INNSBRUCK, Austria — Canada has its first medal of the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Thomas Scoffin of Whitehorse edged Sweden's Rasmus Wrana 6-4 to capture the bronze medal in mixed curling Wednesday. The Canadians were relegated to the battle for third spot after dropping an 8-2 semifinal decision to Italy earlier in the day.

Switzerland captured the gold medal with a 6-4 win over Italy.

Scoffin's rink rallied from a 4-3 deficit through four ends to take a 5-4 advantage in the sixth. In the eighth end with Sweden holding the hammer, Scoffin made a double takeout with his first stone then froze to the Swedish shot stone with his final rock.

Wrana needed one to tie the game, but was light with his draw to give Canada the steal and the victory.

"That was an amazing game,” Scoffin said. "I give full credit to the Swedes, that was a battle till the end.

"My team played one of the best games I've ever seen them play. It feels really good to come through in the last end like that with two good shots. There was no stopping us, and we knew it. I couldn't ask for three better teammates.”

Scoffin's team consisted of third Corryn Brown, second Derek Oryniak and lead Emily Gray.

THE CANADIAN PRESS