2022 U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS FOR MIXED DOUBLES CURLING UNDERWAY
Photo by Bob Weder
The first stones of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Mixed Doubles Curling were thrown on Tuesday at 12:00PM Central.
Athletes had an opportunity to get a feel for the Championship ice at Curl Mesabi in Eveleth, Minn. on the evening of Oct. 25th in their pre-event practices, but Thursday afternoon marked the opening draw of the Trials.
The Trials, featuring ten teams from across the United States host a nine-game round-robin with time slated for tiebreakers (if necessary) before heading into the Championship weekend.
In the first session of the event, Team Peterson/Polo came out with a commanding lead that could not be countered by Bear/Stopera, resulting in a 9-3 victory for the reigning National Champions.
Persinger/Plys faced Anderson/Dropkin, forcing Anderson/Dropkin to throw draws against multiples. Scoring six points in the fourth and fifth ends, the duo of Anderson/Dropkin could not makeup for the deficit despite scoring three with their powerplay in the sixth end.
On the feature sheet, Chistensen/Shuster trailed Hamilton/Hamilton 5-2 entering the eighth end. After the sibling duo crashed on a guard with their final stone that was intended to remove one of Christensen/Shuster’s two counters, Christensen/Shuster sent the game into an extra end, marking the first and only multiple score of the game.
Christensen/Shuster were positioned counting two points when Becca Hamilton got in the hack to deliver the final stone of the game. Without a draw path into the house to outcount Chistensen/Shuster’s rocks, Hamilton/Hamilton executed a double takeout to secure their first win of the tournament.
In a game that was tied after the first two ends, Sinclair/Ruohonen scored two with hammer in the third end, followed by a steal of two in the fourth against Geving/Violette. Geving/Violette answered by making use of their power play with three points in the sixth, but another multiple-point steal by Sinclair/Ruohonen proved to be the difference.
"It's been kind of a long two or three months, playing every weekend of mixed doubles,” said Rich Ruohonen. “Then to get here early and have a few days sitting and thinking about it, it was really great to finally get on the ice and play. We played really well. Jamie played good and I made pretty much everything, so we were in control of the game. I'm excited to get going and see what the week brings."
Walker/Leichter possessed a one-point lead without hammer entering the eighth end against Burchesky/Richardson. Facing a crowded four-foot with her final rock, Jenna Burchesky played a soft weight hit to remove one of Walker/Leichter’s counters, resulting in a score of three and an 8-6 victory.
The Opening Ceremony be tonight at 5:45PM. All ten teams will be introduced and the ceremonial first stone will be delivered by Eveleth native and 1960 Olympic gold medalist John Mayasich.
A four-time Minnesota state hockey champion at Eveleth High School, Mayasich went on to play collegiate hockey at the University of Minnesota where he remains the school's all-time leading scorer (298 points). He won a silver medal at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Italy and four years later captured gold as a member of Team USA at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, Calif.
"You talk about pressure, this is pressure! I'm used to a team sport where you can blame someone else," Mayasich said laughing. "It's a privilege and this event is so good for Eveleth, the Range and this state."
Minnesota State Rep. David Lislegard will skip the ceremonial first stone, while several members of Curl Mesabi and the club's Foundation will also take part.
The second draw of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Trials for Mixed Doubles Curling will be at 7:00PM Central. The web stream will feature Burchesky/Richardson vs. Persinger/Plys on the NBC Sports App and NBCOlympics.com.
USA Curling is sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, Toyota, Twin Cities Orthopedics, Training HAUS, Brakebush, ISS (Ice, Sports & Solar), and Sitrin, and is partnered with IHG, Rock Solid Productions Inc., Laurie Artiss Ltd. – The Pin People, and United Airlines.
