PEI’s Brett Gallant rink, considered the men’s favorite going into the 2009 M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Curling Championships, lost his opening game to Saskatchewan’s Mike Armstrong rink, 7-6 in an extra end on Sunday. Two steals gave Armstrong a 4-1 lead after 4 ends, but Gallant tied it at the half with a triple. The teams traded single points in ends six through eight. Gallant blanked the ninth, and was only able to get a single in the 10th to force the extra, where Armstrong took a single point.

Meanwhile, PEI’s Erin Carmody rink lost 7-5 to Saskatchewan’s Brooklyn Lemon rink, who broke a tie with a triple in the eighth. Carmody scored one in the ninth, and Lemon did not have to throw her last rock in the 10th.

The PEI rinks are playing BC at 3 pm Pacific (7 pm Atlantic).