Canada's wheelchair curling team clinches semifinal spot with win over Norway
CBC
Canada's wheelchair curling team has clinched a semifinal berth at the Beijing Paralympics by defeating Norway 7-6 with a clutch final throw on Thursday in China.
After being tied up at 2-2 through four ends, Norway took a 5-2 lead with a solid fifth end.
Canada was able to close the gap in the sixth, making it 5-4, but after Norway added one more in the seventh, the pressure was on the Canadians.
Fourth Jon Thurston, of Dunsford, Ont., tasked with making a much-needed play on the final stone, threw a take-out that put three points on the board for Canada and the victory.
WATCH | Canada secures semifinal berth with clutch play against Norway:
The win wraps up Canada's 7-3 round robin campaign, which started with a four-game winning streak against defending champions China, then Switzerland, Latvia and the U.S.
Canada then went on a three-game skid versus Sweden, South Korea and Slovakia before bouncing back with victories over Great Britain, Estonia and Norway.
Slovakia, currently in the fourth spot with a 6-3 record, will play Estonia on Thursday at 6:35 a.m. ET for a chance to clinch the final semifinal spot.
South Korea and Latvia are tied for fifth (4-4), ahead of the U.S. (4-5), Norway (4-6), Great Britain (3-6), Estonia (2-6) and Switzerland (1-8).
Both wheelchair curling semifinals will be played on Friday at 1:35 a.m. ET.
The Canadian team also features skip Mark Ideson, third and co-flag-bearer Ina Forrest, second Dennis Thiessen and alternate Collinda Joseph.
Canada's Alexis Guimond won't repeat his giant slalom podium performance.
The 22-year-old from Gatineau, Que., failed to finish his first run in the standing event on Thursday at the Beijing Paralympics.
The run ended with Guimond talking to his coach near the middle section of the course. It's unclear what cause him to be unable to finish.
