Canada's men's curling team overcame Italy with a strong finish, scoring eight points in the final four ends to secure the victory at the Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium. The match highlighted a notable reunion between Canadian skip Brad Jacobs and Italian coach Soren Grahn, who share a history from the 2014 Sochi Olympics. This win boosts Canada's playoff position in the Olympic Winter Games.
The match between Canada and Italy took place during the Olympic Winter Games at the Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium. Prior to the game, Canada held a strong 6-1 record, positioning them for the playoffs behind Switzerland's 7-0 mark. Italy, led by skip Joel Retornaz, was tied at 4-3 with Norway and faced pressure from Great Britain and the USA, both at 4-4.
The game featured an intriguing backstory involving Brad Jacobs and Soren Grahn. Twelve years earlier, at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Grahn coached Great Britain's David Murdoch. Before the gold medal final against Canada, Grahn commented to the media that the Canadians could act like "spoiled brats" if things did not go their way, describing their behavior as aggressive and not typical for curling. Jacobs dismissed it as psychological warfare, calling it hilarious and affirming that his team would not change their style.
Canada went on to win that final 9-3, securing gold after building leads of 2-0, 6-1, and 8-2, with Great Britain conceding after eight ends. Jacobs later reflected positively, stating Grahn "helped us win Olympic gold" and expressing no ill feelings.
In the lead-up to the current match, Grahn praised Canada's new team as the "most clinical" in the field. He urged Italy to avoid "small tactical errors" that had cost them against Sweden and Switzerland, emphasizing, "Against Canada, we don’t just play for a win; we play to keep the dream of a home medal alive."
Canada ultimately prevailed, scoring eight points in the final four ends for the win, though the exact final score was not detailed in reports. This result strengthens Canada's standing while leaving Italy in a tighter playoff race.
