(by Terry Jones)
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Relegated!
Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia are not going to to Calgary next year as fully accredited provinces for the 86th Brier.
The two provinces have both been mathematically eliminated under the new relegation rules.
The last hope for PEI to avoid being sentenced for second class status under the new Canadian Curling Association format going forward was when Eddie “Spuds” MacKenzie, who had been a tough out early in this year’s event, fell 8-3 to New Brunswick here Wednesday.
Under the new format, PEI and Nova Scotia — based on their combined record in the past three years — will now be forced to play Nunavut and the Yukon in a special mini-tournament in Calgary just prior to the start of next year’s Brier. Three of those teams will be shipped home after marching in the opening ceremonies. One will advance to the real Brier.
MacKenzie at least had a sense of humour about it.
“Nobody can touch us now,” said the skip who got out of the gate with a 3-1 record.
But then he turned serious.
“It was going to be a stretch to dig ourselves out to start with. It’s unfortunate but there’s nothing we can do about it.”