December 12, 2013
Winter Universiade: Canadian men win opener, women settle for Day 1 split
TRENTINO, Italy – In the first day of action at the Winter Universiade in Trentino, Canada’s curling teams faced off against some tough opponents.
Getting a fast start in the first game of the women’s competition, Laura Crocker and her Wilfrid Laurier University team of third Sarah Wilkes, second Jennifer Gates, lead Cheryl Kreviazuk, and alternate Breanne Meakin with coach Gary Coderre, needed only six ends to power their way to an 8-1 victory over Italy’s Giada Mosener.
“It was the first time we were able to throw on the ice here and the conditions were a little tricky, but we adapted quickly and used it to our advantage,” said Crocker, a silver medallist at the 2010 junior world championship. “The whole team played great and we’re looking forward to getting back out there."
The second game of the day was more challenging, and Team Canada came up short in a 9-2 loss to Sweden after allowing its rivals to jump to a 3-0 lead after the first end.
On the men’s side, skip Brendan Bottcher of the University of Alberta, with teammates Michael Lizmore (third), Brad Thiessen (second), Karrick Martin (lead) Parker Konschuh (alternate) and coach Rob Krepps won a tight game against a strong team from Great Britain, scoring one in an extra end for the 5-4 win after seeing their opponents tie it in the tenth.
“It was a very even game, on a tricky sheet of ice,” said Bottcher, the 2012 junior world champion who carried the Canadian flag into the Universiade opening ceremony on Wednesday. “I’m really pleased with how we hung in there, figured out the conditions, and found a way to win. We’ve got a couple of tough games tomorrow, so hopefully we can build on today’s game and build some momentum for the rest of the week.”
On Friday, Team Canada men will play China and Norway, while the women meet Switzerland.
Source: Courtesy of Canadian Curling Association
Getting a fast start in the first game of the women’s competition, Laura Crocker and her Wilfrid Laurier University team of third Sarah Wilkes, second Jennifer Gates, lead Cheryl Kreviazuk, and alternate Breanne Meakin with coach Gary Coderre, needed only six ends to power their way to an 8-1 victory over Italy’s Giada Mosener.
“It was the first time we were able to throw on the ice here and the conditions were a little tricky, but we adapted quickly and used it to our advantage,” said Crocker, a silver medallist at the 2010 junior world championship. “The whole team played great and we’re looking forward to getting back out there."
The second game of the day was more challenging, and Team Canada came up short in a 9-2 loss to Sweden after allowing its rivals to jump to a 3-0 lead after the first end.
On the men’s side, skip Brendan Bottcher of the University of Alberta, with teammates Michael Lizmore (third), Brad Thiessen (second), Karrick Martin (lead) Parker Konschuh (alternate) and coach Rob Krepps won a tight game against a strong team from Great Britain, scoring one in an extra end for the 5-4 win after seeing their opponents tie it in the tenth.
“It was a very even game, on a tricky sheet of ice,” said Bottcher, the 2012 junior world champion who carried the Canadian flag into the Universiade opening ceremony on Wednesday. “I’m really pleased with how we hung in there, figured out the conditions, and found a way to win. We’ve got a couple of tough games tomorrow, so hopefully we can build on today’s game and build some momentum for the rest of the week.”
On Friday, Team Canada men will play China and Norway, while the women meet Switzerland.
Source: Courtesy of Canadian Curling Association
