Canada wins men’s curling worlds bronze in Halifax
After two consecutive tough nights, Canada gave its curling fans a good morning, winning the bronze medal at the World Men’s Championship with an 8-4 win over Finland.
Canada dropped the page playoff by a 7-6 score on Friday night to defending World Champion Norway, losing a direct route to the final. The next night, a second chance at the gold medal game was taken away by Sweden in the semifinal in a 6-3 loss.
That left Canada to play for bronze in Halifax on Sunday morning against Finland, which the team skipped by Pat Simmons delivered.
Pat Simmons and Carter Rycroft during round robin play at 2015 Men’s Curling World Championship in Halifaxt.
A fourth end runback double set-up by Team Canada second Carter Rycroft allowed Simmons to draw for three, which opened up a 5-1 lead for the hosts.
After holding Finland – skipped by Aku Kauste – to one, two more for Canada in the sixth extended the lead to five points at 7-2.
From that point Canada managed to defend and keep the momentum before sealing the bronze with a single in the ninth end as Finland conceded.
Pat Simmons in action at the 2015 curling men’s World Championship in Halifax.
The bronze adds to a silver from Team Jennifer Jones in the women’s worlds this year, although no doubt Curling Canada – which strives to be the best – will look to get back on top of the World Championship podiums in 2016 as Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games begin to sneak up on winter sport federations.
Canada won the Olympic men’s and women’s double a year ago with Team Jones and Team Brad Jacobs bringing home matching gold.
