Down to the wire at the Brier
Thursday, March 13, 2008 | 12:40 PM ET
First off, if you are reading this early Thursday morning, you better turn on your TV and phone in sick, as TSN got it right by deciding to broadcast the big matchup this morning between Martin and Howard, game time 9:30 am central.
Three for sure
There's one day to go in the round robin and one thing is for sure: Alberta (9-0), Saskatchewan (8-1) and Ontario (8-1) are in the playoffs, how they will place is yet to be determined. Who will finish first? There are still too many scenarios to break this down but the short version is if Alberta wins its two remaining games they finish first. Ha, that was the easy one, eh? For Ontario or Saskatchewan to finish first they each need some help. I would love to break this down for you, but my allotted blog space is too small to outline all the scenarios.
Alberta looks great, but Ontario is starting to turn it up a notch one day from the playoffs. (Howard shot 100 per cent against P.E.I. last night; how do you beat that?) Thursday's morning game should be a classic; the treat for us fans is that these two teams could play twice more over the next couple of days. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan was winning another game that could have gone either way, but yet again the green brigade pulled it out as usual. Can you say destiny?
Three for one
There are three teams vying for the one final playoff spot.
Newfoundland, B.C., and Manitoba all sit at 5-4. Again, all kinds of possibilities could shake out on the final day, but it certainly looks like Newfoundland and B.C. have the easier road to the playoffs. They both play P.E.I. and New Brunswick on the final day; strange how that worked out. Manitoba will have the toughest path; after getting off to a 4-0 record the Toba boys have lost four of their last five games and will finish off the round robin with games against Quebec and Saskatchewan. Watching the game last night, the confidence this team has displayed in the past has disappeared, and I believe their chance of hometown glory is quickly slip sliding away.
Hammer Time
Do we still need this idea that every team should have the hammer five times and without the hammer five times to start each game during the round robin? (The teams shootout score determines who gets the hammer for the first game of the round robin.) Why not have the draws to the button for the hammer before every game? I know with this current system it works out evenly for every team, but would it hurt to add some skill to the all important last rock in the first end?
Talking with Kevin Martin from Alberta, he would have loved to have had the opportunity to shoot for last rock against Ontario and Newfoundland, but the luck of the draw has him starting without the hammer for both games.
FYI, each team has an allotted 10 minutes of practice before the start of each game; this time provides each team with a chance to get a feel for the ice and rocks on that sheet. Adding the draw to the button at the end of your practice time would fit in very nicely. Fair for both teams, I would say.
A quick poll of this year's Brier skips was taken. Simple question: should last rock during all round robin games be determined by a draw to the button? Eight said yes, one said no, and three were undecided.
Key games on the last day of the round robin (all time central)
Draw 15, 9:30am – Ontario vs. Alberta
Draw 16, 2 pm – All four games featuring B.C., Newfoundland, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Draw 17, 7pm – Saskatchewan vs. Manitoba
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Stoughton's Spin »
About the Author
Former world and Brier champion Jeff Stoughton joins CBCSports.ca with his take on the 2008 Canadian men’s curling championship.
The Winnipeg native - widely regarded as one of this country's top skips - captured Brier titles in 1996 and 1999, winning the world championship in 1996 and finishing second in 1999.
Stoughton has won a record six provincial titles over his career. He currently curls out of the Charleswood Curling Club with teammates Ryan Fry, Rob Fowler, Steve Gould.
Fans can keep track of Team Stoughton on their website: http://www.teamjeffstoughton.com
Recent Posts
- Brier final not a classic
- Monday, March 17, 2008
- Brier final is a true clash of titans
- Sunday, March 16, 2008
- Can reeling Saskatchewan recover from its bad break?
- Saturday, March 15, 2008
- Round robin is over but we have overtime
- Friday, March 14, 2008
- Down to the wire at the Brier
- Thursday, March 13, 2008
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Comments
b
toronto
draw for last rock is an interesting idea. playing juniors growing up it was often decided by a coin toss.
Posted March 13, 2008 03:35 PM
Gordon Break
Scarborough
I have thoroughly enjoyed the TV broadcasts of the Briar. I wish that CBC would take note of how TSN shows the games with minimum interuptions and NO "celebrity" interviews while the game is in progress
Posted March 13, 2008 02:56 PM