After opening day at the triple-knockout Pepsi Provincial Juniors Curling Championships at the Maple Leaf Curling Club in O’Leary, two women’s and two men’s draws have been completed, with four-time defending champion Brett Gallant, and home town favorite Matthew MacLean 2 and 0 on the men’s side, and MacLean’s sister Amanda, fresh from winning the women’s Canada Game berth, along with 2007 Canada Games participant Sarah Fullerton of Cornwall, undefeated in the women’s division.
Matthew MacLean got off to a flying start, recording a six-ender in his 12-1 routing of Alberton’s Shawn Pitre foursome. He won his second game by default when the Cody Dixon rink from Montague failed to show. Canadian champion and World silver-medallist (and the other 2007 Canada Games participant) Gallant beat Parker Clements of the host Maple Leaf club 9-2 in his opener, and recorded an 8-2 win over Spencer Pitre and his Charlottetown team.
Fullerton opened with an 8-2 win over Cornwall clubmate Sarah Clow, and beat Anita Casey of the Silver Fox 7-4. Amanda MacLean had an opening round bye, and beat O’Leary clubmate Tiffany Sweet 7-4 in the afternoon draw.
Play continues Saturday with junior women’s draws at 9:30 am and 4:30 pm, and junior men’s games at 1 and 8 pm.
The winning junior men’s and women’s rinks will advance to the M&M Meat Shops Canadian Junior Championships, January 16-24 in Sorel-Tracy Quebec.