We're here to tell the stories, not the opinions! Send us your story or results to info@wcblog2.com You control the story, help shape it!

Live WEBCASTING : www.ustream.tv/channel/wcblog2 Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCcurlingblog2

Translate to your required language

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Winter Paralympics: Neilson hails coach Tony Zummack


Aileen Nielson
6 January 2014 Last updated at 22:08 GMT
Great Britain wheelchair curling skip Aileen Neilson has praised head coach Tony Zummack for the impact he has made on the team as they look to challenge for a Winter Paralympic medal in Sochi.
GB finished a disappointing sixth at the 2010 Vancouver Games, four years after winning silver in Turin.


But Neilson is positive about their chances of success in Russia in March.


"Tony has introduced a lot of new aspects - both technically and tactically," she told BBC Sport.
"I know I feel a much more confident player and a much more technically able player. He has worked really hard to make us the best we can be.


"I've gained a lot more experience since Vancouver, which was my first Games, the whole team has, and I'm sure that will help us too."


Since taking over as head coach three years ago, Canadian Zummack, a former ice hockey player and able-bodied curler, has worked in training sessions to improve the team's game play and the team dynamics.

Paralympic wheelchair curling schedule


  • 8 Mar: GB v Canada
  • 9 Mar: GB v Sweden; GB v Korea
  • 10 Mar: GB v Slovakia
  • 11 Mar: GB v Finland; GB v Norway
  • 12 Mar: GB v Russia
  • 13 Mar: GB v USA; GB v China
  • 14 Mar: Tie-breaker games
  • 15 Mar: Semi-finals and final

GB have won medals in all five major international tournaments they have played in so far this season in the build up to Sochi, and Zummack thinks that is an encouraging sign as to what they could achieve at the Winter Paralympics.


"You're always going to be cautiously optimistic," he said. "I think if you look at our track record right now, it's very, very good.


"That doesn't mean we're guaranteed to execute that going into the Games, but I think if we stay focused on the processes then our medal opportunities are as good as any of the other teams going into the game."


At the Olympics, Great Britain have both a men's and women's team, but at the Paralympics there is one mixed team - and although Neilson is the only female skip among the elite nations, she does not believe her gender makes any difference in leading her team.


"I think the great thing is in some of the competitions that we've been at lately," she said. "I've looked across the ice and there were two other females skipping, and I think there will be more females that will be skipping in the future."


GB play tournament favourites and defending champions Canada in their opening match in Sochi on 8 March.

Double Paralympic bronze medallists Jungnell and Ikonen lead Swedish Sochi 2014 wheelchair curling team

 
Monday, 06 January 2014


By Gary Anderson



January 6  Two time Paralympic bronze medallist Jalle Jungnell will skip the Swedish wheelchair curling team at Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images Jalle Jungnell and Glenn Ikonen, who both formed part of the bronze medal winning Swedish wheelchair curling teams at Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010, have been named to lead the nation's squad heading to Sochi 2014 where they will again be among the favourites for a Paralympic medal.

The veteran duo will be joined by another athlete with Paralympic experience in the form of Vancouver 2010 teammate Patrick Kallin, while the team is completed by Kristina Ulander and Zandra Reppe - who will both be making their Games debut in Sochi.

At last year's World Championship, which was held in Sochi's Ice Cube Centre - where this year's Paralympic competition will be staged, Jungnell, Ikonen, Kallin, Ulander and alternate Gert Erlandsson, lost out 4-3 to the sport's powerhouse Canada in the final.

Indeed, for Jungnell and Ikonen, that was the second time they had to play second fiddle to the Canadians at a World Championship, after losing out to the two-time Paralympic champions in Vancouver in 2009.

In 2010, Ikonen was suspended for six months after he was found to have taken a blood pressure medication - beta blocker metoprolol - which was on the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) banned list.

Ikonen was tested during the Vancouver Winter Games and was forced to miss Sweden's final three matches of the tournament.

Despite being one of the leading nations in curling, Sweden has still not managed to win a major international wheelchair curling event, but Jungnell and her team will be heading to Sochi determined to finally break that gold medal winning barrier.

Sweden will be looking to celebrate Paralympic gold this time around in Sochi ©Bongarts/Getty ImagesSweden will be looking to celebrate Paralympic gold this time around in Sochi ©Bongarts/Getty Images























However, along with Canada, the Swedes will face stiff competition from the likes of hosts and 2012 world champions Russia, and former Paralympic Games silver medallists Great Britain and South Korea.

Double world champions Norway will also be looking to make the podium in Sochi, while two-time World Championship bronze medallists China will be hoping to cause a few upsets along with 2008 bronze medal winners the United States.

Slovakia and Finland complete the list of 10 nations who will be taking to the ice in Sochi in March.

Contact the writer of this story at gary.anderson@insidethegames.biz This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Five paralympier named and a team ready for Sochi


Five paralympier named and a team ready for Sochi

Pressmeddelande • 2013-12-15 14:45 CET Press Release • 2013-12-15 14:45 CET





Sveriges Paralympiska Kommitté har beslutat att det mixed-lag som ska tävla i rullstolscurling under Paralympics i Sotji består av Jalle Jungnell, Glenn Ikonen, Patrik Kallin, Kristina Ulander och Zandra Reppe. Samtidigt ges officiellt klartecken för ett svenskt kälkhockeylag till Paralympics i Sotji, dock tas inga specifika spelare ut till lagsammansättningen i detta läge. Swedish Paralympic Committee has decided that the mixed-teams that will compete in wheelchair curling during the Olympics in Sochi consists of Jalle Jungnell, Glenn Ikonen, Patrik Kallin, Kristina Ulander and Zandra Reppe. While leaving the official go-ahead for a Swedish kälkhockeylag to the Paralympics in Sochi, however, is no specific players to the team composition in this position.

Mixed-lag i rullstolscurling : Mixed teams of wheelchair curling:  

Efter förslag från Svenska Curlingförbundet tar Sveriges Paralympiska Kommitté ut ett mixed-lag i rullstolscurling bestående av: Following proposals by the Swedish Curling Association takes Swedish Paralympic Committee selected a mixed-teams in wheelchair curling consisting of:


· Jalle Jungnell, (Stockholm) Södertälje CK, · Jalle Jungnell, (Stockholm) Södertälje CK,
Spelstatistik: http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=3020 Game Stats: http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=3020

· Glenn Ikonen , (Hässelby) Södertälje CK, · Glenn Ikonen, (Hässelby) Södertälje CK,
Spelstatistik: http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=3021 Game Stats: http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=3021

· Patrik Kallin , (Bandhagen) Södertälje CK, · Patrik Kallin, (Band Hagen) Södertälje CK,
Spelstatistik: http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=5900 Game Stats: http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=5900

· Kristina Ulander , (Väja) Härnösands CK, (debutant) · Kristina Ulander, (Swerve) Härnösands CK (debutant)
Spelstatistik: http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=4934 Game Stats: http://results.worldcurling.org/Person.aspx?id=4934

· Zandra Reppe , (Östersund) Östersund CK, (debutant) · Zandra Reppe, (Östersund) Ostersund CK (debutant)



Sverige har representerats i rullstolscurling i de senaste två Paralympiska spelen, (Turin och Vancouver) och då har det genomförts av Lag Jalle Jungnell. Sweden has been represented in wheelchair curling in the last two Paralympic Games, (Turin and Vancouver) and then have it implemented by Team Jalle Jungnell. Vid dessa tillfällen har det resulterat i bronsmedaljer. On these occasions, it has resulted in the bronze medals. Efter Vancouver upplöstes laget och Sverige har representerats av andra lag vid mästerskap. After Vancouver disbanded the team and Sweden has been represented by other teams at the championships. Inför senaste säsongen har Jalle Jungnell åter skapat ett lag som skipper och vid VM gick man helt obesegrade genom grundturneringen. Prior to last season, Jalle Jungnell recreated a team skipper and at the World Cup went completely undefeated through the tournament grounds. I VM-finalen ställdes Sverige mot Canada vilket ledde till den första förlusten i VM. The World Cup final was Sweden against Canada, which led to the first loss in the World Cup. Resultatet blev alltså en silvermedalj, vilket gett Sverige som nation en rankingposition med direktplats till Sotji. The result was thus a silver medal, which gave Sweden as a nation, a ranking position with direct place to Sochi.

Monday, January 6, 2014

NEW Nova Scotia Champions!!!!!! Team Horning! ,- UPDATED!






20130402_68






After a delayed start, the Nova Scotia Wheelchair Curling Champions have been completed with Team Asham, skipped by George Horning proving to be the victor.





The best of five championship was originally scheduled to have its’ first game on the evening of January 3rd, 2014 but a snow storm in Nova Scotia forced postponement. The Championship began on the afternoon of January 4th, 2014 at the Lakeshore Curling Club in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia.


The championship put the experienced team and defending champions of Trendal Hubley- Bolivar against the Horning team.





Game One started with Horning giving up a single with the hammer to start the game but played strong in the middle ends leading 6-3 after six ends. Hubley-Bolivar came out strong in the seventh end to tie the game. With the game tied going to the eighth end Horning kept the center open as Hubley-Bolivar decided to play on the outside. Horning further guarded shot rock delivered after a hit and roll behind cover by mate, Laughie Rutt to put an end to the game.





Game two again started Hubley-Bolivar with the hammer and jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two ends. Horning played strong again in the middle ends taking four in the third and stealing two in the fourth for a 6-4 lead at the break. The teams threw up big numbers in the next two ends and left the score 10-7 for Horning after six ends. Hubley-Bolivar was not to be denied as he tied it in the eighth and won by stealing in the eleventh end.





January 4th started with Horning having the hammer in the Third game He was held to 1 in the first end but stole 1 in the second end. However, Hubley-Bolivar put up big numbers in the middle ends and led 7-4 after six ends entered the seventh with the hammer. Things unravelled for the defending champions as Horning stole 4 after Horning executed a beautiful Draw to the top of the eight foot / twelve foot to block entry to the house on this his last shot to take a 8 -7 lead without the hammer into the eighth end. Horning then over powered Hubley-Bolivar in the eighth, stealing five to win the game.



In the fourth game, Horning came in without the hammer but up two games to one needing a victory to win the best of five Championship. The disappointment of the game three meld down did not deter Hubley-Bolivar and he took three with the hammer in the first end. In the fourth end (after exchanging singles), Horning scored 3 to knot the score at 4’s going into the break after executing an heavy draw take out to get the third point. In the fifth with the hammer Hubley-Bolivar managed only a single while Horning replied with a deuce and in the sixth and stole in the seventh to enter the last end with a 7-5 lead. Hubley Bolivar opted to play behind a couple of corners on the same side and was able to establish a single behind three corners on the same side after a hit and bounce. Horning then made a bold call. He had his mate curl around them all and sat for shot on the T-line buried. Hubley-Bolivar then attempted draws that were left in the open. Horning executed two beautiful hit and sticks to leave Horning counting 3 on the T- line all spread apart. Out of Rocks Hubley-Bolivar refused to give in and choose to deliver his last rock to hit and stick to make the score 7-6 Horning.



The team of skip George Horning; mate Laughie Rutt;  second Steve Parfitt and lead Paige Fougere will represent Nova Scotia at the 2014 TSX Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships in Montreal.


 


 


Laughie Rutt




WEB POST:





"On behalf of our Team, I would like to congratulate Team Horning on their Provincial win.

 I would as also like to thank all the teams' supporters at the event!

Safe travels and Good Curling at the National in QuÄ—bec, Team Horning.

 
Regards,

Trendal Hubley-Bolivar / Team Hubley-Bolivar"


First International Open Air Wheelchair Curling Bonspiel





The first International Open Air Wheelchair Curling Bonspiel gets underway on Tuesday. Teams from Czech Republic, Italy, Germany and Switzerland will play with a lot of fun in the sun. The forecast for all four days going sunny with a temperature about 0 degrees C. The ice is ready, let’s roll and rock.

 

Stephan Pfister