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Despite finishing mixed nationals on a losing streak, Yukon skip Bob Smallwood remains satisfied with his latest foray at the national level.

The territory finished eighth overall at the 2016 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship in Toronto last week 鈥� a best-ever finish for Yukon.

After qualifying for the championship pool last Wednesday, Smallwood and company lost four straight to finish the event with a 3-7 record.

Still, the rink that also includes third Nicole Baldwin, second Wade Scoffin and lead Jody Smallwood (Bob鈥檚 wife) did what they set out to do.

鈥淢aking the top round. That鈥檚 what my goal was, and that鈥檚 what the team鈥檚 goal was leaving Whitehorse,鈥� Smallwood told the Star yesterday.

鈥淲e qualified by beating Manitoba, then re-evaluated.鈥�

The team hoped to go 2-2 in championship pool play, but went on to lose four straight: 7-6 to Nova Scotia, 7-3 to Alberta, 7-5 to Saskatchewan and 6-2 to Northern Ontario.

Alberta went on to win the event, with Mick Lizmore鈥檚 Edmonton rink completing a perfect, unbeaten week with a 4-2 win over Saskatchewan鈥檚 Bruce Korte Saturday afternoon.

Last year, Yukon finished with a better record at 5-4, but finished in 10th place after failing to crack the championship pool.

鈥淚鈥坱hink Yukon鈥檚 got a shot at the mixed,鈥� Smallwood said of potential future goals. 鈥淚f you can put a good mixed team together and curl consistently, a top-four placing wouldn鈥檛 be out of the question.鈥�

However, the 41-year-old said he isn鈥檛 sure if he鈥檒l attempt to lead Yukon into a fourth straight mixed national event next season.

鈥淢yself and my wife have been curling a lot over the past few years,鈥� he said, acknowledging the two have discussed taking a step back from the game to spend more time with their children.

The couple may even pull out of the local mixed doubles playdowns, set for Dec. 3 to 6 in Atlin, B.C.

At present however, the season continues in a hurry with Jody Smallwood scheduled to skip Yukon鈥檚 women鈥檚 rink at the 2015 Travelers Curling Club Championships in Ottawa next week.

Following that, Bob Smallwood said he鈥檇 like to take at least one more shot at the Tim Hortons Brier, where he represented the territory last season.

This year, he鈥檒l attempt to complete the feat alongside third Jon Solberg, second Clint Abel, lead Scott Odion and fifth David Rach.