February 18, 2018 (PyeongChang, South Korea) – Team Canada rallied to a 9th-place finish in the Men’s 4x10km Relay as Norway finally reclaimed the gold having last won the event at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.

The Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) took home the silver with France celebrated a hard-earned bronze. Finland was fourth followed by defending champs, Sweden, who could only manage 5th. Team USA struggled as well having a tough day at the office finishing 14th.

Len Valjas led off for Canada with Andy Newell pacing the USA as Kazakhstan’s Alexey Poltornanin won the leg with OAR in second and Italy third. Valjas handed off to Graeme Killick in 10th while Newell tagged Reese Hanneman in 12th.

The OAR’s Alexander Bolshunov built up a 24-second lead as Italy, France and Norway chased him down in vein. Killick put Canada in 7th while Hanneman struggled as the USA dropped to 14th.

The next two legs were skating and the tide slowly turned as Norway’s Simen Hegstad Krueger and France’s Clement Parisse reeled in rookie Alexey Chervotkin (OAR) and broke the race open. Canada was now in 9th with Russell Kennedy handing off to Knute Johnsgaard for the final leg. Scott Patterson raced the third leg for the USA and tagged their anchor Noah Hoffman.

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo and France’s Adrien Backsheider were soon caught by Denis Spitsov (OAR) and then Backsheider was dropped. Klaebo made his move with just over one km to go leaving Spitsov behind and had enough time to ski down the homestretch with the Norwegian flag.

Spitsov took the silver and Backsheider the bronze. Johnsgaard crossed the line in 9th tying Canada’s 2nd best Olympic relay result ever (in Calgary 1988) and unofficially the team’s 3rd best major Games relay result – a great performance by a relatively inexperienced team.

“I think we did great today,” said Valjas at the finish. “This wasn’t our A Team and we knew that going into the race but our guys stepped up and stayed with some big names in the sport – I’m impressed. All the guys fought hard and I’m proud of them.”

“As expected, it was tough, but fun, a good battle,” said the USA’s Newell. “The relay is such an iconic event, it’s every skier’s dream to represent your country in the 4×10, so much national pride and so much fun to work with your teammates.”

Results here.