Canada curlers fight to stay alive, Crosby named captain at Milan Cortina Games

By Canadian Press on February 8, 2026.

MILAN — Canada’s mixed doubles curling team suffered a fourth straight loss and needs a victory later today to stay alive as the Milan Cortina Olympics continue on Day 2.

Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman, a husband-and-wife team from Chestermere, Alta., were defeated 7-6 by Sweden, dropping them to 3-4.

The Canadians still have a slim chance of making the four-team cut for the semifinals. They’ll need to win their two remaining games and hope other results fall in their favour.

Gallant and Peterman will face South Korea in Cortina later today.

Meanwhile, Sidney Crosby was named the captain of the Canadian men’s hockey team.

Defenceman Cale Makar and forward Connor McDavid will serve as alternate captains.

The team hits the ice today for their first official practice ahead of their tournament opener Feb. 12 against Czechia.

Speedskating continues today with the men’s 5,000 metres, where Ted-Jan Bloemen is Canada’s skater to watch after winning silver in the event at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

All eyes were on American star Lindsey Vonn in the women’s downhill in Cortina, nine days after tearing the ACL in her left knee and racing with a heavy brace. But the 41-year-old crashed badly and was taken off the course in a helicopter.

Vonn had been chasing another Olympic medal against a deep field. American Breezy Johnson won the event ahead of Germany’s Emma Aicher and Italy’s Sofia Goggia.

Cassidy Gray, of Invermere, B.C., was the top Canadian in 26th place. Valérie Grenier, of St-Isidore, Ont., was disqualified after she originally finished her run sitting 17th with several skiers left to go.

Elsewhere, Xavier McKeever of Canmore, Alta., finished 13th in the men’s skiathlon.

There was heartbreak for Canadian snowboarder Arnaud Gaudet, who missed out on the parallel giant slalom semifinal by three one-hundredths of a second to Bulgarian Tervel Zamfirov.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 8, 2026.

The Canadian Press