Canada falls to Norway in final at wheelchair curling worlds as title drought continues
Experienced Canadian team was searching for 1st world title since 2013
Canada's wheelchair curling team fell just short of its first world title since 2013 with a loss to Norway in the final on Friday.
Led by skip and lead Mark Ideson, the experienced Canadian team took home silver for the second straight year following the 6-2 defeat in Gangneung, South Korea.
Ideson's mixed team consists of second Gil Dash of Wolseley, Sask., third Ina Forrest of Spallumcheen, B.C., fourth Jon Thurston of Dunford, Ont., and alternate Chrissy Molnar of Trent Lakes, Ont.
"Our goal is always to make the playoffs and make the final game and we did that," Ideson said. "You know, it wasn't our day today, Norway had a great game. That's just the way things go.
"We fought hard and we're happy to be bringing home a medal for Canada."
Norway, skipped by Jostein Stordahl, won its first world championship since 2017 at the same venue.
Big congratulations, Canada 🇨🇦, on your silver medals 🥈!<br><br>Great curling all week!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWhCC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWhCC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WheelchairCurling?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WheelchairCurling</a> <a href="https://t.co/0VpWNHRHTv">pic.twitter.com/0VpWNHRHTv</a>
—@worldcurlingThe Canadians beat Sweden 4-2 in the semifinals earlier Friday for their fifth straight win at the tournament. Thurston drew to the eight-foot ring to score two points in the sixth end for a 3-2 lead before Canada stole another point in the seventh.
Ideson's rink lost to China in last year's final on home ice in Richmond, B.C. Canada went 9-3 en route to Friday's final, with losses against two-time reigning champion China, the United states and Scotland. They blanked Norway 8-0 on Thursday in round-robin play.
Ideson, who hails from London, Ont., also took home world-championship silver in 2020. The 47-year-old was an alternate on Canada's gold medal-winning teams at the 2013 worlds and 2014 Paralympics before skipping Canada to bronze at the last two Winter Games.
The 61-year-old Forrest is a four-time Paralympic medallist and six-time world medallist. She was Canada's second the last time it won Paralympic and world gold.
"It's special, you know," Ideson said about winning another silver. "We're proud to have the silver but it just leaves us hungry for gold next year."
Canada is now tied with Scotland for the most wheelchair world-championship medals with eight.
The World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship kicks off Monday at the Gangneung Curling Centre. The venue was also host to the 2018 Paralympic tournament.
With files from Curling Canada
