Canada earns first medal at WYOG

THE CANADIAN PRESS

INNSBRUCK, Austria -- Canada has its first medal of the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Thomas Scoffin of Whitehorse edged Sweden's Rasmus Wrana 6-4 to capture the bronze medal in mixed curling Wednesday. The Canadians were relegated to the battle for third spot after dropping an 8-2 semifinal decision to Italy earlier in the day.

Switzerland captured the gold medal with a 6-4 win over Italy.

Scoffin's rink rallied from a 4-3 deficit through four ends to take a 5-4 advantage in the sixth. In the eighth end with Sweden holding the hammer, Scoffin made a double takeout with his first stone then froze to the Swedish shot stone with his final rock.

Wrana needed one to tie the game, but was light with his draw to give Canada the steal and the victory.

"That was an amazing game," Scoffin said. "I give full credit to the Swedes, that was a battle till the end.

"My team played one of the best games I've ever seen them play. It feels really good to come through in the last end like that with two good shots. There was no stopping us, and we knew it. I couldn't ask for three better teammates."

Scoffin's team consisted of third Corryn Brown, second Derek Oryniak and lead Emily Gray.

In other action, the Canadian men's hockey team beat Finland 3-2 in a shootout to finish second in their pool. Canada will face the Finns in a rematch Friday in semifinal action.

Ryan Gropp of Kamloops, B.C., and Reid Gardiner of Humboldt, Sask., scored in the shootout for Canada. Gardiner's goal stood as the winner as goalie Keven Bouchard from Metabetchian, Que., stopped two of three Finnish shooters he faced.

Toronto native Veronica Remme finished the ladies' giant slalom event in 15th place. Mikaela Tommy from Wakefield, Que. did not finish her second run.