The defending PEI men’s champion Eddie MacKenzie rink doubled their Charlottetown clubmates, the Tyler Smith squad, who are PEI’s Junior men’s champs, by a 6-3 score this afternoon at the Western Community Curling Club in Alberton to capture the “B” qualifier in the modified triple knockout PEI Tankard. The John Likely rink who list Charlottetown and Western as their clubs, won the “A” qualifier on Monday. In this afternoon’s match, MacKenzie opened with a deuce and had a 3-0 lead after 4 ends. Smith rebounded with singles in the next three ends to tie the game at 3-all after seven ends. Mackenzie took a single in eight and stole a deuce in the 10th end for the win.

File photo by Michael Burns for Curling Canada: Eddie MacKenzie at last year’s Tim Hortons Brier

In other games, the Darren Higgins rink staved off elimination with a 10-4 win over Silver Fox clubmate Jamie Newson with a convincing 10-4 win in eight ends, but play has ended for Newson and also for their clubmate Steve vanOuwerkerk after picking up his third loss, 8-6 to A qualifier Likely.

The “C” semi-finals take place at 9 am on Saturday, with Higgins taking on Tyler Smith, and Likely battling MacKenzie in a rematch of last year’s final. The “C” Qualifier final goes at 7 pm Saturday, with the championship round set for Sunday at 9 am and, if needed, 2 pm.

Meanwhile, the Scotties “B” Qualifier winner will be decided in the 7 pm Friday draw, with Sarah Fullerton taking on Veronica Smith, who will be looking to capture her 2nd qualifier.