Canada out in mixed doubles

Canada was knocked out of the playoff round at the world mixed doubles curling championship on Friday after dropping a 6-5 decision to Scotland at Karlstad, Sweden. The Scottish duo of Gina Aitken and Bruce Mouat hit a takeout for the decisive single point in the eighth end. Saskatoon’s Dustin Kalthoff and Marliese Kasner scored three points in the fifth end for a 4-3 lead but the Scots answered with a deuce in the sixth end before giving up a single in the seventh. It was Canada’s first loss at the competition. Earlier Friday, Canada dumped New Zealand 12-2 in the opening playoff game for its seventh straight win. Scotland qualified for the quarter-finals by upsetting defending champion Hungary 6-5. Scotland will face China in one semifinal Saturday while the United States will take on Russia in the other. Canada will play Finland in a placement game.