is going to be playing with these days but he belongs on this list, at least until after the MCA ‘Spiel.

#12: Randy Neufeld: (LR: T10 & SOS: 10) Came back from almost two months off due to a back problem and won his Safeway Zone from the B-Side after an early stumble while he was still getting the touch back.

#13: Daley Peters: (LR: 16 & SOS: 16) A zone win earns these young men a small move up

#14: William Lyburn: (LR:13  & SOS:NR) Nothing to show for the month.

#15: Brent Scales: (LR: 19 & SOS: NR) A Safeway zone win in a three-team zone – but he’ll be in Selkirk with a shot to return to the Brier.

#16: Brad Haight: (LR: 14  & SOS:NR) No zone win and he slides a little on the list but still has a shot through the MCA ‘Spiel

#17: Vic Peters: (LR: 15 & SOS: 5) No zone win and struggling but strength of reputation earns him some respect.

#18 Doug Riach: (LR: NR  & SOS:NR) The win in the Morris December ‘Spiel was not enough to move him onto the December list but he qualified at the MCT Championship and won a zone – a pretty good month.

#19: Sean Grassie: (LR: 18 & SOS: 9) No zone win but finalist in the Fort Rouge Shaw Digital ‘Spiel

#20: Bob Sigurdson (LR: 25 & SOS: NR) A zone win adds a veteran threat to the Safeway Championship

And just behind – all of the zone winners across Manitoba – they have a chance to play in Selkirk and could be the team that upsets my season long rankings. I’ll shuffle the list for the final time before Selkirk – after the BDO Classic and the MCA ‘Spiel with its five berths.

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(Mid-December Rankings) Stoughton Moves to the Top of thecurler.com's Mid-December Manitoba Team Ranking ........It has been an busy month since the last publication of thecurler.com’s rankings of Manitoba’s Men’s teams. Mike McEwen had the most dramatic win with his semi-final appearance at the Canada Cup Qualifier ‘spiel but was one big win over Kerry Burtnyk enough to move him ahead of the champion in my rankings.

Not yet but he getting close. Overall, Jeff Stoughton had the best month and that’s why he’s now #1 on this observer’s ranking, with Allan Lyburn, Kerry Burtnyk and Mike McEwen close behind in that order.

As always the challenge is trying to compare the successes by the travelling teams with the successes of the teams who elect to stick closer to home. I‘ve included the LR (Last Ranking) and SOS (start of season) rankings. There`s also a team who was NR (not ranked) in my previous list.

thecurler.com`s mid-December men`s team rankings:

#1: Jeff Stoughton: Won at Stonewall and qualified at The National and the Canada Cup Qualifier ‘spiel. Good enough to move him to the top of the Manitoba list this month (LR: 2& SOS: 3)

#2: Allan Lyburn: Strong showings at Dauphin & Stonewall and a final game appearance in the Brandon Safeway Berth Spiel moves him up from #3 (LR: 3-SOS: 8)

#3: Kerry Burtnyk: Competing in admittedly tough company but this month’s performance, qualifying at The National and the Canada Cup Qualifier, doesn’t measure up to the two who move above him. Losing that game to McEwen in Edmonton was the difference between #3 & #2 (LR: 1-SOS: 1)

#4: Mike McEwen: Qualified at the SunLife in Ontario and at the National and a semi-final appearance at the Canada Cup Qualifier. Good enough for a big jump some months but the guys above him all had a pretty good month, too. (LR: 4 & SOS: 2)

#5: Terry McNamee: With A Safeway berth in hand, McNamee moves up the rankings again this month, thanks to strong showing in Dauphin and in the Brandon Men’s Bonspiel (LR: 9 & SOS: N-R)

#6: Kelly Skinner: Also had a strong showing in Dauphin and in the Brandon Men’s Bonspiel and he moves up the list along with McNamee  (LR:T10 & SOS:NR)

#7: Randy Dutiaume: Qualified in Dauphin, a strong showing in Stonewall, and lost a qualifier in Edmonton – good enough to move them back up the list. Who knows what the change of personnel (Chris Suchy out and Scott McCamis in) might mean? (LR: T10 & SOS: 6) 

#8 Peter Nicholls: Again, they didn’t play much, but a third MCT bonspiel title at Thistle earns them a move up – closer to where I probably should have had them at the start of the season (LR: T10 & SOS: 13)

 

#9: Reid Carruthers : Finalist in a fairly soft field at Morris but nothing else to show for the past month so he slides a couple of notches (LR: 7 & SOS: 7)

#10: (T) Randy Neufeld: The skip hasn’t played since Duluth and the team hasn’t cashed a cheque so they slide this month (LR: T5 & SOS: 10)...but no more than....

#10: (T) David Bohn: They’re playing a fairly light schedule but they’re not winning. A little more intensity may be needed because the guys behind are closing fast (LR: T5 & SOS: 4)

#12: Brendan Taylor: Qualified in Stonewall and won Dauphin, also helped Kelly Skinner at Brandon, but that doesn’t show up in this ranking (LR: T18 & SOS: 11)

#13: William Lyburn: One win but it’s a big one. He’ll be in Selkirk for the Safeway Championship –not many can say the same yet (LR:T18  & SOS:NR)

#14: Brad Haight: Lost the final at Stonewall and qualified at Thistle earn him a big jump up the list (LR:T29  & SOS:NR)

#15 Vic Peters: Nothing to show for the past month and the elder Peters slides down the list (LR: 8 & SOS: 5)

#16: Daley Peters: They continue to pay the price but with less success this month than last. They slide a couple of notches on thecurler.com`s list (LR: 13 & SOS: 16)

#17: Rob Van Kommer: Qualified in the Brandon Men`s Bonspiel, just enough to keep him static on the list (LR:17 & SOS:NR)

#18: Sean Grassie: The Mixed champ slides again this month (LR: 14 & SOS: 9)

#19: Brent Scales: Semi-final finish in Dauphin earns him a little attention (LR: T29 & SOS: NR)

#20: Richard Muntain: One bonspiel earned him the Northern Berth invitation to Selkirk (LR: T29 & SOS: NR)

The entry in the Northern Berth Bonspiel was just enough larger than the Petersfield zone playoff to rank Muntain ahead of Dave Boehmer who won the first zone playoff last week.

Jerry Chudley and Ian Beavis were on the list last month – but will need something like a zone playoff win to move them back on.

**

(November 15 Rankings) Burtnyk Still on Top of thecurler.com's Mid-November Manitoba Team Ranking .......It’s time for a re-visit of thecurler.com’s mid-month team rankings and, after a busy bonspiel month of MCT and WCT events and the first qualifying event for the Safeway Championship, you’ll see some shuffling of the deck as a few new teams have entered the picture. Of course that includes Terry McNamee, who some could argue should be number 3 based on being the third entry into this year’s Safeway Championship. That makes McNamee, Burtnyk and Stoughton the only teams who currently have a guaranteed shot at the trip to the Brier this year from Manitoba. Granted, McNamee has jumped a long way up my list into the #9 position but one bonspiel win doesn’t earn him quite that big a leap.

So you don’t have to go look it up, I‘ve included the LR (Last Ranking) and SOS (start of season) rankings. There are a few teams who were NR (not ranked) in my previous list.

My mid-November Top 25 in Manitoba are:
#1) Kerry Burtnyk: Hasn’t had a great month on the circuit but qualified in Portage and lost a tiebreaker at the Masters of Curling – good enough to keep the Provincial Champion at the top of my list. (LR: 1 & SOS: 1)

#2) Jeff Stoughton: All they have to show for the past month but a semi-final finish in the Masters, coming out of the tiebreaker in the round robin. Edging a little closer in my mind but neither Jeff nor Kerry has a strangle hold on top-team status any more until they go out and win something. (LR: 2& SOS: 3)

#3) Allan Lyburn: A win in Swan River, in an admittedly small field. Still the `best of the rest` in Manitoba and some good Saskatchewan & USA talent was there. Moves him up the list again this month.(LR: T5-SOS: 8)

#4)  Mike McEwen: No ticks in the Won or qualified column this month so they slide a little bit but they may be just one Grand Slam win away from the top of the list. (LR: 3 & SOS: 2)

#5 (T) Randy Neufeld: Getting results was a challenge but CurlingZone tells me he lost the final in the WCT spiel in Duluth, and he qualified at Rossmere. They make a big jump up the list. (LR: 10 & SOS: 10)
#5 (T) David Bohn: Haven`t done much since a good run in Brandon. Surprisingly absent from the Safeway berth spiel where they could have been favourites. (LR: 4 & SOS: 4)

#7 Reid Carruthers : Qualified at the Masters of Curling with the same record that put Burtnyk & Stoughton in a tiebreaker but not much else to show for the month (LR: T5 & SOS: 7–)
 
#8 Vic Peters : The congenial skip says his team played a little better in Gimli where they qualified into the semi-final – otherwise there`d have been a greater slide this month. (LR: 7 & SOS: 5)

#9 Terry McNamee: I may be guilty of putting too much weight on one bonspiel win – but it did earn McNamee a berth in the Safeway provincials and a big jump up this ranking. (LR: T16 & SOS: N-R)

#10 (T) Peter Nicholls: `They` said I didn`t give this team with a slightly different line-up enough respect at the start of the season. They continue the pattern of not playing much but winning when they do. Winning a four-game day to capture the Gimli championship might have been worth more of a jump up the list in some people`s eyes. (LR: 11 & SOS: 13)
#10 (T) Randy Dutiaume: Qualified in Gimli – just enough to keep the former champion from sliding further this month  (LR: 8 & SOS: 6) 
#10 (T) Kelly Skinner: Winning close to home at Carberry was a good start but making the final at Swan River means these guys had a good month. Good enough to jump them onto my list this high up.  (LR:NR & SOS:NR)

#13 Daley Peters: These young men are earning their experience on the World Tour. Qualified in Portage, and a win at the MCT event in Beausejour earns them another small step up this month.  (LR: T14 & SOS: 16)

#14 Sean Grassie: Nothing to show for the month but a Canadian Mixed title. All by itself that accomplishment has to keep him on my list. If Andy Stewart can play like Alli Nimik did for Sean at the Mixed, this team may be poised to make some noise in Manitoba Men`s ranks in the weeks ahead. (LR: 9 & SOS: 9)

#15  (T) Ian Beavis: Must like Carberry where he lost the final of the MCT event and qualified in the Berth bonspiel, but also qualified in Gimli. A very good month and he jumps onto the list (LR:NR & SOS:NR)...... tied with
#15 (T) Jerry Chudley: Lost the final of the Berth Spiel and qualified in the MCT event in Carberry. Good enough for this month`s list (LR:NR & SOS:NR)

#17 Rob Van Kommer: Home-cooking puts him on the list as well – qualified in the MCT Carberry event and lost the semi-final of the berth bonspiel (LR:NR & SOS:NR)

#18 (T) William Lyburn: Qualified in Portage and at the Safeway Berth Bonspiel. Another team making their first appearance on my list. (LR:NR  & SOS:NR) ...tied with
#18 (T) Murray Woodward: A Semi-final finish at Swan River equals Lyburn`s two `qualifieds (SOS:NR – LR:NR)`...and also tied with
#18 (T) Kevin Mark: Another not-ranked team last month and perhaps won`t stay long on the list but earned a semi-final spot in the Safeway Berth `Spiel (LR:NR & SOS:NR)
 #18 (T) Brendan Taylor: who slid a long way with little to show for the month (LR: 12 & SOS: 11)

#22 (T) Bob Sigurdson: Makes his first appearance on thecurler.com`s ranking thanks to a final appearance in Gimli – and like Nicholls, perhaps I underestimate these guys and their loss on an extra-end in the fourth game of the day. (LR:NR & SOS:NR)...and tied with
#22 (T) Alex Forrrest: Qualifying at the Rossmere MCT event earns him just enough to keep him in my top 25. Congrats on top seed status in the Winnipeg Junior Zones. (LR: T14 & SOS: NR)....also tied with
#22 (T) Scott Madams: Like Brendan Taylor, he had little to show for the month of November (LR: 13 & SOS: 12)
#22 (T) Graham Freeman: The Virden team had earned a spot on the list last month but had nothing to show for the month of November. Stays on the list to round out my Top 25.  (SOS: N-R– LR: T16)

And  no – I haven`t ignored Brent Scales, who qualified in Swan River;  Dave Boehmer, who qualified in Portage; or Rob Cosens and Darryl Friesen who met in the final at Rossmere. They`re all in my next ten, along with Chris Galbraith, Kelly Robertson, Kyle Peters, Brad Haight, Bryce McEwen, and Ryan Hyde. The month ahead could see anyone of them earn status on thecurler.com`s mid-December ranking.

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