Olympic Curling Scores: Team Canada Dominates Italy at Milano Cortina 2026
Patience and precision proved to be the keys to success for Team Canada as they secured an 8-3 win against Italy at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games on Wednesday morning. This victory guarantees Brad Jacobs’ team a second-place finish in the round robin standings for men’s curling.
Initially, Jacobs, along with third Marc Kennedy, second Brett Gallant, and lead Ben Hebert, faced some challenges with rock weights and placement. However, a strategic adjustment in stone selection proved pivotal. Gallant and Hebert found their rhythm just as Italy, led by skip Joel Retornaz, began to falter.
A Shift in Momentum
“It was a bit of a slow start for us, but we were battling a few stones that we didn’t love, especially the front end,” explained Gallant. “We weren’t really setting the boys up for much success. But Marc made a good comment there, I think it was maybe in the fifth end. He said ‘guys we just have to stay patient, figure this out, keep communicating’ and we did a really good job of that.”
The game took a dramatic turn in the sixth end. Italy, holding a 3-2 lead and the hammer, suffered a crucial miss by Retornaz on a routine hit-and-roll attempt to blank the end. This error sent shockwaves through both teams, particularly the Italian squad, fueled by the enthusiastic support of their home crowd.
Canada Capitalizes on Italian Errors
Seizing the opportunity, Jacobs and his team adopted an aggressive strategy in the sixth end. Consecutive misses by Italy’s Sebastiano Arman and Amos Mosaner allowed Canada to place four counters within the four-foot circle. Retornaz attempted a delicate draw to the button but came up short, resulting in a steal of four points and a significant shift in control.
“Once we figured it out we started, well, the back end made some huge shots, but we got a couple of breaks, too,” said Gallant. “That missed point by Joel, we got that point to tie it up. And then some big, big back-end shots in the sixth end, that was the turning point.”
Securing a Semifinal Berth
This fourth consecutive win solidified Canada’s position, guaranteeing at least a second-place finish in the 10-team round robin. They had already secured a semifinal berth a day earlier with a 9-5 victory over Great Britain.
Switzerland’s Yannick Schwaller remains at the top of the standings with an undefeated 8-0 record after defeating Magnus Ramsfjell of Norway 10-4. Bruce Mouat of Great Britain defeated Daniel Casper of the United States 9-2, keeping his playoff hopes alive.
Playoff Picture
With one draw remaining on Thursday, Great Britain (5-4), Italy (4-4), Norway (4-4), and the U.S. (4-5) are all vying for the final two playoff spots.
Experienced Canadian Team
All four members of the Jacobs team boast Olympic medals, with Jacobs, Kennedy, and Hebert having previously won gold. Gallant, celebrating his 35th birthday, has a bronze medal. Despite their impressive track record, Italy presented a formidable challenge in the early stages of the game.
Retornaz blanked the first end, forced Canada to take one in the second, and stole one in the third, capitalizing on six consecutive half-shots by the Canadians. This was the first steal the Jacobs team had conceded since Denmark stole a single in their second game.
Looking Ahead
Canada will face Norway on Thursday morning, while Switzerland will take on Italy in two games that will determine the final teams for Thursday evening’s semifinals.
Learn more about the Olympic Winter Games: Official Olympics Website
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