UPEI Panthers 0-2 after opening day play at CIS/CCA Curling Championships

The UPEI Panthers women’s curling team, skipped by Cornwall’s Veronica Smith, are 0-2 after opening day play at the CIS/CCA Curling Championships, which continue through March 24 in Kamloops BC. They lost their opening game by an 8-5 score to  the host Thompson Rivers WolfPack team, and their second game by a 10-3 score to the University of Alberta Pandas. In their opener, Team UPEI, which includes third Jane DiCarlo, second Emily Gray, and lead Aleya Quilty, and is coached by Paul Smith, were ahead 5-4 after 8 ends, but the WolfPack pulled ahead with a four-ender in the ninth, and hung on for the win. The Pandas opened their game with a pair of deuces, and picked up a triple in the fourth end, to lead 7-2 at the half, with the game ending after the eighht end.

On Thursday, Team UPEI plays Western in the afternoon, and McMaster in the evening..

CIS Sports Facebook page photo (Front to Back): Veronica Smith, Jane DiCarlo, Emily Gray, Aleya Quilty, coach Paul Smith

Atlantic Canada’s other women’s representatives at the CIS Championship are the Sara  Spafford team from Saint Mary’s, which includes Seven Mile Bay PEI’s Anita Casey. Other members of the Spafford rink are Amanda Colter and MacKenzie Proctor, with coach Marie Christianson. They won their opener 10-8 over the Western University Mustangs, but lost 7-5 to the University of Manitoba Bison in the nightcap.

Curl Atlantic photo (L-R): Sara Spafford, Amanda Colter, Anita Casey, MacKenzie Proctor, coach Marie Christianson

Click for team rosters and photos

Here is the draw schedule (click to enlarge)

Defending champions are the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks women and Alberta Golden Bears men.

Event website: www.curling.ca/championships/university