The AtlanticCanada  curling season-got underway today with the Curl Atlantic championship,  which wraps up on Monday at the Tantramar Veterans Memorial Civic Centre in Sackville NB. Three PEI rinks are taking part. 2010 national Scotties silver medallist Kathy O’Rourke, returning to competitive curling after a year off,  lost her opener 4-2 to the Mary-Anne Arsenault rink (with Colleen Jones at third) of Halifax. O’Rourle faces the defending women’s champion, PEI’s Suzanne Birt Saturday at 8 am.

Birt won her opener 7-3 over Jessica Ronalds of New Brunswick. Also at 1-0 going into the Friday evening draw are Sylvie Robichaud of New Brunswick, and Heather Smith-Dacey of Halifax.

On the men’s side, PEI’s Eddie MacKenzie rink is 1-1, after losing their opener 7-6 to Jamie Murphy of Nova Scotia in an extra end, and beating  New Brunswick’s Terry Odishaw 7-2 in their second game.  The Island squad faces the Ken Peddigrew rink from Newfoundland and Labrador at noon Saturday. Murphy and Halifax’s Mark Dacey are 2-0 after opening day play.

Round robin games go Friday through Sunday at 8 am, 12 noon, 4 pm and 8 pm, with the semi-finals Monday at 9 am and the finals following at 1:30 pm.

Click for full draw and schedule (PDF)

End-by-end results are available at LiveCurling.com.