CANADA DROPS TWO IN ITALY 

CALGARY’S WIPF OUTSIDE THE PLAYOFF PICTURE AT WORLD JUNIORS 

With four games remaining in the round robin at the World Junior Curling Championship in Cortina, Italy, the Canadian men suddenly find themselves on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. 

After two losses on Tuesday, the Canadians skipped by Calgary’s Kenan Wipf dropped to 2-3, moving them into a tie for fifth place in the standings. Only the top four teams will advance to the semifinal playoffs.  

Wipf (along with Ky Macaulay, Keenan Michael, and Max Cinnamon) lost the morning matchup with Germany’s Lukas Jaeger. It didn’t start badly for the Canadians, who forced Germany to blank three ends before stealing the fourth. 

The wheels fell off shortly after that, however, when Germany took two in the fifth, stole three in the sixth, and stole three more in the seventh end to put it away. 

“The ice was very different today and in the first game,” said Wipf. “We got really caught up by it.” 

Looking to rebound in the evening draw, the Canadians faced Norway’s Lukas Hoestmaelingen. Norway began the game with hammer by virtue of the Last Shot Draw, and promptly put three on the board. Canada answered with three in the second, and forced a single in the third. 

That was as close as Canada would be for the rest of the game, however, as Norway stole the fourth, and two in the fifth. Canada added a single in the sixth, before Norway added two more in the seventh. Canada blanked the eighth, and took two in the ninth, but a three-point deficit was too big to overcome in the tenth, without hammer. 

“Norway played very well tonight,” said Wipf. “We were close, but needed a couple shots to move a few inches differently. We’d would be looking at a very different scoreboard.” 

The schedule doesn’t get easier for the team – supported by coaches Lainie Peters, Derek Bowyer, and alternate Derek Naugler. Their remaining games are against Switzerland, Italy, Scotlan, and Japan.  

Italy and Scotland currently sit tied for first with 4-0 records. 

“Going into tomorrow it’s just going to be about staying liquid,” said Wipf. “We have to keep our heads down and work with what we’re given.” 

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

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