Denmark crushes Canada in women's play at world junior curling championship

SOCHI, Russia - Denmark crushed Canada 9-1 in the opening session of women's play at the world junior curling championships on Thursday at the Ice Cube Curling Center.

Corryn Brown's team from Kamloops, B.C., lasted only six ends against the European Junior Curling Challenge champions. Danish skip Stephanie Risdal shot an impressive 90 per cent for the game while Brown shot just 31 per cent.

The Canadian skip said her team paid for its slow start.

"Most of it was ice calls, mostly on my part," Brown said. "We knew that we could be on the wide side but I just wasn't icing that well. It was definitely my fault in that."

Denmark led 4-0 after three ends, added three points in the fifth and picked up a steal of two to end the game.

"I'm so impressed," Risdal said. "It's our first year here so it's amazing. I couldn't ask for more, we played really great. I'm so proud of the girls."

Canada's next round-robin game is Friday against defending champion Scotland, which beat the United States 9-7 Thursday.

In other games, Russia beat Norway 7-5 and Japan posted an 8-4 win over Switzerland.

The Canadian men's team was scheduled to play later Thursday. Canada is skipped by Matt Dunstone of the West Kildonan Curling Club in Manitoba.