After opening day play, the Kyle Hughes and Tyler Smith rinks remain undefeated in the eight team junior men’s division of the triple-knockout Sylvan Learning Provincial age 17 and Under Curling Championships at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside.
Eleven year old Smith, from the Cornwall Curling Club, edged Shawn Pitre from the Western Community Curling Club in Alberton by a 6-5 score, and stole two points in the final end to get by Alex Matters of Charlottetown 7-6. Hughes, with a combined Montague/Charlottetown team, doubled Cody Dixon of Montague 6-3 in his opener, and stole an eighth end single to shade Cornwall’s Jeff Taylor foursome 7-6. Hughes and Smith will now face off in the A section final, Friday at 3 pm.
Other members of the Tyler Smith team are Parker and Noah O’Connor, and Tyson Smith, with coach Kevin Smith. Playing with Hughes are Tony Nabuurs, Taylor McInnis and Chandler Matheson, with coach Arnold Nabuurs.
In the eight team 17 and Under women’s section, the Veronica Smith rink from the Cornwall Curling Club, along with the Tiffany Sweet foursome from the Maple Leaf club in O’Leary won both their opening games, and a berth in the A division final of the triple knockout event. Smith beat Carolyn Rose of Montague 7-5, and Megan Davies of Charlottetown 7-3, while Sweet defeated Jenny McLean of the Silver Fox 7-3, and came from behind to score three points in the last end to edge Maple Leaf clubmate Amanda MacLean 6-5. Smith and Sweet now meet in the A final, Friday at 3.
Smith’s teammates include Katie Fullerton, Sabrina Smith, and Chloe McCloskey, while Paul Smith and Sarah Fullerton share coaching duties. Chantal Clements, Kathleen and Laura O’Meara, and coaches Clair and Ralph Sweet round out the Sweet rink.
There are two junior women’s games Friday morning at 11, with Jenny McLean playing Cornwall’s Tricia Sanderson, and Carolyn Rose meeting Kimberly Dunbar of Charlottetown. These teams all have one loss. All six curling sheets will be in play in the 3 pm and 7 pm draws on Friday. Saturday draws are at 11 am and 3 pm, with the B finals at 11, while the C finals go Sunday at 11. The two game championship round between the section winners goes Sunday and Monday at 3 pm. This round will not be needed if the same team wins all three triple-knockout sections. If a team wins two sections, they will win the championship if they take either game.
The winning rinks will advance to the Atlantic 17 and Under Championships, April 2-4 at the Riverside Golf and Curling Club in Rothesay NB.