Canadian mixed doubles team off to World Cup final

SUZHOU, CHINA — Canada has secured a spot in the mixed doubles final at the inaugural World Cup of Curling. Laura Walker and Kirk Muyres, an Edmontonbased team, are 4-1 through three days and locked up first place in Pool A. Walker and Muyres lost 8-5 to Kristin Moen Skaslien and Sander Rolvag of Norway late Thursday night, but bounced back to beat Maria Komarova and Daniil Goryachev of Russia 6-3 on Friday. Meanwhile, Rachel Homan’s Ottawa rink and Kevin Koe’s Calgary rink both are close to clinching spots in their respective finals. Homan (4-0) crushed Anna Sidorova of Russia 8-2 on Friday, hours after hammering American Nina Roth 9-1. Koe (4-0) beat Peter De Cruz of Switzerland 7-4 on Friday. The top two teams in each division will play for championships.