UPDATE 11:25 A.M.
Team Canada is one victory away from claiming a third gold medal in four years at the 2013 World Wheelchair Curling Championship.
The Jim Armstrong-skipped Canadian team, rounded out by third Dennis Thiessen (Sanford, Man.), second Ina Forrest (Armstrong), lead Sonja Gaudet (Vernon), alternate Mark Ideson (London, Ont.) and coach Joe Rea (Prince George, B.C.), cruised to a 6-3 win over Patrick McDonald of the U.S. in the semifinal on Friday at the Ice Cube Curling Center in Sochi, Russia.
With the victory, Canada advances to the gold-medal game against Sweden’s Jalle Jungnell Saturday at 3:30 a.m. PST.
It will be a third opportunity to defeat the Swedes, who beat Canada 8-7 in the round robin on Wednesday, and 6-5 in the Page playoff one-two game earlier on Friday.
“Sweden has had a history over the years of playing very well against us in big games, and they’ve owned us this week,” said Armstrong. “But I think it’s our turn. We’ll be ready for them.”
Canada opened the semi with a stolen point in the third, and took control with deuces in the third and fifth ends, and another steal in the sixth.
“We just tried to take advantage early,” said Armstrong. “The ice was a little tricky, and if you have to come from behind, it’s a very tough game. You get a bit of a lead and you just play safe; that seems to be the way to do it.”
The U.S. team will play China’s Haito Wang for the bronze medal Saturday.
Saturday’s medal games can be watched online at http://russiasport.ru.
Live scoring and standings from the 2013 World Wheelchair Curling Championship can be found at: http://wwhcc2013.curlingevents.com/.
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Team Canada will need a second chance to advance to the gold-medal game at the 2013 World Wheelchair Curling Championship in Sochi Russia.
Canada, going for its third world championship in four years, bowed 6-5 to Sweden’s Jalle Jungnell today at the Ice Cube Curling Center in the Page playoff one vs. two game.
As a result, the Swedes advance directly to Saturday’s gold-medal game at 3:30 a.m. PST.
The Canadian team — skip Jim Armstrong (Cambridge, Ont.), third Dennis Thiessen (Sanford, Man.), second Ina Forrest (Armstrong), lead Sonja Gaudet (Vernon), alternate Mark Ideson (London, Ont.) and coach Joe Rea (Prince George, B.C.) — will return to action later on today, taking on Patrick McDonald of the U.S. in the semifinal at 8 a.m. PST.
The winner of that game moves to the gold-medal game, while the loser will play China’s Haitao Wang, who lost 8-4 to the U.S. in the Page three-four game, for the bronze medal on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. PST.
The semifinal, as well as Saturday’s medal games, can be watched online at http://russiasport.ru.
Live scoring and standings from the 2013 World Wheelchair Curling Championship can be found at: http://wwhcc2013.curlingevents.com/
