CANADIANS WILL PLAY FOR BRONZE 

GERMANY DOWNS CANADA IN SEMIFINAL AT WORLD JUNIORS

A few days ago, if you had told Allyson MacNutt and Team Canada that they’d be playing for a medal at the World Junior Curling Championships, they probably would have taken that as good news. 

After all, they had more losses than wins, were on the brink of elimination, and – at one point – were trailing by five points in a game where a loss would have ended their playoff hopes at the Cortina, Italy event. 

But now – after winning two critical games and getting the help they needed to reach the playoffs – dropping the semifinal to Germany and falling into the bronze-medal game must feel a bit bittersweet.  

Such is the case for MacNutt, Maria Fitzgerald, Alison Umlah, and Grace McCusker. The Canadian women put up a good fight with first-place Germany – skipped by Sara Messenzehl – but a lost-rock loss on Easter Sunday knocks them out of gold-medal contention and will leave them in the bronze-medal game. 

“It is definitely disappointing to have lost the semi-final,” said third Maria Fitzgerald. “We had a really good game today, but just came up short in a couple of key ends. Germany played amazing and it was a battle to the end.” 

Canada managed to steal the first end after a blank attempt from German fourth-thrower Kim Sutor missed the mark. Germany was forced to a single in the second, and returned the favour in the third, forcing MacNutt & Co. to a single point. 

Germany gained steam through the middle ends, taking two in the fourth, and stealing in the sixth and seventh ends. Trailing 5-2, Canada was able to manufacture a score of three in the eighth end to tie the game.  

Germany had a chance to score two in the ninth, but rolled out on a takeout attempt, scoring only one. Canada would have hammer in the tenth, down one.  

In the tenth, a battle over the four-foot turned sour, as the angles didn’t line up for Canada. A thin double attempt from MacNutt was off target, and Germany stole two more, the win, and the berth in the gold-medal final.  

The Germans will face Korea for the gold. Korea defeated Sweden in the other semifinal by a score of 7-6 in a game that also came down to the last rock. 

“We’re really proud of what we’ve accomplished so far,” said Fitzgerald. “We are looking forward to playing in the bronze medal game tomorrow and will give it everything we have to bring it home for Canada!” 

For scores and schedules, visit the World Curling site here: https://livescores.worldcurling.org/wjcc/default  

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