Canadian women’s rink knocks off first-place Switzerland at world juniors

LIVERPOOL, N.S. — Canada’s Selena Sturmay beat the previously unbeaten Raphaela Keiser of Switzerland, 6-4, on Wednesday at the world junior curling championships.

With the win in the lone women’s draw of the day, the Edmonton-based rink of Sturmay, third Abby Marks, second Kate Goodhelpsen and lead Paige Papley improved to

4-2.

Keiser (5-1) dropped into a first-place tie with China’s Jiayi Jiang.

Canada had deuces in the third and sixth ends and a steal of one in seven, giving the hosts a commanding 5-2 lead.

Sturmay, who faces Norway and China on Thursday, is now in a three-way tie for second with Russia and Korea.

On the men’s side, Canada’s Tyler Tardi improved to 4-2 with a 6-2 win over China’s Weihaoping Wang on Wednesday morning. The B.C. rink of Tardi, third Sterling Middleton, second Matthew Hall and lead Alex Horvath took a 2-1 lead with a deuce in the third end and held on from there.

Canada was tied with Switzerland, Norway and the U.S. for second after the first of two men’s draws on the day.

Scotland’s Ross Whyte led the way at 6-0 after the morning draw.

Canada was scheduled to face Germany’s Klaudius Harsch (2-4) on Wednesday night.

The top four men’s and women’s teams advance to the semifinals on Friday. The finals are Saturday.