The Canadian mixed doubles curling team, comprised of Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant, has concluded its participation in the Winter Olympics with a final-round victory over Switzerland. This win, however, does not alter the team's overall standing, as they failed to advance to the playoff rounds. Their performance marks a disappointing end to a campaign that began with initial success but ultimately saw them fall short of medal contention, a result that contrasts with historical expectations for Canadian curling.
The team's Olympic journey concluded on Monday with an 8-4 victory against Switzerland. This win brought their final round-robin record to 4 wins and 5 losses. The medal playoffs are scheduled for Tuesday. In their final match, Canada secured three points in the seventh end and then prevented Switzerland from making further shots in the eighth end. Peterman and Gallant, a husband-and-wife team from Chestermere, Alberta, initially won their first three games before experiencing a losing streak of five consecutive matches.
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Journey Through the Round Robin
Canada's path in the mixed doubles curling event saw an initial surge followed by a significant downturn. The team started the competition with three consecutive wins, signaling a strong opening.
Early Momentum: The team achieved victories in their initial matches, creating an optimistic outlook.
Subsequent Losses: Following their early success, Canada experienced a streak of five consecutive defeats.
Elimination: A 9-5 loss to South Korea on Sunday night confirmed their elimination from medal contention. This result was a critical turning point, as it marked their fifth consecutive loss and ended their hopes of reaching the semifinals.
Playoff Implications: Heading into their final matches, Canada's playoff hopes were in jeopardy after a fourth consecutive loss. This dropped their record to 3 wins and 4 losses.
Key Matches and Performances
Several matches proved pivotal in determining Canada's fate in the tournament.
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Loss to Sweden: A 7-6 defeat against Sweden, where the Swedish siblings Isabella and Rasmus Wranå secured key points, was a significant setback. Canada had an opportunity to secure a playoff spot if they had won their remaining games, even after losing three in a row and standing at 3-3 overall.
Loss to the United States: The team also faced a defeat against the United States. Reports indicate that American player Korey Dropkin delivered strong performances, including a double-takeout that secured two points in the second end.
Victories Against Norway and Italy: Earlier in the round-robin, Canada secured wins against Norway and Italy. These victories were part of their initial positive run in the competition.
Team Dynamics and Emotional Impact
The pressure on the Canadian team was notable, given the nation's strong curling legacy. The team entered the Games with the objective of restoring Canada's dominance in the sport, following periods of less success in recent Winter Olympiads.
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Player Reactions: Following their elimination, Peterman was observed crying. Gallant provided comments after the team's playoff exit.
Focus on Other Events: Peterman planned to remain in Italy to watch Gallant compete in the men's curling event, accompanied by their son and families.
Statistical Overview
While specific detailed statistics for every game are not universally provided, available information highlights certain performance trends.
| Match Outcome | Opponent | Canada's Score | Opponent's Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victory | Switzerland | 8 | 4 |
| Loss | South Korea | 5 | 9 |
| Loss | Sweden | 6 | 7 |
| Loss | Estonia | 6 | 8 |
| Loss | United States | N/A | N/A |
| Victory | Norway | N/A | N/A |
| Victory | Italy | N/A | N/A |
Overall Record: 4 wins, 5 losses.
Peterman's Performance: In a specific instance against Estonia, Peterman's shooting percentage was noted as 17% on three hit shots.
Broader Curling Context
The mixed doubles event's conclusion adds to a challenging Olympic curling performance for Canada. The team's elimination from medal contention in this discipline has placed a spotlight on the sport's results at the Games.
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Advancing Nations: Italy, the United States, and Sweden progressed to the semifinals in the mixed doubles event.
Future Curling Events: Canada anticipates further opportunities to medal in other curling disciplines, with events scheduled to continue.
Conclusion and Future Considerations
The Canadian mixed doubles curling team's exit from the Olympic Games, prior to the medal rounds, signifies a disappointing outcome against the backdrop of Canada's historical standing in the sport. Despite a final-round victory, the team's 4-5 record reflects a campaign marked by an inability to sustain early success through the latter stages of the competition. The performance raises questions about team dynamics and strategic execution under pressure. As the focus shifts to other curling events, the results of this mixed doubles campaign will undoubtedly be a point of analysis within the broader context of Canadian Olympic curling.
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Sources Used:
CBC Sports: Reports on the final victory and the team's overall disappointing showing.
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/winter/curling/canada-olympic-mixed-doubles-curling-recap-february-9-9.7080405
Associated Press (AP): Details Canada's elimination from the semifinals and the advancing teams, highlighting the pressure to restore curling dominance.
https://apnews.com/article/canada-curling-milan-olympics-gallant-peterman-ee1c0fd2a4fd4bf24620d0f20547e45f
Sportsnet: Analyzes the factors contributing to Canada's early exit and discusses the team's playoff elimination.
https://www.sportsnet.ca/olympics/article/canada-eliminated-from-medal-contention-in-olympic-mixed-doubles-curling/
Team Canada (Official Olympic Site): Focuses on the impact of consecutive losses on the team's playoff hopes and specific player performance.
https://olympic.ca/2026/02/08/fourth-straight-loss-puts-canadian-mixed-doubles-curling-playoff-hopes-in-jeopardy/
TSN: Reports on Canada's loss to the United States, noting the performance of the American team.
https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/article/canada-falls-to-united-states-in-mixed-doubles-curling-at-winter-olympics/
The Globe and Mail: Covers Canada's round-robin victories against Norway and Italy, providing some context on team and opponent performance percentages.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/olympics/article-canadas-mixed-doubles-curling-team-defeats-norway-and-italy-in-round/
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