Canada’s Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant will head into the playoffs of the world mixed doubles curling championship as the third-ranked team in Group A after losing 8-7 in an extra end to Scotland in Thursday’s afternoon draw.
Canada looked poised for a win and second place in the group, but Scotland’s team of men’s world champion Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds tied the match with three points in the eighth end and stole one in the ninth, after a measurement, to complete the comeback.
Both teams had already clinched a playoff spot and finished the round-robin at 7-2, but the head-to-head win gave Scotland the tiebreaker.
Italy (9-0) beat the Netherlands 8-5. The Italians were already assured of top spot in Group A and a spot in Friday’s semifinals.
Canada to take on Estonia next
Peterman and Gallant, from Chestermere, Alta., will face Estonia in the preliminary round of the playoffs on Friday at 9 a.m. ET, while Scotland will face the United States. The preliminary-round winners will advance to the semifinals.
“A new tournament starts tomorrow,” Gallant said. “Just bring ‘er for the playoffs.”
“The key of the playoffs is you don’t have to do anything extra,” added Gallant. “You just have to play your own game, play the way you’ve been playing during the week, stay loose and support each other; stay positive.
Group B teams played in Thursday’s final draw. Australia had clinched top spot in the group, with the other two playoff spots still to be determined.
The medal games will be held Saturday.
Combined results from this year’s competition and the 2024 world playdowns will determine the seven countries that will join host Italy at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. The two remaining spots in the 10-team field will come from the Olympic Qualifying Event in December at Kelowna, B.C.
Reigning Canadian mixed doubles champions Kadriana Lott and Colton Lott were fifth at last year’s worlds in Oestersund, Sweden.
