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Canada curlers looking good with their last-rock advantage
By Julie Dockstader Heaps
Deseret News Olympic specialist
OGDEN — Curlers will tell you of the importance of last-rock advantage. Some 62 percent win with it. And with a victory over Germany Friday, the Canadian men thus far own it to lose in Olympic competition here at The Ice Sheet.
In morning draws, the Canadian men defeated Germany 9-7, leaving them in first place in round-robin standings. Until this game, Germany had shared first place with Canada.
"It helps in the standings," Canada's skip Kevin Martin said following the victory. "First place is now in our own hands."
He explained that last-rock advantage is important but not absolutely crucial to victory in the playoffs with the advent of the guard-rock rule (meaning the first four rocks of a match can be used as guard stones and not taken out by the opposing team early in the game). But, he added, it certainly gives the team with the "hammer" an advantage if a game comes down to the last rock.
When the semifinals are played Wednesday, the women's medal matches Thursday and the men's Friday, whichever team is seeded higher in standings will hold the "hammer" in each game.
Team USA still hopes to reach the playoffs, and a victory over France Friday morning brought them closer to that goal. A couple of two-point ends and a three-point ninth end gave the Americans the 8-3 win, their second straight after losing three.
"That'll heal some wounds," team second Myles Brundidge said to media after the game. "Our destiny is in our own hands. Three losses will get you into the playoffs," he said, then added, "We didn't want three losses this early."
He explained the team is playing more conservatively in early ends now.
"We're easing into more aggressive ends as the game progresses."
Team skip Tim Somerville said, "We're just playing better. We're more comfortable with the ice."
The U.S women did not play Friday. In other women's competition Friday afternoon, Canada defeated Germany, 8-4; Great Britain beat Switzerland, 7-4; Sweden downed Japan, 8-7; and Norway edged Russia, 5-4.
In evening men's competition, Canada routed Switzerland, 7-2; Norway beat Finland, 6-5; Sweden downed France, 9-6; and Denmark nipped Great Britain, 6-5. Germany and the U.S. did not play.
E-MAIL: julied@desnews.com
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February 16, 2002
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