Canada rides fast start to victory over Czechia in Olympic mixed doubles curling opener

The lights went out at the Olympic curling venue before Canada’s Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman powered their way to a near-flawless 10-5 victory over Czechia on the opening day of mixed doubles competition Wednesday in Italy.

The first of Canada’s 207 athletes in action at the Winter Games, they stole a point in the first end against Julie Zelingrova and Vit Chabicovsky, added a steal of four in the second and never looked back.

Trailing 5-0, Czechia closed to within two points in the third end, but Gallant and Peterman regained their four-point advantage in the fourth.

With Canada leading 7-3, Czechia scored a single in the fifth end with the hammer. However, Gallant and Peterman pulled away in the sixth end with the latter's soft tap for three.

The Czechs didn't qualify for the Games until December, earning a berth at the Olympic Qualifying Event in Kelowna, B.C.

Normally, a team might concede when down six points with two ends to play. But mixed doubles offers more scoring potential than traditional team play, and athletes are keen to maximize their feel for the conditions in the 3,450-seat venue.

Zelingrova made a brilliant runback double to score a single in the seventh end. The point was confirmed on a measure.

Officials briefly paused the matches at the historic Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium when the lights dimmed and flickered. Curlers kept sliding on the ice to stay ready. Fans cheered when the bright lights came back shortly after and competition resumed.

Canada returns to the ice for a round-robin match Thursday against Norway at 8:35 a.m. ET.

Gallant and Peterman, the first athletes named to Canada’s Olympic team, secured Canada’s spot in the Olympic tournament with a sixth-place finish at mixed