THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Silver at World Men’s Curling Championship

Team Canada brings home the silver medal at the 2019 Pioneer Hi-Bred World Men’s Curling Championship in Lethbridge, AB on Sunday.

Team Kevin Koe went undefeated throughout the qualification and semi-finals but dropped a 7-2 decision to Sweden’s Niklas Edin in the final. Koe, lead Ben Hebert, second Colton Flasch and third B.J. Neufeld are in their first season together as a foursome.

Canada skip Kevin Koe, third B.J. Neufeld, second Colton Flasch, lead Ben Hebert, left to right, stand on the podium after losing to Sweden in the gold medal game at the Men’s World Curling Championship in Lethbridge, Alta. on Sunday, April 7, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Most of the game was a chess match. Koe made a double in the sixth to lie three forcing Sweden to draw for a single and a 2-2 tie. In the seventh, Koe made a double to the blank end. Putting pressure on Canada, Sweden was able to break the tie with steals of two in the eighth and three in the ninth after Koe could only clear one stone in an attempted quadruple takeout.

Koe made several highlight-reel shots throughout the World Men’s Curling Championship but couldn’t do it again with his last rock. The teams shook hands as Team Canada won the silver medal.

Koe’s team will be Team Canada at the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier in Kingston, Ontario to determine who will wear the Maple Leaf at the 2020 World Men’s Curling Championship, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Sitzerland defeated Japan 8-4 in the bronze medal match.