Cornwall’s Donna Butler rink, which includes third Marie Molyneaux, second Melissa Andrews, and lead Carolyn Coulson, are off to a tremendous start at the Sobeys Slam in New Glasgow Nova Scotia,  doubling top-ranked Shannon Kleibrink of Calgary 6-3 in their opener, by stealing three points in the final end. Butler now plays Calgary’s Crystal Webster at 7:30 pm.

Meanwhile, Charlottetown’s Suzanne Birt rink, which includes Shelly Bradley, Leslie MacDougall, and Stefanie Clark, lost her opening game, 5-3 to Amber Holland of Regina in the morning draw, but won a cliffhanger over Janet McGhee of Ontario 7-6 in the afternoon, after McGhee picked up four points in the seventh end to come back from a 4-2 deficit, and Birt responded with a triple in the final end to pull out the one-point victory. Birt now plays at 8:30 am Friday against Mary Ann Arsenault of Halifax.