The PEI Tankard Provincial Men’s Curling Championship gets underway on Wednesday February 6, and concludes on Sunday, February 10 at the Crapaud Community Curling Club. The ten teams signed up will play a triple knockout format, qualifying four teams for the Page playoff round, where the first and second qualifiers will play in the Page 1-2 game, and the third and fourth place qualifiers will play in the Page 3-4. The winner of the 1-2 will advance directly to the championship final, while the loser will play the winner of the 3-4 game in the semi-final, with that winner facing the 1-2 winner in the final.
Four teams, including the defending champion Mike Gaudet rink, are seeded in the draw as a result of cashspiel winnings this season. The seeds are:
#1-Rod MacDonald
#2-Eddie MacKenzie
#3-Jamie Newson
#4-Mike Gaudet
The remaining six teams are skipped by Mel Bernard, Robert Campbell, Allan Inman, Ted MacFadyen, Robert Shaw, and Blair Weeks.
Draws go Wednesday through Friday at 1:30 and 6:30 pm, with the final 2 qualifiers being chosen Saturday morning at 11. The two Page games follow at 4. The semi is Sunday at 11 am, with the final at 4 pm. Admission fee to watch the PEI Tankard is just $2 per draw, or $15 for a full event pass. The winning team from this year’s Tankard will advance to the Tim Hortons Brier, March 2-10 in Edmonton.
Here are the opening draws:
Wednesday Feb. 6 at 1:30 pm
Ice 1 Game 1: Robert Shaw vs Blair Weeks
Ice 2 Game 2: Robert Campbell vs Mel Bernard
Ice 3 Game 3: Rod MacDonald vs Ted MacFadyen
Ice 4: Game 6 Allan Inman vs Eddie MacKenzie
Wednesday Feb. 6 at 6:30 pm
Ice 1 Game 11: Loser Game 2 vs Loser Game 6
Ice 2 Game 4: Mike Gaudet vs Winner of Game 1
Ice 3 Game 5: Jamie Newson vs Winner of Game 2
Ice 4: Game 10: Loser Game 1 vs Loser Game 3
Here are the team rosters (skip to lead, coach/alternate-club):
Mel Bernard, Barry Cameron, Kevin Ellsworth, Earle Proude-Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club
Robert Campbell, John Likely, Erik Brodersen, Mike Dillon-Charlottetown Curling Complex
Mike Gaudet, Tyler MacKenzie, Tyler Harris, Sean Clarey-Charlottetown Curling Complex
Allan Inman (throws 3rd), Calvin Smith (throws 4th), Adam Arsenault, Brad Ledgerwood-
Crapaud Community Curling Club/ Charlottetown Curling Complex
Rod MacDonald, Kevin Champion, Mark O’Rourke, Andrew Robinson- Charlottetown Curling Complex
Ted MacFadyen, Craig Mackie, Phil McInnis, David Murphy-Cornwall Curling Club/ Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club
Eddie MacKenzie, Anson Carmody, Alex MacFadyen, Sean Ledgerwood, Al Ledgerwood (coach)-Charlottetown Curling Complex
Jamie Newson, Pat Lynch, Jeff Gallant, John Desrosiers-Charlottetown Curling Complex
Robert Shaw, Phil Gorveatt, Dennis Watts, Robbie Younker-Charlottetown Curling Complex
Blair Weeks, Matthew Nabuurs, Connor MacPhee, Mark Victor, Eric Pidgeon (Alternate)-Charlottetown Curling Complex
Full draw and end by end results available at peicurling.com/tankard