Heated Rivalries and Curling Mind Games

MISSISSAUGA, ON – A little Heated Rivalry is welcome at the Scotties, and I am not talking about the hockey television show. 

The end of the Sturmay versus Skrlik game at Canada’s national women’s championship provided some interesting drama, and the post-game commentary, as well as a few things said on ice at the time, were definitely hostile.

For those not watching, let me describe the scene. Skrlik needs to steal one in the 10th end and it’s not looking promising on her last rock. Her only shot is to try to draw to the back of the button around a stone sitting top of the button, to force Sturmay to throw her last stone. 

As the rock is arriving, it clips the yellow and is spinning and settling on the side of the button. Sturmay runs out to sweep the rock, which she is allowed to do once the stone crosses the tee line, but Skrlik’s lead – her sister Ashton – was still trying to sweep to get the rock to spin back to the button. 

Technically it was still Skrlik’s rock to sweep, as the other thrown stone hadn’t yet arrived at the tee line. Skrlik’s brush hit Sturmay’s brush, then the rock, which stopped on the edge of the button, and was not shot.

The chaos ensued. Skrlik’s team wanted to bring in the official, because clearly something had happened. The rock was touched. But in theory, it was Sturmay’s fault, as she is supposed to get out of the way (I’m not saying she did it on purpose). Also in theory, the rock was spinning and if untouched, could have spun a bit more and been shot stone. This is what the officials should have been talking about.

Instead, they agreed to leave everything as is, and Sturmay decided to go down the ice and throw a completely unnecessary final rock, as she was already shot stone and had basically won the game.

In the post-game interview, Sturmay accused Skrlik of playing mind games. That was weird. I’m not sure what mind game was being played, given the game was over once she agreed to not move the rock to where it could have theoretically ended up. 

I know a lot of men’s team’s that I play against would – 100% – have moved the red stone two inches inches closer to make me throw my last shot. Instead Skrlik went with what the umpire said (or didn’t say?). 

I’m also trying to figure out who – on Sturmay’s team – apparently said something like “Well, if we are playing by the rules, you guys hogged every rock this game” as they were discussing the incident, implying that Skrlik’s team was repeatedly releasing their stones over the hogline while delivering. Passive-aggressive much?

In the end, the umpires likely should have intervened more. But the challenge is that players do need to speak up when they think they have been wronged, which is difficult to do calmly and rationally in the moment. Either way, it was a messy end to the game.

I don’t think Skrlik was trying to do anything improper. And I find Sturmay’s post-game comments a bit harsh. But what’s clear is these two teams do not seem to like each other. Heated Rivalry! 

Today’s three draws mark the end of pool play and Sturmay has made her pool’s final three at 5-1; Nova Scotia’s Christina Black (6-1) and Manitoba’s Beth Peterson (6-0) are also in the playoffs. Skrlilk is out with a current 3-3 mark.

The other pool has Kaitlyn Lawes (Man.) in at 7-0 as well as Canada’s Kerri Einarson at 6-1; the last playoff berth will go to either Ontario’s Hailey Armstrong or Nova Scotia’s Taylour Stevens (both 5-2) who are battling at 2:00 p.m. ET. 

For those of you watching at home, don’t underestimate the impact of mind games. I have definitely seen some hilarious efforts at distracting the other team by invoking, or even talking about rules. Here’s one of my top stories to illustrate this. 

Many years ago I was playing against Brad Gushue, who had the legendary Randy Ferbey at third position – remember that brief experiment? We were at a cashspiel in Gatineau. I had a guy from out west named Scott Hill playing second for me that weekend – who recently coached Nigeria at the Winter Youth Olympics in Korea.  

Before the game, Scott tells me he “knows how to get into Randy’s head.” Yeah, sure Scott. Hall of Famer, multiple Brier and world champion Randy Ferbey is gonna fall for some dumb mind tricks from you. 

Scott proceeds to “aggressively” lean in at the hogline every time Randy throws, as if he was watching to make sure he let go of the handle in time. 

I should mention that Scott is also 6’4”, 240 pounds or so, and is rather imposing on the ice. 

I was both amused and mortified.

But sure enough, Randy comes down the ice after a few instances of being oogled and says something to Brad. Gushue then casually walks over to me and says “Mike, can you ask your second to stop watching Randy when he throws?”  

I’m not saying it worked, but we did win that game. 

Mind games. 

It’s part of what makes sport, and specifically curling, such a compelling game at a competitive level.

I’m pretty sure that is not what Skrlik had in mind, but a little Heated Rivalry makes for good watchin’!

Some good stories are emerging this week as we approach the end of the round robin. Both Armstrong and Stevens, Scotties rookies, are showing a lot of calm under the bright lights. And it’s  great to see the home team representing so bravely.

I’ve enjoyed watching the young Quebec team. They are an interesting story – with two of their players not old enough to buy an alcoholic beverage at the Patch. Jolianne Fortin earned her way here by beating out Laurie St-Georges, and watching them this week you can see how that happened. 

Jolianne and team are showing a lot of talent and poise. Yes, their lack of experience shows, but this is a great week for them. I’m hoping they are a sign of bright things to come from my home province.