Canada Dominates Latvia 11-1 at Paralympics

When Gilbert Dash stepped onto the ice at Italy's historic Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium for his first Paralympic Games, the five-time national champion felt the electricity of representing his country on the world's biggest stage.

Team Canada delivered a commanding 11-1 victory over Latvia on Monday morning at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Games. Skip Mark Ideson, Jon Thurston, Ina Forrest, and lead Gilbert Dash dominated from the opening end, stealing points throughout the six-end match.

The Canadian wheelchair curling team started strong with a big steal in the first end, similar to their opening game strategy. Latvia's fourth-rock thrower Sergejs Djacenko struggled with his draw game all morning, missing key shots that allowed Canada to steal points in multiple ends.

In the fourth end, Djacenko faced three Canadian stones and had a chance to draw for one point but bumped an opposing stone instead. That mistake handed Canada a steal of four points, pushing their lead to insurmountable.

"We just had a really good ice-rock combination this morning, and so rocks were traveling really well," Forrest explained after the match. The team's chemistry and ability to read the ice made the difference when it mattered most.

About 40 friends and family members made the journey to Italy to support Team Canada, creating an incredible atmosphere inside the stadium. Their cheers joined those of Italian fans supporting the host country, making the morning draw exciting for everyone in attendance.

Why This Inspires

For Dash, wearing the Maple Leaf at the Paralympics represented years of dedication and community support. The Saskatchewan athlete credits friends, family, teammates, coaches, and community members who stayed up late watching games and sending encouragement.

"To put on the Maple Leaf and represent Canada in wheelchair curling events, I feel so proud," Dash said. His partner Angela made it to Cortina just in time to watch him compete, adding an emotional highlight to his Paralympic debut.

The bronze medalist from the 2025 World Wheelchair Curling Championship brought his winning experience to the Paralympic stage. With coaches Mick Lizmore and Dana Ferguson guiding the team, Canada now sits in strong position heading into tougher competition.

Team Canada faces undefeated defending Paralympic champion China on Tuesday morning, followed by Sweden in the afternoon. Forrest knows the stakes are higher now: "We just have to be ready when starting in the first end to get the hop on the other team."

With momentum building and home support behind them, Canada's wheelchair curling team is showing the world what dedication and teamwork can achieve.