In the morning against the USA and then we have Anette Norberg.
Patti Lank, who also has her daughter on the team, along with Debbie Mc Cormick, who has had several successful starts at the World Championships, faced our women in the penultimate round robin match. We switched players on the back end and it brought an improvement in the game. We kept the match even for a long time and the 4 : 6 loss came after a really decent concentrated performance. The last opponent was the so far leading team in the overall standings, the women of Sweden. Anette Norberg has built a new squad with young, technically and conditionally very good players (e.g. Ostlund, Carlsson). At the beginning we had a little respect, but it faded away and we went into the break with an even score. Then the Swedes rebounded to 6 : 3, but we were able to pull away and after ten ends the score was 6 : 6. In the extra end, the northerners threw both chips, but we still had a promising situation in the rings. Norberg's last stone was pushed past the guard by the metallers, perhaps by a paper, and we lost narrowly. Nice game, a good end to our gaming mission here in Esbjerg. Overall assessment of our team, from my point of view: We couldn't have expected much more - the youngest team at the WC, probably the least international experience. Before the championship we probably would have taken two wins, now we feel like we probably could have had one or two more, but it may just be wishful thinking. We see that we need to add in the planned structure of training load, as well as fitness, mentally, and communication. We need to add new game and performance instruments and manage the transition from junior curling to adult curling. I thank the team and the team leader (Ivan) for their efforts and work. However, there is still a lot more to come. In response to JD's inquiry about rule changes, I mention adjustments to the minutes in the extraends, adjustments to the "travel time" for coaches, and about 15 minor adjustments, but these are more on the level of stylistics.
rnphoto: the Czech team came to greet Russ Howard, Anna and her departure after the Sweden game
