After Olympic disappointment, Canada's Gallant shifts from mixed doubles to men's play

Feeling refreshed after a rare off-day at the Winter Games, Canadian curler Brett Gallant has shifted focus from mixed doubles to four-player men's team play.

Gallant, the first Canadian player to compete in both disciplines at the same Games, missed the playoffs with partner and wife Jocelyn Peterman at 4-5.

He reunited with the Calgary-based rink skipped by Brad Jacobs on Wednesday as the team held a morning training session at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.

"It's kind of a fresh beginning," Gallant said. "So I'm grateful for that."

The Canadian men practised ahead of a night game against Germany's Marc Muskatewitz. The Ottawa-based women's team skipped by Rachel Homan was scheduled to train in the afternoon to prepare for Thursday's opener against Denmark's Madeleine Dupont.

Gallant and Peterman were eliminated from playoff contention Sunday and closed out their round-robin schedule Monday with an 8-4 victory over Switzerland.

Gallant caught up with his men's teammates - Jacobs, Marc Kennedy, Ben Hebert and alternate Tyler Tardi - shortly after returning to the athletes' village that day.

"They were there coming in and yeah, just full of piss and vinegar," Gallant said. "Benny and [Jacobs], you know when they're excited. You can see it and you can feel it. So it was nice and probably what I needed coming off a little bit of disappointment."

Both Canadian teams were expected to emerge from deep fields and be among the medal contenders.

In men's play, Sweden's Niklas Edin is back to defend his Olympic title. Top-ranked Bruce Mouat of Great Britain is looking to improve on the silver he earned at the Beijing Games.

Other headliners include Joel Retornaz of host Italy, Switzerland's Yannick Schwaller and Norway's Magnus