Eighteen teams are set to compete in the annual Silver Fox Cashspiel, sponsored by Labatt, Superstore, Quality Inn and the Journal Pioneer, which gets underway Friday afternoon at the  Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside.  Defending champion and event organizer Rod MacDonald is in the event this year, playing on the Kevin Champion rink. Other contenders include Mike Gaudet, runner-up in the Moncton Hub City Shootout the previous weekend, three-time PEI Junior champ Brett Gallant, PEI Mixed champ Bill Hope, and former Labatt Tankard men’s champions Ted MacFadyen and John Likely. Two women’s rinks, skipped by Karen Currie of Cornwall, and Kim Dolan of Charlottetown, are among the entries.

Top prize is $2000, with $1600 for the runner-up, $1200 for third and fourth place, and $800 for fifth and sixth.

Opening draws are at 1, 2 and 3:30 pm Friday, with three games in each draw time. Quarter-finals go Sunday at 9 am, with the semis at noon, and the final at 3 pm.

Results will be available at PEICurling.com and the Silver Fox website.