Kerri Einarson of Gimli and Team Canada captured a silver medal at the BKT World Women’s Curling Championship following a 7-5 loss to Switzerland in Sunday’s final.
Kerri Einarson celebrates with her daughters Kamryn (left), Khloe and husband Kyle
The result marks the team’s best finish at a world championship, improving on a previous bronze medal performance.
“It’s pretty amazing to medal on the world stage, and it’s an upgrade from our previous bronze, so it does still feel very special,” Einarson said in a press release.
The championship ran March 14-22 at the WinSport Event Centre in Calgary, featuring 13 teams in a 12-game round robin. The top six advanced to the playoffs, with the top two earning byes to the semifinals.
Einarson, alongside third Val Sweeting, second Shannon Birchard and lead Karlee Burgess, put together a strong showing throughout the week. Canada finished second in the standings with a 10-2 record, with both losses coming in extra ends against Switzerland and Norway.
Canada advanced to the gold-medal game with an 11-3 semifinal win over Japan.
Switzerland, holding hammer as the higher seed, blanked the opening end before scoring two in the second. After another blank in the third, Canada responded with a deuce to tie the game. A missed tap attempt by Switzerland opened the door, but Einarson’s draw came up light, allowing Switzerland to score two and take a 4-2 lead.
Canada was forced to a single in the sixth but answered with a steal in the seventh to even the score at 4-4. Switzerland regained control with two in the eighth after Einarson’s hit rolled out, leaving an open draw.
Trailing 6-4, Canada managed just one in the ninth despite attempting a difficult double raise, setting up a final end without hammer. Einarson attempted a tap around a centre guard to remove Switzerland’s shot stone but was unable to move it far enough, sealing the outcome.
“Unfortunately, it just wasn’t our day. We battled hard and I’m super proud of my team,” Einarson said. “But this has been a pretty amazing experience.”
Attention now shifts to the men’s world championship, with Canada’s Team Dunstone — featuring Gimli’s Colton Lott — set to compete at the LGT World Men’s Curling Championship in Ogden, Utah, from March 27 to April 4.
