LIVERPOOL, Nova Scotia -- The U.S. men and women will miss the playoffs at the 2019 World Junior Curling Championships. Neither team qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Andrew Stopera and the American men needed a win Friday against undefeated Scotland but suffered an 11-5 loss as the round robin concluded. The team finished the tournament in fifth at 5-4.
Stopera (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.) and teammates Luc Violette (Edmonds, Wash.), Ben Richardson (Cleveland, Ohio) and Graem Fenson (Bemidji) won silver together in 2017 and were fourth at last year’s World Juniors. The team also includes Riley Fenson (Bemidji).
Cait Flannery and the U.S. women finished eighth overall after a 9-5 loss to Norway on Friday.
Flannery (Mankato) and teammates Leah Yavarow (Bemidji), Lexi Lanigan (Duluth), Rebecca Miles (Duluth) and Abbey Marquardt (Poynette, Wis.) ended the round robin at 2-7.
