SALMON ARM, BC, February 7 (CCA)…Prince Edward Island, skipped by Charlottetown’s Brett Gallant, disposed of Alberta, 13-3 in Saturday’s semi-final to advance to Sunday’s men’s final of the M&M Meat Shops Canadian Juniors, where it will face Northern Ontario at 4:00 pm PT/8:00 pm Atlantic, live on TSN.
Gallant, who was the runner-up at the 2007 Canadian Juniors in St. Catharines, losing in an extra end to Alberta’s Charley Thomas, and the third place finisher last year, jumped on Alberta, skipped by Kevin Yablonski of Calgary, early, taking an opening deuce, then stealing a pair in the second for a quick 4-0 lead.
Alberta got one back in the third, but Prince Edward Island responded with three in the fourth and went to the fifth end break up 7-2.
Gallant then had a draw for three in the sixth when Yablonski’s last rock sailed through the house, to up the lead to 10-2. The rest was a formality. Another Prince Edward Island three in the eighth end signalled the end.
” Yes, that was one of our best games of the week,” said Gallant. “We got a little help. They didn’t come out as sharp as they usually do, but the guys played really well. It was a good game. There’s lots of gas left in the tank, I guess. Hopefully, we’ll come out the same way. If we do that, we should fare well, but we know Northern Ontario is going to play well, too.”
Prince Edward Island will now battle Thunder Bay’s Dylan Johnston for the crown. Northern Ontario defeated Prince Edward Island, 9-8 in an extra end during the round robin, as Johnston stole four singles during the game, including the winner. Both teams finished the round robin with 9-3 marks, with Northern Ontario accorded first place and a bye to the final for its round robin win.
Prince Edward Island has but one junior men’s title, that by Bill Jenkins in 1976 in Kapuskasing. Northern Ontario has four crowns, the last by Jeff Currie in 1996 in Edmonton.
The women’s final, at 11:30 am PT/3:30 pm AT on Sunday, live on TSN, features Ontario (Rachel Homan of Ottawa) against defending champion Manitoba, skipped by Kaitlyn Lawes of Winnipeg.