Rachel Homan, seen at the Canadian junior championships, is still in the title hunt at the world tournament in Flims, Switzerland despite a loss on Thursday. (Michael Burns/Canadian Press)The host Switzerland rink edged Ottawa native Rachel Homan 8-6 on Thursday at the world junior curling championship to finish Canada's round-robin schedule in the tournament at Flims.
The loss was the first of the tournament for Homan's Ottawa rink, which still finished atop the standings with an 8-1 record. Homan had cemented a playoff spot prior to the game.
Sweden (7-2), Switzerland (6-3) and the U.S. (6-3) also clinched playoff spots with victories as round-robin action concluded.
Homan will face Sweden in the Page playoff with the Americans and Swiss also squaring off. The winner of the Canada-Sweden contest advances to the final while the loser will take on the U.S.-Switzerland winner in semifinal action.
In other round-robin action, the U.S. edged Russia 6-5, Sweden got past Scotland 6-2, the Czech Republic defeated Germany 10-8 and France edged China 6-5.
Canada's Jake Walker finished the men's round robin by splitting his final two games. Walker lost 4-2 to Scotland before rallying to earn a 4-3 win over Russia.
Walker's rink from Kitchener, Ont., finished tied with Norway in fourth spot with identical 6-3 records. They will square off Friday with the winner facing Switzerland (7-2) in the 3-versus-4 playoff game Saturday.
Scotland finished atop the men's standings with an 8-1 record and will take on China (7-2) in the 1-versus-2 playoff game.
