The 2015 World Mixed Team Champions from Norway defeated Canada in the third match of their round-robin group play, 5-4, on their way to winning Group D. But both compiled 7-1 records and they would meet again.
Both continued right through the playoffs and went head-to-head again in the semifinals, but this time Michael Anderson’s rink found two points each in the seventh and eighth ends to a 7-3 win and the right to try for Canada’s first-ever title in the event.
This was the fourth World Mixed Team Championship – starting in 2015 – with four-person teams of two men and two women (not the same as the Mixed Doubles event seen at the PyeongChang Winter Games). Canada, with a different team, lost in the 2017 final for its first medal in the competition, but was back with a chance for gold. In the 2018 final, Anderson’s team left no doubt with a 6-2 win over Sergio Vez’s surprise finalist Spain, taking a 3-0 lead after two ends and scoring twice in the sixth end to seal the title.
Norway, skipped by Ingvild Skaga, lost to Russia for third, 8-7. Sweden (0-2-0), Scotland (1-0-1), Russia (1-0-1) and Canada (1-1-0) are the four nations to have won two medals in the four years this championship has been held. Summaries:
World Mixed Curling Championships
Kelowna, British Columbia (CAN) ~ 13-20 October 2018
(Full results here)
Final Standings: 1. Canada (Michael Anderson, skip; Danielle Inglis, vice; Sean Harrison, Lauren Harrison); 2. Spain; 3. Russia; 4. Norway. Semis: Spain d. Russia, 6-2; Canada d. Norway, 7-3. Third: Russia 8, Norway 7. Final: Canada 6, Spain 2.
