Canada's wheelchair curling team moves to 8-0, clinches top playoff seed at Milano-Cortina

Canada's wheelchair curling team improved to 8-0 and clinched the top playoff seed at the Milano-Cortina Paralympics with a 6-3 win over Korea on Thursday.

Canada's rink of Mark Ideson, Jon Thurston, Ina Forrest, Collinda Joseph and alternate Gilbert Dash, jumped out to a 4-1 edge after four ends before the Koreans closed the gap to a one-point deficit following the sixth.

But Canada scored a point in each of the final two ends to secure the win at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium.

Canadian third Jon Thurston delivered a clutch, game-saving draw in the final end to neutralize a three-stone threat.

While the Canadian squad had already locked up a semifinal spot, Thursday's win means they will face the fourth seed and avoid a semifinal clash with two-time defending champion China.

Mark Ideson's undefeated Canadian rink clinches top spot in round robin with win over Korea

The Chinese are in second place at 7-1, with their lone loss coming to Canada on Tuesday. The Canadians secured their playoff spot later that day by defeating 2022 Paralympic silver medallists Sweden to move to 6-0.

Canada is set to face the United States (3-5) in the round-robin finale on Thursday at 1:35 p.m. ET.

Canada, ranked second in the world behind China, has reached the wheelchair curling podium at every Paralympics since the sport's addition in 2006. It won the first three gold medals and took bronze at the last two editions.

Earlier Thursday, Canada's Michaela Gosselin skied to her fourth top-10 finish in as many events at Milano Cortina, placing eighth in the standing giant slalom.

The Collingwood, Ont., native clocked a total time of two minutes 38.08 seconds across her two runs at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Sweden's