Top-ranked Canadians defeated by Sweden in curling semi-finals

The top-ranked Canadians couldn’t overcome “straighter” ice and a strong Swedish team, and now the country’s controversial men’s team will have the curling powerhouse’s last chance to win Olympic gold in the Milan Cortina Games.

With Canada already out of the mixed team event medals, Rachel Homan’s team was defeated by Anna Hasselborg’s Sweden in Friday’s semifinals.

“They’re heartbroken right now,” Canada coach Heather Nedohin said.

Sweden, ranked 12th, will face Switzerland for gold on Sunday.

Sweden, which has won the women’s competition three times since curling returned to the Olympic program in 1998, beat Canada 6-3.

Homan had beaten Hasselborg in their previous three meetings this season.

“I woke up this morning and told the girls, ‘I really think we’re going to win today,'” Hasselborg said, holding one of her children and another playing at her feet.

Silvana Tirinzoni’s Switzerland beat the United States 7-4 and will seek its first women’s gold in the Olympic Games.

The Swiss took silver behind Canada at the last two world championships after four straight golds in curling’s biggest competition outside the Olympics.

Canada will do it play against the United States for bronze on Saturday. The US women defeated Canada last week for the first time in history.

“Obviously disappointed, but our work is not done here,” Homan said. “Tomorrow we will go out fighting.”

The Canadians said they had problems with the “straighter” ice that “made some shots a little more difficult.”

“But Sweden played a great game and I congratulate them,” Homan said.

American runner-up Cory Thiesse, who already won silver in the team event with Korey Dropkin, said she was a little surprised to face Canada for bronze.

“They’re the number one ranked team in the world. But it’s the Olympics and that pressure is hard sometimes and you never know,” Thiesse said. “Our motto this week has been just to keep the games close and you never know what’s going to happen out there.”

In the men’s competition, Switzerland defeated Norway 9-1 to take the bronze medal. Canada faces Great Britain for gold on Saturday.

The Canadians were the subject of a controversy that drew attention far beyond the ice when several players were accused of double-tapping the rock, a rules violation.

In an interview Wednesday, Team USA curler Korey Dropkin, who helped the U.S. last week win silver in mixed doubles curling, told News themezone the controversy was “bigger than necessary.”

“Over the last few seasons, there really have been a lot of athletes who have done this, and it hasn’t really been mentioned,” Dropkin said. “There are many Olympic athletes who have done the double tap of pimples.”