Canada's mixed doubles curling team began the week at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on a high note, achieving impressive victories over both the 2022 Olympic gold medalists Italy and silver medalists Norway. However, their momentum dramatically shifted after a disappointing Saturday where they suffered two consecutive losses.
The husband-and-wife team of Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant faced Great Britain, losing 7-5, followed by another defeat to Estonia, 8-6. These losses brought their overall record to 3-3, leaving them tied with Switzerland and Sweden for the last playoff position.
The starts of both matches proved crucial, with Canada conceding three points in the initial ends without the advantage of the hammer, forcing them to play catch-up for the remainder of both games. This situation left Peterman and Gallant’s playoff aspirations hanging by a thread, although they still have upcoming matches against Sweden and Switzerland to regain control over their fate.
Saturday, Feb. 7 Results
Draw 7: Great Britain 7, Canada 5
Sweden 13, Switzerland 7
Draw 8: Norway 6, Estonia 5
Czechia 9, South Korea 4
Sweden 9, Italy 4
Great Britain 6, U.S. 4
Draw 9: South Korea 6, U.S. 5 (EE)
Estonia 8, Canada 6
Switzerland 10, Czechia 3
Italy 6, Norway 5
Canada Struggles to Read the Ice
Professional curlers are accustomed to adapting to the sometimes fickle ice conditions, which can change from day to day and even between ends in a single match. Unfortunately for Peterman and Gallant, they were unable to adjust to the evolving ice on Saturday, which significantly hindered their performance.
In the first match against Great Britain, both players exhibited confusion with the ice conditions multiple times. After the game, Gallant described this adjustment issue metaphorically, comparing it to switching from a Honda Civic to a Ferrari, emphasizing that the two vehicles handle quite differently.
The fifth end of the match underscored this struggle, as Peterman had a prime opportunity to increase pressure on her opponent, Jennifer Dodds. However, she misjudged the ice, delivering a wide shot that allowed Dodds to score an easy two points, taking the score to 7-2. Similarly, Canada had the chances to score three or four points in the sixth end, but Dodds pulled off a triple takeout, which left Canada with only a singular point.
Following a seven-hour gap between games, Peterman and Gallant sought to reverse their fortunes against Estonia but encountered a similar outcome. In the first end, Peterman had a chance to make a double takeout that could have forced Estonia to take just one point; however, she crashed on the guard, leading to an open hit for Estonia's Marie Kaldvee to score three points instead.
Subsequently, Peterman's next shot, which was meant to be a draw, resulted in another mishap, further complicating their recovery efforts. Despite their difficulties, it's worth noting that Peterman and Gallant displayed resilience, managing to stay competitive in both games even when struggling to adjust.
Brits Ups Their Game
On the other hand, Great Britain’s team of Dodds and Mouat demonstrated impressive skill, remaining undefeated at 7-0 and securing a spot in the playoffs after routing both Canada and the United States on Saturday. Their performance further illustrated their versatility, winning games through both aggressive strategy and mental fortitude.
Against Canada, Dodds made crucial shots early on to establish a strong lead. She performed notably well in the first and third ends, creating a significant gap. Against the U.S., despite facing a comeback threat, their mental toughness shone through as they recalibrated their strategy, preventing any further points from being scored by their opponents.
Looking forward, the mixed doubles curling competition will continue on Sunday with Peterman and Gallant battling against Sweden at 8:35 a.m. ET and then facing Korea at 1:05 p.m. ET. The top four teams after nine rounds will advance to the playoffs scheduled for Monday, February 9.
