(by Jason Simmonds)

SUMMERSIDE – Two Charlottetown Curling Club (CCC) rinks sport 2-0 (won-lost) records after the first three draws at the 2011 Labatt Tankard provincial men’s curling championship here at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club.

Defending champion Rod MacDonald and Peter Gallant are tied atop the standings after Thursday’s opening day of the triple-knockout event.

MacDonald downed Barry Cameron 7-3 in the morning draw, and then defeated Mel Bernard 7-2 in evening action. Cameron and Bernard both curl out of the host Silver Fox.

Gallant needed an extra end to get by The Fox’s Tom Fetterly in the opening draw 11-10, and then trimmed clubmate Calvin Smith 9-3 in Draw 3.

In other evening games, John Likely (CCC) evened his record at 1-1 with an 11-3 decision over The Fox’s Barry Cameron, and Fetterly got by John Desrosiers (CCC) 8-6.

In other morning games, it was Bernard outlasting Likely 8-5, and Smith doubling Desrosiers (CCC) 8-4.

In the afternoon draw, three Charlottetown Curling Club rinks emerged victorious. Rob Warren downed clubmate David Ross 7-3; Kevin Champion edged Grant Somers of the Silver Fox 7-6, and Eddie MacKenzie counted one with last-rock advantage in the 10th end to get by clubmate Bill Hope 7-6.

Three draws are scheduled for The Fox today at 9 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m. The evening draw will be highlighted with a head-to-head clash between MacDonald and Gallant, with the winner advancing to the A section final Saturday at 2 p.m.

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Jason Simmonds/Journal Pioneer

Photo: Alex MacFadyen, left, and Mike Gaudet of Eddie MacKenzie’s rink sweep a rock during Thursday afternoon action in the 2011 Labatt Tankard provincial men’s curling championship at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside.