Canadian teams perfect on Day 2 in Karuizawa

Team Canada rebounded nicely on Day 2 of the Karuizawa International Curling Championships. In fact, both teams went 3-0 on the day and are now well positioned heading in to the second half of the week. The Canadian men’s team, from Memorial University of Newfoundland, started the day with a thriller against Korea. Down 6-4 coming home, skip Colin Thomas had no choice but to attempt an incredibly difficult double take out on his last rock to tie the game. To add to the pressure, Colin had just 6 seconds left on the game clock when he left the hack! It didn’t seem to matter though, and he executed the shot perfectly, as the boisterous group of Canadian supporters went wild. Of course, we still had to steal the extra end, but managed to do so when the Korean skip was heavy on a last rock draw to the eight foot. That victory seemed to set the guys up for the rest of the day, as they then went on to beat the Nagano Selection and Japan Selection teams by identical 6-4 scores. Our Canadian women were also undefeated on the day, but it wasn’t easy. In fact, the girls from Wilfrid Laurier University were tied up without hammer coming home in their first two games; however ,despite the odds being against them, they managed to play flawless ends to steal wins in both cases. The final scores 6-5 over Korea and 8-6 over Japan. The girls’ last game of the day against the Nagano Selection team was a really solid effort by everyone, and they ended up cruising to a 7-4 victory. In my opinion, they are now rounding in to the form that they displayed in winning the CIS/CCA Canadian University Title last spring, which is a terrific sign. So, a highly successful effort for Canada, to say the least. At breakfast women’s skip Laura Crocker predicted that it was going to be “a great day to be great”, and she was absolutely right! Next up, Japan Selection for the women and Japan for the men. Go Canada Go! Rob Krepps, Canadian University Coach