Disclaimer: CurlingZone does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any Content posted on any Forums area and you acknowledge that any reliance upon such Content shall be at your sole risk. Any Content placed on any Forums area by users and anonymous posters are the views of the user posting the statement, and do not represent the views of CurlingZone or our partners, advertisers or sponsors. By posting anonymously, you are allowing your IP address to be displayed for identification purposes. CurlingZone reserves the right to remove any post at its discretion without warning or explanation.
09-15-15 02:03AM |
|
CuriousCuz
Knee-Slider
Registered: Feb 2015
Location: United States
Posts: 6 |
What HPP is doing right this year
Trying to start out the new season with a positive outlook. Last year the discussion seemed to be very contentious so I'll start with what I like so far.
Biggest improvement - All three men's HPP teams are playing high level spiels the first month and a half to get more exposure to the top level of competition. Just look at the list..
Sep 8 - Shuster- GSOC Tour Challenge - 11 of top 12 teams competing
Sep 17 - Brown - Shorty Jenkins - 6 of top 12
Sep 25 - Plys and Shuster - Point Optical - 7 of top 12
Oct 9 - All 3 HPP teams - StuSells Toronto - 7 of top 12
Oct 16 - All 3 HPP teams - Canad Inns Classic - 8 of top 12
Just to clarify, when I say 8 of top 12, that means 8 of the top 12 teams by the current OOM are competing and we are there with them.
This is the kind of competition and experience all of our teams need if we have any chance of making it to the next level.
I look forward to other thoughts of what's good this year. Lets keep it positive in this thread.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-15-15 09:13AM |
|
curlky
Drawmaster
Registered: Oct 2013
Location:
Posts: 559 |
One downside of last year being the first year of the HPP program, is that it unfortunately got a late start, which I think made schedules more complicated for the teams. This year, teams had the full offseason to get their desired schedules in place.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-15-15 09:19AM |
|
jhcurl
Super Rockchucker
Registered: Sep 2002
Location: US - CT
Posts: 1431 |
quote: Originally posted by curlky
One downside of last year being the first year of the HPP program, is that it unfortunately got a late start, which I think made schedules more complicated for the teams. This year, teams had the full offseason to get their desired schedules in place.
Just to be clear, last year was the first year of selected teams for the HPP. The HPP has been around for 6 years now.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-15-15 12:41PM |
|
MNIceman
Hitting Paint
Registered: Feb 2011
Location: Plymouth, MN
Posts: 159 |
They ignored their own rules to add Team Shuster and get them some funding. I guess that could be considered doing something right.
I don't think there is a big difference in the caliber of events that the teams are playing at.
Drawing a blank on anything else.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-16-15 08:42AM |
|
AlanMacNeill
Super Rockchucker
Registered: Sep 2011
Location:
Posts: 1064 |
They kept their hands off deciding who would be the mixed team at World's, and just let our Champions play...
And, amazingly...it's working to this point...4-1 through 5 games, only loss to an undefeated Hungarian team (Hungary? Hungary?? What???)
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-16-15 01:46PM |
|
SmokeyJoe
Hitting Paint
Registered: Apr 2006
Location:
Posts: 127 |
While there's no guarantee that the winner of the US Championship will go to the World Championship, they will go to the Champions Cup. Not sure if this was a WCT requirement or an HPP decision. Regardless, it looks like it will be a good competitive opportunity for the winner of the US Championship.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-16-15 01:49PM |
|
bjacks217
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Aug 2013
Location: Michigan, United States
Posts: 22 |
Alan,
Let us remember that Hungary was the World Champions of Mixed Doubles this year, so they seem to have success in mixed events.
Hungary lost to Scotland, giving them one loss in the pool. Scotland is undefeated still. Team USA plays Scotland tomorrow morning and controls their destiny. If Team USA beats Scotland (and later Brazil), I believe they will play in a tie breaker game for the playoffs. If they lost to Scotland or Brazil they would need some help to advance.
Go USA!
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-16-15 03:40PM |
|
TakeItOut!
Hitting Paint
Registered: Dec 2005
Location: Fairport, NY
Posts: 143 |
Not sure
The way the WCF event website looks, it appears as if 3 teams from each pool make the qualifiers to the 1/4 finals with the top seed getting a bye.
If the US wins either of their remaining two games, I think they qualify in the top three as the 4th place team has three losses.
__________________
Joe Calabrese
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-16-15 03:48PM |
|
bjacks217
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Aug 2013
Location: Michigan, United States
Posts: 22 |
I stand corrected. My apologies.
Go USA!
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-17-15 02:04AM |
|
rbi
Hitting Paint
Registered: May 2014
Location:
Posts: 143 |
HPP is rolling. Since entering the HPP Team Shuster has already made it to a Grand Slam semi-final and reached the top 15 in the OOM standings. Clearly HPP is doing something right!!
(sorry, just could not resist)
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-17-15 08:32AM |
|
IMWright
Swing Artist
Registered: Dec 2014
Location:
Posts: 206 |
quote: Originally posted by rbi
HPP is rolling. Since entering the HPP Team Shuster has already made it to a Grand Slam semi-final and reached the top 15 in the OOM standings. Clearly HPP is doing something right!!
(sorry, just could not resist)
I can't help but to think though, that if Shuster had lost the finals last year at Nationals or something and a HPP team had gone to worlds, that the HPP would not have even thought about placing Shuster in the HPP this year, even though they clearly should be (Yes, he kind of choked at the olympics, but that's for another conversation; he is one of the best the US has currently). And the only way they were put on the HPP roster was because they jumped through all the fifty hoops that USCA put in place to keep non-HPP teams from making it onto the US world team.
So I'm not convinced the HPP did "something right" that caused Shuster to making the top 15; Shuster did something right to be make the top 15... I guess that's the cynic in me.
Welcome to another curling season!
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-17-15 11:07AM |
|
mr. lucky
Hitting Paint
Registered: Nov 2007
Location:
Posts: 142 |
I think you need to ask Shuster and co if the summer program has helped them.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-17-15 03:55PM |
|
WarrMachine
Harvey Hacksmasher
Registered: Dec 2011
Location: New York
Posts: 60 |
I believe Brown and Ply also played in the StuSells in Oakville earlier in September.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-17-15 04:33PM |
|
Phil_D
Drawmaster
Registered: May 2014
Location: Joliet, IL
Posts: 629 |
quote: Originally posted by WarrMachine
I believe Brown and Ply also played in the StuSells in Oakville earlier in September.
Correct. Both teams failed to qualify, but it was a good field and their first events both for the year and with the new line-ups.
Not to forget the women, Roth & Sinclair played in Oakville as well, and also failed to qualify. Again, first events, tough field.
Besides Shuster in Tier I, Roth & Sinclair also played in the Tier II event at the GSOC Tour Challenge. Roth didn't qualify, but Sinclair did and made it all the way to the semifinal round.
Not too shabby of a start all-around. As has been said I think the important thing is to just keep getting out there and playing, and from the looks of things that is what the teams are going to be doing.
__________________
Recreational curler & resident armchair curler at Windy City Curling Club.
Co-host of the NerdCurl podcast & occasional blogger.
http://www.nerdcurl.com
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
09-17-15 04:35PM |
|
CuriousCuz
Knee-Slider
Registered: Feb 2015
Location: United States
Posts: 6 |
quote: Originally posted by WarrMachine
I believe Brown and Ply also played in the StuSells in Oakville earlier in September.
Yes, you are correct WarrMachine, both played and 6 teams there were top 12 OOM. More experience.
Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged
|
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is . |
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Rules:
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is OFF
vB code is ON
Smilies are ON
[IMG] code is ON
|
|
|
|
|
|