(PEICA/CCA) The hope that the Brett Gallant rink would repeat as Canadian junior curling champions was dashed this afternoon, as they lost an 8-3 battle to Ontario (Jake Walker of Kitchener), as the two teams fought it out for the third and final playoff spot, entering the match with 8-3 records.  

 Manitoba (Alex Forrest of Manitoba) had already clinched a berth in Sunday’s final at 8:30 pm Atlantic, live on TSN, finishing with a 10-2 mark. Saskatchewan (Braeden Moskowy of Regina) earned a berth in Saturday evening’s semi-final at 8:30 pm Atlantic after defeating Manitoba this morning, 7-4, completing the round robin with a 9-3 record.

On the women’s side, PEI’s Sarah Fullerton rink, already out of contention, lost to 12-3 to undefeated Rachel Homan of Ottawa, finishing tied for 6th place with Manitoba with a 6-6 win-loss record. Northern Ontario finished second at 9-3, with Sask. ,  BC, and Alberta tied for the final spot at 8-4. That will necessitate two tiebreakers, one at 10:30 am and one at 3:30 pm AT on Saturday, meaning the women’s semi-final would go at the same time as the men’s on Saturday night…8:30 pm.

(more later)