For the first time in Olympic history, the Canadian women's curling team will not be standing on the podium.
Canada, with the odds of a playoff berth against its favor heading into Tuesday's match, needed to win the remaining games on its schedule to remain in contention. The mission was difficult and despite coach Adam Kingsbury recognizing the "must-win games", Team Homan fell to Great Britain 6-5 — in a game that declared a winner on one of the final throws of the game. With the loss, Canada is eliminated from the medal draw.
Despite a few missed opportunities, Rachel Homan led her team in the right direction for the majority of Tuesday night. Canada jumped out to an early lead — due to a measurement — in the second end. It was a minor lead but it meant the Canadians went into the break with the advantage over Great Britain. After the teams came out of the break, Canada took a two-point lead as the teams trekked into the final ends.
Homan draws for a single!
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 21, 2018
Now 5-4 Canada after 9 ends#CAN vs. #GBR#Curling#PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/M2S8qg0jNC
Eve Muirhead initiated the rally for Great Britain.
In the ninth end, Great Britain couldn't afford to allow Canada to gain another two-point lead late in the game. It would have cost her team the game facing the deficit with time dwindling. The British skip nailed a double to force Canada to steal one point rather than anything more.
Great Britain had the advantage in the final end. Muirhead and her team simply needed to counter each Canadian move with Canada throwing first. As three stones sat inside the house for Great Britain, Canada's throw clipped its own guard and left the British unscathed. Canada's final throw traveled wide but eventually fell short meaning an abrupt end to its playoff hopes.
What a shot by #GBR and what a dilemma for Team #CAN#curling#PyeongChang2018#UpWithCBC pic.twitter.com/x4ftKPFHcl
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 21, 2018
Canada has medaled at every Winter Olympics since curling was introduced in the program at the 1998 Olympic games in Nagano, Japan. After Team Homan overcame a disappointing start in Pyeongchang, the group appeared to be trending towards a spot in the playoff round. A loss to China severely damaged Canada's playoff hopes, but the Canadians still controlled their own destiny. With a 3-5 record Canada trails Japan, who occupies the final playoff spot, by two games. Canada ends its Olympic run tomorrow against the Olympic Athletes from Russia.
