Junior Women Continue to Lead at World Championship

The fifth day of competition at the World Junior Curling Championships saw some movement among the leaders – including Canada.

Team Canada skip Jocelyn Peterman (Photo Richard Gray/WCF)

Jocelyn Peterman and her Alberta foursome now sit in a four-way tie for first after defeating Russia in the morning session and losing a close one to Japan, 7-6, in the evening. In the match against Russia, the teams traded singles until the third end. Canada capitalized on a late miss by skip Anna Sidorova which allowed Peterman to make a tough draw for 3 to go ahead 4-1. Canada was able to hold the Russians to single points, while scoring multiples in six and eight. Sidorova, who will also skip this Russian team at the World Women’s Curling Championships in Lethbridge later this month, managed a deuce in the ninth end, but a tenth-end single by Team Canada resulted in a 10-6 final. In the evening game, Canada (6-1) and Japan (5-2) traded deuces in the first two ends. “Unfortunately we did not come out as strong.,” says National Team Coach Melissa Soligo after the game.  “However, we hung in there and gained a 5-2 lead after 5.  Japan stayed with us and inched their way back.” Over the next five ends, skip Sayaka Yoshimura scored five points and held Peterman to just a single in nine, putting the game away with a deuce in ten and a 7-6 victory for Japan. “I think we just weren’t very precise with draw-weight, just a little off,” said Peterman after the game. “If we win tomorrow we’ll still come out first, so we’re going to come out and play strong.” Canada now sits tied with Czech Republic, Russia and Scotland for first place. Tomorrow, Peterman with third Brittany Tran, second Rebecca Konschuh and lead Kristine Anderson play their final round robin game, against Sweden, skipped by Sara McManus, who is currently tied with Japan for second place. News, live scores, galleries and video highlights can be found on the World Junior Curling Championship website.