Curling

SAINT CATHARINES, Ont. — Owen Purcell started the week strong, but his Halifax Curling Club team saved its best for last.

NISKU, Alta. — Canada's Rachel Homan made a hit for two in the eighth end for a 5-4 victory over Sweden's Isabella Wrana on Friday at the Co-op Canadian Open. Homan, from Ottawa, had the second point confirmed on a measure.

SAINT CATHARINES, Ont. — Alberta's Kurt Balderston defeated Newfoundland and Labrador's Trent Skanes 6-4 on Friday and qualified for the semifinals at the Canadian mixed curling championship.

NISKU, Alta. — Brad Gushue secured a playoff berth in curling's Co-op Canadian Open with a 5-4 win over his international archrival Niklas Edin on Thursday.

ST. CATHARINES, ONTARIO — Saskatchewan's Jason Ackerman dropped his first game of the Canadian mixed curling championship Thursday, but remained among the frontrunners for a semifinal berth.

NISKU, Alta. — Canada's Brad Gushue improved to 2-0 with an 8-2 victory over Kevin Koe on Wednesday at the Grand Slam of Curling's Co-op Canadian Open. Gushue, from St. John's, N.L., started out hot, jumping out to a 5-0 lead after just two ends.

SAINT CATHARINES, Ont. — Saskatchewan's Jason Ackerman remained undefeated on Wednesday with a 7-4 win over Newfoundland and Labrador's Trent Skanes at the Canadian mixed curling championship.

NISKU, Alta. — Brad Gushue defeated Reid Carruthers 6-1 on Tuesday morning in a matchup of Canadian skips at the Co-op Canadian Open. Gushue, from St. John's, N.L., scored three in the sixth end for the win over his Winnipeg-based opponent.

SAINT CATHARINES, Ont. — Jason Ackerman's team from Highland Curling Club in Regina is the lone undefeated entry after eight draws at the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship at St. Catharines Golf and Country Club.

When veteran curlers Brad Gushue and Mark Nichols entered the locker room at the Stu Sells Oakville Tankard for their season-opening bonspiel, they were expecting to see many of their usual opponents.