Canada delivers a masterpiece

CORTINA, Italy –Canada scored four in the seventh end to force China to concede the match and post a 9-4 victory Tuesday morning in a battle between the two undefeated teams in wheelchair curling at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

With the win, Canada is the only undefeated team past the halfway point of the 10-country preliminary round with five wins and no losses. It was a first defeat for China, the defending Games and world champions, now 4-1. Sweden, also 4-1, is Canada’s next opponent tonight.

When asked if it was one of Canada’s greatest games, five-time Paralympian Ina Forrest didn’t hesitate.

‘’It’s right up there,’’ said Forrest of Spallumcheen, B.C. who plays second. ‘’We all played an exceptional game, and our draws were right on. We are both tough teams and we were both really zoned into today because every shot was crucial.’’

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Joining Forrest on the ice were lead Collinda Joseph of Stitsville, Ont., third Jon Thurston of Dunsford, Ont., and skip Mark Ideson of London, Ont.

Canada never trailed in the game leading 2-0 after the first end but China rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the fourth to tie it up. Canada though responded quickly with two in the fifth. Head coach Mick Lizmore felt that was an important moment in the game.

‘’Anytime you can quell some scoreboard momentum from the opponent, that is certainly helpful,’’ he said. ‘’That was probably a key turning point, because we still had an advantage on the scoreboard as far as having the hammer advantage.’’

The match was also another epic showdown between two of the great masters in the sport Ideson and Wang Haito of China. Haito, China’s skip since 2017, has had Ideson’s number lately with six straight wins internationally. The Canadians’ last victory over China was a 7-3 victory in the prelims at the 2022 Games.

Except for one Worlds, Ideson has skipped Canada since 2018 including the last three Paralympics.

‘’They’re both excellent tacticians and shot makers,’’ said Lizmore. ‘’It’s just a joy to be part of it and to watch them compete against one another. Both teams from top to bottom are just a group of excellent players.’’

Canada won’t have much time to savour the victory. It faces Sweden the defending silver medallists tonight.

‘’It’ll be important to bring the level of process we brought this morning against Sweden,’’ said Thurston. ‘’It should be a great game.’’