Charlottetown skip’s foursome includes last year’s provincial mens’ curling winner
The pressure is greater and the focus more intense because everyone wants that prestigious trip to the Brier.
That’s one of the biggest lessons young skip Brett Gallant said he’s learned so far when it comes to the P.E.I. Tankard provincial men’s curling championship.
“This is the one (tournament) everyone’s season revolves around, the one with most on the line,’’ Gallant told The Guardian Wednesday on the eve of play, which gets underway today at the Cornwall Curling Club.
“Everybody plays their cashspiels during the fall and practices leading up to this one. There’s definitely a star beside it on everyone’s calendar.’’
It’s that extra bit of pressure that makes the Tankard so tough yet so gratifying to win. Everyone wants a shot at history — to be the team that wins P.E.I.’s first national men’s curling championship.
“It means everyone will be on their game this weekend.’’
Gallant’s rink includes Eddie MacKenzie at third rock. MacKenzie skipped P.E.I.’s Brier entry last year. Alex MacFadyen plays second while Anson Carmody will throw lead rocks.
The foursome is coming off winning the Atlantic Curling Tour championship in Moncton earlier this month while Gallant teamed up with MacFadyen to win the Atlantic university curling crown just a week ago.
Gallant said he wanted to make sure his team was ready for the Tankard but he also wanted to guard against burnout by playing too much before provincials.
“It’s really tough (to find the right balance),’’ he said. “We had a super busy fall where we played nearly every weekend but we’ve taken the last month pretty slow.’’
Since early December, Gallant’s rink has only participated in a couple of tournaments.
“We’re trying not to wear ourselves out too much so we’re ready to go this weekend.’’
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Guardian photo: Brett Gallant