Canada’s under-fire men’s curling team is one win away from gold after surviving a semifinal scare against Norway on Thursday.
Marc Kennedy and Co have been hit with allegations of cheating during these Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, prompting worldwide scrutiny and even foul-mouth clashes with rivals.
In Thursday’s semifinal, Canada led Norway 4-2 heading into the 10th and final end, only for their rivals to send the game to an extra end.
But the Canadian team bounced back to secure a dramatic 5-4 win and secure a spot in the final, where Great Britain awaits.
Bruce Mouat, Bobby Lammie, Grant Hardie and Hammy McMillan beat Switzerland in the other semifinal.
Team Canada has been under the spotlight throughout these Games, most notably when Kennedy became embroiled in a stunning clash with Sweden’s Oskar Eriksson after repeatedly being accused of double-touching his deliveries.
Canada’s men’s curling team is one win away from a gold medal at the Winter Olympics
Team Canada secured a nerve-shredding 5-4 win over Norway in Thursday’s semifinal
At one point, Kennedy erupted by shouting: ‘I haven’t done it once. You can f*** off.’
Kennedy became embroiled in a stunning clash with Oskar Eriksson after repeatedly being accused by the Swede of double-touching his deliveries.
At one point in Canada’s 8-6 win, Kennedy erupted by shouting: ‘I haven’t done it once. You can f*** off.’
World Curling later confirmed that Kennedy had been issued with a verbal warning over his rant, with ‘further inappropriate behaviour’ likely to ‘result in additional sanctions’.
On Thursday, however, the 44-year-old helped Canada write more positive headlines as they edged past Norway.
The Swiss had qualified for the knockouts in first place, while Team GB snuck through the round-robin, but on Thursday night, Mouat and Co secured an 8-5 victory to secure their spot in the final.
Britain is chasing a first male curling gold since 1924, while Canada won three consecutive titles between 2006 and 2014.
Brad Jacobs was part of the team that took gold in Sochi and, 12 years on, he helped secure Canada’s place in the final.
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