Charlottetown’s Eddie MacKenzie rink fought back from a 6-3 deficit this afternoon to edge their Charlottetown clubmates the John Likely foursome 8-7 to capture the B section of the triple-knockout Labatt Tankard provincial men’s curling championships, being played at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside. MacKenzie also won the A section on Saturday, against the Peter Gallant rink, also from Charlottetown, and could wrap up the Tankard on Monday evening if he also takes the C division.
Even if he doesn’t, winning two sections will give MacKenzie, and his rink of Mike Gaudet, Mike Dillon and Alex MacFadyen a big advantage going into Tuesday’s two game championship round, as winning either match would give them the victory, while their opponent, the winner of the C championship, would have to win both games.
In today’s B final, Likely, and his team of Kyle Stevenson, Mark Butler, and Doug MacGregor took the lead early, with a triple in the first end, and a steal of one in the second. MacKenzie came back with three points in the third. Likely blanked the fourth and took a fifth end deuce to lead 6-3 at the half. MacKenzie took singles in the next two ends, followed by a Likely single in eight. MacKenzie tied it up with a deuce in the ninth, and stole the winning point in the 10th.
In other games today, Rob Warren and his Charlottetown team eliminated Summerside’s Mel Bernard rink in the morning draw with a 6-5 decision, and disposed of Charlottetown clubmate Kevin Champion 7-6 this afternoon. Bill Hope of Charlottetown sent Grant Somers of Summerside home this morning, winning 7-5, but lost 10-7 this afternoon, when Robert Campbell came back with four points in the ninth end. This leaves six rinks, all from the Charlottetown Curling Club, in the competition, out of the fifteen who started.
Peter Gallant plays Rob Warren, and Rod MacDonald takes on Robert Campbell at 7 this evening.
The winner of the Gallant/Warren game will face MacKenzie while the victor in the MacDonald/Campbell contest will play Likely at 2 pm on Monday, with the winners advancing to the 7 pm Monday C final. The two game championship round, if needed, goes Tuesday at 2 and 7 pm, with the PEI men’s champion advancing to the Tim Hortons Brier, March 5-13 in London Ont.