The UPEI Men’s Panthers, skipped by Kyle Holland, lost their opener 9-4 to the 2011 Canadian university champions, the Colin Thomas rink from St. John’s Memorial University of Newfoundland Friday evening, but rebounded with a 7-3 win over the St. FX team skipped by David Quinn on Saturday, to advance to the 9 am Sunday “B” semi-final against UNB, skipped by Josh Barry, at the Atlantic University Curling Championships being played at the Capital Winter Club in Fredericton NB. The winner of this morning’s game will face the Saint Mary’s University team, skipped by Scott Babin, in the B final at 2 pm. The MUN team edged SMU 7-6 in an extra end to win the A final Saturday night. The winners of the A and B finals both advance to the CIS/CCA championships, March 19-23 at Regina’s Callie Curling Club, with the University of Regina as host.
Other members of the UPEI team are third Connor MacPhee, Second Andrew Cameron, Lead Taylor McInnis, with Coach Eric Pidgeon.
Photo: UPEI Women’s Panthers
Meanwhile, the Veronica Smith-skipped UPEI Women’s Panthers lost a close 4-2 decision to the Saint Mary’s team, skipped by Sara Spafford, in their low-scoring opening game on Friday, which the UPEI team described as “a nail-biter ’til the last rock”. UPEI was scheduled to against the loser of a game between UNB and DAL Saturday, but DAL withdrew from the tournament, and the Panthers were given a bye in that game, and now play at 9 am this morning against Acadia, skipped by Micayla Dorey, with the winner of that game advancing to the 2 pm “B” final, against Spafford’s SMU rink. UNB, skipped by Jennifer Armstrong, won the “A” final Saturday evening, stealing five points in the 9th end in an 11-4 victory over SMU.
The Panthers team includes third Jane DiCarlo, second Emily Gray, and lead Aleya Quilty, with coach Paul Smith. The winners of the A and B finals both advance to the CIS/CCA championships, March 19-23 in Regina.