Czechs beat Canada at mixed curling worlds

Canada lost its first match at the world mixed doubles curling championship in Lethbridge, Alta., falling 7-5 to the Czech Republic in Monday’s late draw. The Canadian duo of Edmonton’s Joanne Courtney and Winnipeg’s Reid Carruthers began the day with a 14-0 win over Kazakhstan. Zuzana Hajkova and Tomas Paul stole crucial single points in the third and fourth ends to set the Czechs alone atop Group D with a 4-0 record. Canada, coached by Jeff Stoughton, dropped to 3-1 and will play Germany’s Julia Meissner and Andy Buttner (2-2) on Tuesday.