2011 BDO Canadian Open of Curling (December) explained

2011 BDO Canadian Open of Curling
Size:180
Host City:Kingston, Ontario
Arena:K-Rock Centre
Dates:December 14–18
Winner: Mike McEwen
Curling Club:Assiniboine Memorial CC, Winnipeg
Skip:Mike McEwen
Third:B. J. Neufeld
Second:Matt Wozniak
Lead:Denni Neufeld
Finalist: Jeff Stoughton
Prev:2011 (Jan)
Next:2012

The 2011 BDO Canadian Open of Curling in December was held from December 14 to 18 at the K-Rock Centre in Kingston, Ontario. It was the second Grand Slam event of the 2011–12 curling season and the eleventh time the tournament has been held. The purse was CAD$100,000.

In the final, Mike McEwen won the final over Jeff Stoughton in seven ends with a score of 5–2. He successfully defended his title from the last edition of the BDO Canadian Open, won his first Grand Slam title of the year, and won his third career Grand Slam title.[1]

Five-rock rule

A new five-rock rule was implemented at this edition of the Canadian Open.[2] The rule, a slight alteration to the free guard zone rule, was tested at the event in an attempt to increase offence in the game.[3] The new rule was predicted to favour teams who play more offence, as the rule allows for a fifth guard to be placed in the free guard zone.[2] However, concerns were raised that the new rule may possibly hinder teams that are more defence-oriented, an opinion echoed by the Canadian Curling Association.[2] [4] Since the Canadian Open is a Grand Slam event, the Open carried many points on the Canadian Team Ranking System, which plays a role in determining Olympic trials participants. If a team were to miss qualifying for the 2013 trials because of a poor performance at the Open influenced by the five rock rule, the team could raise complaints to the CCA.[4] As a result, the CCA stated that it would not sanction the event unless all players participating in the Open express written consent in regards to the five-rock rule.[2] [5] Not all players had agreed not to challenge the outcome of the Open,[6] but the event went ahead as planned, with the five-rock rule in place.

Teams

Skip Third Second Lead Locale
Aberdeen, Scotland
Kelowna/Vernon, British Columbia
Karlstad, Sweden
Toronto, Ontario
David Nedohin (fourth) Randy Ferbey (skip) Edmonton, Alberta
Brandon, Manitoba
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Coldwater, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Toronto, Ontario
Edmonton, Alberta
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Edmonton, Alberta
Bradford, Ontario
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Gatineau/Lévis, Quebec
Edmonton, Alberta
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Round-robin standings

Final round-robin standings

Key
Teams to Playoffs
Teams to Tiebreaker
width=10% valign="top"
width=150 Pool A !width=15W !width=15L !width=20PF !width=20PA
5 0 34 12
4 1 29 20
2 3 20 23
2 3 23 25
1 4 17 33
1 4 24 32
width=10% valign="top"
width=150 Pool B !width=15W !width=15L !width=20PF !width=20PA
4 1 30 21
Kevin Martin* 3 2 23 15
3 2 27 26
3 2 28 26
1 4 23 36
1 4 18 25
width=10% valign="top"
width=150 Pool C !width=15W !width=15L !width=20PF !width=20PA
4 1 38 27
4 1 32 21
4 1 33 16
2 3 32 32
1 4 23 38
0 5 14 38
*Kevin Martin advances directly to the playoffs by virtue of a draw to the button contest between Kevin Koe, Jean-Michel Ménard, and Martin.[7]

Round-robin results

Draw 1

Wednesday, December 14, 7:30 pm

Draw 2

Thursday, December 15, 9:00 am

Draw 3

Thursday, December 15, 12:30 pm

Draw 4

Thursday, December 15, 4:00 pm

Draw 5

Thursday, December 15, 7:30 pm

Draw 6

Friday, December 16, 9:00 am

Draw 7

Friday, December 16, 12:30 pm

Draw 8

Friday, December 16, 4:00 pm

Draw 9

Friday, December 16, 7:30 pm

Tiebreaker

Saturday, December 17, 9:30

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Saturday, December 17, 2:00 pm

Semifinals

Saturday, December 17, 7:00 pm

Final

Sunday, December 18, 1:00 pm

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: McEwen beats Stoughton to win BDO Canadian Open. 18 December 2011. CBC Sports.
  2. Web site: New curling rule rocks the boat: Governing body worried about dearth of scoring. 1 December 2011. Calgary Herald.
  3. Web site: Do you like curling's new 5-rock rule?. 5 November 2011. CBC Sports.
  4. Web site: Five-rock rule is worth trying out; and a little love for the Glencoe club. Allen Cameron. 1 December 2011. Calgary Herald (blog).
  5. Web site: Five-rock Slam gets reprieve. 10 November 2011. London Free Press.
  6. Web site: Big 3 hitting stride for BDO Canadian Open. 12 December 2011. CBC Sports.
  7. Web site: Martin rallies to make playoffs at BDO Canadian Open. 16 December 2011. CBC Sports.