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2016 World Men's Curling Championship tale of the tape: Canada vs Denmark

don landry
Team Canada (L to R): Marc Kennedy, Kevin Koe, Ben Hebert and Brent Laing. (Céline Stucki/World Curling Federaton)
Team Canada (L to R): Marc Kennedy, Kevin Koe, Ben Hebert and Brent Laing. (Céline Stucki/World Curling Federaton)

The World Men's Curling Championship will be decided on Sunday (9am ET, TSN) in Basel, Switzerland as Canada meets Denmark in the gold medal game.

The Canadians, based in Calgary and skipped by Kevin Koe, will be attempting to earn the nation's first world championship gold medal since 2012, when Glenn Howard skipped his Ontario rink to the title. One member of Koe's team - Brent Laing - was a member of that Howard crew. Koe has skipped at two previous world championships, missing the podium in 2014 but winning gold in 2010. Canada's team is stacked with credentials. Laing has previously won two world championships (both with Howard) while teammates Marc Kennedy and Ben Hebert each won a world championship as well as Olympic gold (2010) when they played for Kevin Martin.

Denmark, led by 27-year-old Rasmus Stjerne, has secured, at least, the country's first ever silver medal, after defeating the United States in the semi-final. The Danes had previously won two bronze medals, in 1985 and 1990. This current Danish team has appeared together at three previous world championships (with the exception of second Mikkel Poulson, who missed the 2014 worlds).

Here is a breakdown of some of the statistical numbers ahead of the championship game:

Koe's team is ranked number one in the world, according to the World Curling Tour's Order of Merit (year-to-date) standings, with a record of 80 wins and 21 losses this season, according to statistics found at CurlingZone.com. Stjerne's foursome is ranked 67th, with a win/loss record of 45 and 18.

These teams have met twice over the course of the 2015-16 season, both times this past week. Koe's rink won each of those games; 11-8 during the round robin and 5-3 in the 1 v 2 playoff game on Friday night.

Denmark's skip Rasmus Stjerne. (Richard Gray/World Curling Federation)
Denmark's skip Rasmus Stjerne. (Richard Gray/World Curling Federation)

Overall, Canada has a record of 11 wins and 1 loss at this year's world championship, while Denmark is 9 and 4.

Canada has scored an average of 7.2 points per game during the competition while allowing an average of 3.8 points per game against. As a team, Koe and company shot 88% over the course of the round robin to lead all teams. They were just a bit better in their playoff win over Denmark, booking an 89%. Denmark has also scored an average of 7.2 points per game this week, while giving up an average of 4.9 points per game. Stjerne and his mates combined to shoot 85% during the round robin, good for a tie for fourth. In the 1 v 2 game against Canada, the Danes shot 82% and then 87% in their semi-final win over the United States.

Below, each player's cumulative shooting percentage from round robin games and their ranking at the position. (Canada on the left, Denmark on the right with their rankings in parentheses)

Leads: Ben Hebert, 87% (Tied-3rd). Troels Harry, 86% (Tied-6th).

Seconds: Brent Laing, 87% (Tied-1st). Mikkel Poulsen, 82% (7th).

Thirds: Marc Kennedy, 88% (1st). Johnny Frederiksen, 84% (Tied-5th).

Skips: Kevin Koe, 90% (1st). Rasmus Stjerne, 87% (2nd).

Koe dropped from that astounding 90% in the 1 v 2 game, shooting 83%. Kennedy bumped up to 90% in that playoff game, while Laing soared to 94% and Hebert boosted his numbers to 90%.

Stjerne struggled to a 75% in the playoff game against Canada, then followed up by shooting 81% in the semi-final. Frederiksen dropped to 78% in the first playoff game and then bounced all the way to 94% in the semi-final. Poulsen posted numbers of 83% followed by 88% and Harry fired a 91% followed by an 85%.

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The Canadians have had a sensational year on tour, winning six of the eleven events they've played, including a 2016 Brier that was jam-packed with superb rinks. In their second year as a foursome, the Koe Komets have found their team identity, winning the Canada Cup (securing an Olympic Trials berth with that victory), and the season-opening Tour Challenge, while rocketing to the top of the charts.

Denmark has played a lighter schedule this year, with their only win coming in their country's national championship. They placed second at a competition in Stroud, Ontario, last October.