There were no upset wins in the Thursday night opening draw at the 14 team Labatt Tankard Provincial Men’s playdowns, taking place at the Western Community Curling Club in Alberton. Of the three teams on the ice who were seeded as a result of their cashspiel winnings this season, two won their openers, with number eight seed and provincial Seniors champ Mel Bernard of Summerside taking two four-enders in a 9-2 win over Daryl MacDonald of O’leary’s Maple Leaf club, and number three seed Rod MacDonald, who plays out of Charlottetown, scoring a triple in his final end against clubmate Calvin Smith for a 9-7 win. The third game was a battle between five-time Tankard winner and six time Seniors champ Ted MacFadyen, and number five seed Bill Hope, who played on MacFadyen’s team in this year’s Seniors. Hope scored a deuce in the the 10th end tonight to bring the game to an extra end, where MacFadyen recorded a single for a 7-6 win .
Play in this triple-knockout competition continues at 10:30 am Friday, with number four seed Kyle Stevenson of Charlottetown taking on Clair Sweet of O’leary, number six seed Jamie Newson of the capital city facing newcomer and clubmate Jeff Wilson, and Robert Shaw of Charlottetown, seeded seventh, facing Terry Arsenault of the Silver Fox. Top seed Mike Gaudet plays his first game in the 2 pm draw, while number two seed John Likely sees first action in at six pm.
The playdowns continue through Sunday evening, with eight teams advancing to the Final Eight round, February 10-15 in Montague. The winner of that event will advance to the Tim Horton’s Brier, March 7-15 in Calgary.