Team Hood aim for more after Worlds

 World Championship

NZ v Switzerland. Photo WCF / Steve Seixeiro

15 Apr 2023 – The NZ Men's team have set their sights high after their World Curling Championship effort in Ottawa last week. While they recorded just one win from their 12 games, their aim is to return to compete in the top flight, with an eye to Olympic qualification.

It was the first World Championship for Anton Hood, Ben Smith, Brett Sargon and Hunter Walker. Coach and alternate player Peter de Boer skipped the last Kiwi team at a World Championship in 2012, while the other coach Nelson Ede had worked with the NZ Women at their debut World Championship just a few weeks earlier.

The team had their moments in the opening games against the world's top teams, earning the respect and support of large numbers of the knowledgeable local fans. And when they put it all together against Germany to steal the last end and record their sole win, they received a standing ovation.

"It feels great to get the monkey off our backs," said skip Anton Hood. "It was great to walk in front of the crowd. There were a few New Zealand supporters there which makes it even better."

Brett Sargon added insight to the team's mindset. "We're not getting ahead of ourselves," he said. "We're not going to be in the final this week. It was all about being here and establishing a base."

"The plan coming here was to soak it all in and learn as much as we can. We're out there to win but results are null and void for us. The results aren't taken to heart. We understand this is a process."

The learning journey will ramp up for Team Hood, as they have decided to base themselves in Calgary in the 2023/24 season, to immerse themselves in Canada's high-standard competitive curling environment.

Anton explained, "Kiwi curlers going to Canada has been a vision that our coach Peter de Boer has had, and for us as a team there is no other way to achieve [our goals] other than moving sticks over there. We'd always planned on doing it, but Covid got in the way."

Peter de Boer added, "Whilst the results didn't go our way – which wasn't totally unexpected – the lads played 12 games against the world's best. They competed well, had moments of brilliance, but most of all had the chance to learn from some of the game's genuine superstars."

"They will travel to Calgary in September with plenty of opportunities to put those learnings into practice, and continue to try to figure out just how good they can become!"

Anton Hood summarised the team's experience and plans when they arrived back in New Zealand.

"As a team, we had an incredible time away. Our lead-up to the tournament in Calgary was productive and Ottawa itself was an absolute dream. The supporters were nothing but incredible and really made the experience. Playing in front of a crowd that large was obviously an experience that'll we'll never forget, and definitely caught us by surprise."

"We learned a lot from the week - technically, strategically, and the other finer points that make a great team. We feel that although the team's growth has been steep to this point, it's only going to climb higher from this point on. We know we didn't play our best for the week but we know what we need to do to improve."

"The next step for us is getting organised for the upcoming national season here in NZ and our move to Calgary for the 2023-24 Northern Hemisphere season."

"From all the lads, we just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to get there. Without either your long-term or recent support, none of our curling could ever happen. Huge thanks to the NZCA for their continued support and the incredible fundraising they've done for us this year, it truly took a massive load off, and thank you to everyone that chipped in!"

"And an incredible thank you to our coaches Peter de Boer and Nelson Ede for taking time off to be there in our preparations leading up to this tournament and beyond, it means the world to us!"

"Watch this space!"

 

Final Standings

    1  (12-2)  Scotland
    2  (11-4)  Canada
    3  (12-2)  Switzerland
    4  (9-6)  Italy
    5  (10-3)  Sweden
    5  (9-4)  Norway
    7  (5-7)  Japan
    8  (5-7)  United States
    9  (4-8)  Germany
   10  (3-9)  Czech Republic
   11  (2-10)  Türkiye
   12  (1-11)  Korea
   13  (1-11)  New Zealand
 


NZ v Canada. Photo WCF

 


Anton Hood, NZ v Germany. Photo WCF / Céline Stucki

 

Kiwis excited going into World Men's Championship

The New Zealand Men's curling team are primed and ready for their first World Championship in 11 years when the annual World Men's Curling Championship gets under way in Ottawa, Canada this weekend.

"We're all very excited!", said skip Anton Hood. "At our prep in Calgary over the last two weeks we managed to get on some great ice which gave us all the chance to tune in before stepping onto the rink at the Worlds."

The young team of Hood, Ben Smith, Brett Sargon and Hunter Walker qualified for this event with their fifth placing at November's Pan Continental Championship, contested by the leading nations from Asia and the Americas. 

It will be the first World Championship for this four. Their coach and alternate player, Peter de Boer, skipped NZ to fifth place at the last World Championship a Kiwi Men's side attended in 2012..

"Our goals are to just play well, and to learn from all the moments during the week."

Hood was also grateful for the support they had received and the BoostedSport crowdfunding campaign that contributed the majority of their travel costs.

"And a massive thank you to the NZ Curling Association for all their hard work, the supporters, and the families of all the team members. We can’t do it without you all." 

New Zealand will play Korea in their first match on Sunday morning NZ time. All games will be live-streamed on Recast TV (micropayments apply).

 
Recast TV Schedule (NZ times)

 

Top: Peter de Boer (Alternate, coach), Nelson Ede (coach). Below: Hunter Walker (L), Brett Sargon (2,v), Ben Smith (3), Anton Hood (4,s)

 

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