Regina Skins Game: Koe vs Dunstone

 On February 5, Regina will be hosting an outdoor skins game, Koe vs Dunstone.  It is supposed to be the big draw in some sort of winter festival in Regina.  It appears to be going ahead.   

Lately during the pandemic, I have had three types of activities.  Things you can't do.  Things you can do.  Things that just because you can do them doesn't mean you should do them.  This game seems to fall in the last category.  

But, it will go ahead.  For the curlers, money is money.  There have not been the usual opportunities for money over the last couple of years.  

The game itself will be consequential to the curling world. It will have many ripple effects.  

First of all, Team Koe will need to pick up a spare as John Morris will be away.  I think they will use Colton Flasch.  Colton will do it, despite being cut from the team two years earlier, because, well, money.  Since it is a special event, it will make sense to have no time clocks.  Team Koe will be able to talk out every shot as much as they want.  It will make them realize how much time they spend talking on each shot and make them wonder why.  They can make any shot.  They will always chose the circus shot because they are so competitive and adrenaline junkies.  But, I think BJ Neufeld will decide after this game, that he is not interested in playing with this team for another four years.  It is just harder to be part of the team dynamic when you reside two provinces away.  He is probably the best third in the game, yet, he has been shuffled from third to second too many times.  I think he is going with a different team at the end of this year.  Will John Morris want to continue with this team after winning gold in the Olympics at Mixed Doubles?  That will make him a three time gold medalist (if they win) and I think he might chose to specialize in MD to advance that discipline. He will get considerable incentives to do so.  Who will they pick up?  Well, anyone would jump for the opportunity to be part of Team Koe. This will lead to a lot of changes on a lot of teams.  

It is going to be a big turning point for Team Dunstone, if it even exists at the end of this season.  I think Dunstone will think his chances of chasing his Olympic dreams in four years are better skipping out of BC.  Also, Team Dunstone will be incredibly hurt and shocked that they will be booed by the Regina crowd.  It is their third.  He didn't play at the Trials and before that, Team Carruthers abruptly terminated them from their team with only one event left in the season.  Personal reasons cited for both moves.  Rumours have been circulated.  I have heard that he has carpal tunnel syndrome resulting from too many clicks on the internet.  That internet, it can be a nasty thing.  The carpal tunnel thing has really affected his life and it hasn't been positive and it has affected his ability to play because he is so distracted by carpal tunnel syndrome.  No matter what he does, he can't erase the affects of too much time on the internet.  Fans of the game have been greatly disappointed that such a talented player could get carpal tunnel syndrome from too much texting and other internet activity.  They will boo him.  This will make the rest of the team question whether they want to continue curling with someone with carpal tunnel syndrome resulting from too much time on the internet.  The team will dissolve which means once again, Saskatchewan will be up for grabs.  

A game that has no meaning will have a lot of meaning.  

Unless it is cancelled due to lack of interest, which will also have lots of implications for the curling world.