PEI’s Eddie MacKenzie rink stole a deuce in an extra end to win their opener, 6-5 over the Bowie Abbis-Mills team from Aylmer Ont. on Thursday at the $40,000 Challenge Chateau Cartier de Gatineau cashspiel in Gatineau Quebec. The MacKenzie foursome, which includes third Anson Carmody, second Christian Tolusso who is originally from Ottawa, just across the river from Gatineau, and lead Alex MacFadyen, lost their next two games, 9-5 to Bryan Cochrane of Ottawa on Thursday, and 8-6 to Michael Fournier of Montreal.They now are down to the C side of the triple knockout, facing elimination with any loss, and play the Philippe LeMair team Trois Rivieres Saturday at 8 am Eastern.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s Brad Gushue rink, which includes PEI natives Adam Casey and Brett Gallant, along with the Mark Dacey rink from Halifax, remain undefeated, and have earned a day off Saturday and berths in Sunday’s 9 am quarter-finals. Gushue beat Toronto’s Greg Balston 5-2 this afternoon, while Dacey beat another Halifax rink, skipped by Jamie Murphy 6-1 in their A qualifer round to advance to the quarters.

Prize breakdown is as follows: 1st: $10,000 2nd: $7,000 3/4: $4,500 5/8: $3,500. 30 teams are entered.

Results: http://www.ontariocurlingtour.com/events.php?eventid=2739