Canada’s mixed doubles curling team wrapped up a frustrating Olympic campaign with a morale-boosting win, defeating Switzerland 8–4 in their final round-robin match at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games.
Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant, a married pair from Chestermere, Alberta, ended the tournament with a 4–5 record, well outside playoff contention. Their hopes were extinguished Sunday night following a loss to South Korea, extending a five-game losing streak after an encouraging 3–0 start to the competition.
Despite the disappointment, Canada delivered a strong performance in its final outing. The Canadians broke the game open by scoring three points in the seventh end and then limiting Switzerland’s Yannick Schwaller and Briar Schwaller-Huerlimann to no remaining stones in the eighth to seal the victory.
Gallant said the win helped lift spirits after a difficult previous day, admitting the elimination weighed heavily on him overnight. He added that finishing the event with energy and a high-quality performance was something the team could be proud of.
A key moment came in the fifth end when Schwaller-Huerlimann committed a hog-line violation on her final stone. Switzerland had been in position to score multiple points using its power play, but instead surrendered a steal to Canada.
Peterman and Gallant finished the match with a combined shooting percentage of 90 per cent. Gallant was flawless on his takeouts and led the field overall at 97 per cent efficiency. Canadian coach Scott Pfeifer praised the pair for their professionalism and resilience, noting that avoiding a loss in the final game was important for how athletes remember an event.
Switzerland also finished 4–5 and missed the playoffs. Great Britain topped the standings at 8–1, while Italy and the United States both ended at 6–3 and advanced to the semifinals.
Gallant will now turn his attention to the men’s four-player curling event, joining Brad Jacobs’ team, while Rachel Homan’s Ottawa-based rink will represent Canada in the women’s competition.
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