SOCHI, Russia - Canada strengthened its hold on first place at the world wheelchair curling championship with a victory over defending champion Russia on Sunday.
The Canadians — skip Jim Armstrong of Cambridge, Ont., third Dennis of Sanford, Man., second Ina Forrest of Armstrong, B.C., lead Sonja Gaudet of Vernon, B.C., and alternate Mark Ideson of London, Ont. — defeated Andrey Smirnov's Russian rink 8-5.
The victory boosted Canada to 3-0 in the ten-team round robin.
Canada found itself down 4-3 through five ends, but rallied to score three in the sixth end on an Armstrong draw to the four-foot, and then put the victory away with a deuce in the eighth and final end.
"The Russians certainly did put us under a bit of pressure there," said Armstrong. "They played very well. We gave them opportunities and fortunately they didn't convert them all. If we were going to stumble they were ready to pick it up and take it away."
Sunday's afternoon draw was postponed due to ice conditions at the Ice Cube Curling Centre, which will host the curling competitions at the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is the first curling event to be staged at the venue.
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