The inaugural TCG All-Star extravaganza was a smash hit in Nashville as the world’s best gathered for a celebration of curling.
The two-day event, which took place April 15-16 at Tee Line Nashville, featured a celebrity pro-am, a skills competition, and a mixed All-Star skins game with 12 of the top curlers in action. Of course there were also off-ice activities, from riding mechanical bulls to taking on the hot wings challenge. When in Nashville, am I right?
NFL stars George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers and T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings were also on hand during the festivities.
Olympic gold medallists John Morris and Matt Hamilton served as the team captains for the main event skins game. Team Morris emerged victorious, cashing in $31,000, while Team Hamilton collected $5,000.
Here are highlights from the TCG All-Star Game.
Let the games and the chirping begin
The TCG All-Star Game was all in good fun, so what’s a little trash-talking between the captains?
Morris fired the first shot at Hamilton during his interview with Robbie Doherty after his team stole the opening end.
“He’s chirping a pretty big game on the bench there, but I think we’ve got the Muzzinator,” Morris said. “He’s a little washed up, and I think we’re coming for him.”
Oh, guess who just happened to be listening in?
Skill or fluke?
Ross Whyte couldn’t replicate this one even if he tried.
After a questionable hogline violation during Whyte’s first skip shot, the pressure was on during his second shot, with Tyler Tardi acting as the eye on the line.
It looked like disaster struck as Whyte’s shooter clipped his team’s rock in the house on the way. However, that feathered the stone sideways, bounced off a Team Hamilton rock, and spun onto the button, right where they wanted it.
All part of the plan, right?
Homan’s routine triple
Rachel Homan bailed out Team Hamilton big time in the third end.
With Team Morris sitting three, it was all on Homan to do a little house cleaning.
The double was guaranteed, but sending Team Morris’ rock sideways to knock out another — thanks to a big scrub from Matt Dunstone — was the chef’s kiss.
Kerri-over
One of the unique rules for the TCG All-Star Game was the sure shot.
Once per half, team captains could wave the flag and reconfigure their lineup for one shot.
John Morris opted to use his first-half sure shot with his team’s last rock of the third end.
Morris handed the keys to Kerri Einarson to make a soft tap and raise, denying Team Hamilton from stealing the end and carrying it over to the fourth.
Shots fired from The Sheriff
Team Hamilton got on the board in the fifth end to collect $5,000, and Matt Dustone was oozing with confidence during his mid-game interview with Doherty.
Dunstone said Whyte, “couldn’t hit the broom if they were playing with a 10-inch Brownie.”
As for their game plan during the second half?
“We don’t have to do too much. They’re leaking oil, they have been for a while, and we’ve made note of that,” Dunstone said. “We’re going to wait them out.”
Tell us how you really feel, Dunstone.
Einarson sets up the steal
Einarson handled skip stones in the seventh and came up clutch again.
Chants of “Kerri! Kerri!” broke out after she redirected off of her own team’s stone outside of the house and into the button to sit the shot rock buried.
Homan was unable to eliminate the rock on both of her skip stones, leading to a decisive steal that sealed the victory for Team Morris.
“I think we bring in The Boss“
Although Team Morris had the victory in the bank, there was still $8,000 up for grabs in the eighth and final frame.
Not wanting to leave money on the table, Morris called his second-half “sure shot” midway through the end to give Einarson another opportunity to deliver highlight reel heroics.
Einarson pulled it off again, doubling out Team Hamilton’s rocks to sit three.
