The “B” final of the modified triple knockout PEI Tankard provincial men’s curling championship is set, and will feature the same teams that met in the “A” final – the Adam Casey rink from the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside and the host Charlottetown Curling Complex, and the Jamie Newson team from Charlottetown.
Adam Casey
In the “B” semis this evening, Casey, who won the “A” final this afternoon, took only three ends to beat the Tyler Harris foursome from the Charlottetown and Montague clubs, by a 7-1 score. Casey took a single with last rock advantage in the first end, but a five point second end and stolen deuce in the third by Casey brought the game to early handshakes.
The other “B” semi, between the Robert Campbell and the Newson rinks, both from Charlottetown was a close see-saw battle, with Campbell scoring a triple in the first end, and Newson scoring a pair of deuces to grab the lead. The teams then exchanged doubles and singles, with Campbell taking a single to tie the game at 7-all after eight. Newson blanked the ninth to have last rock advantage coming home. Campbell’s fourth rock thrower Tyler MacKenzie made an angle tap on one of his rocks to count one with his final rock, but Newson found a way to pick it out for an 8-7 win and a trip to the “B” final, Sunday at 11 am.
If Casey wins the B section, he’ll have a big advantage in the championship round on Monday and Tuesday as, having won two sections, he will have a “double life” in the championship round, taking the title if he wins either game, while his opponent would have to win both. If Casey were to win all three sections of the six team knockout, he would repeat as champion without a championship round.
The “C” semi-finals go Sunday at 4 pm, with the “C” finals Monday at 1. The championship round is scheduled for Monday at 6 and Tuesday at 4 pm.
The winning Tankard team will advance to the Tim Hortons Brier, March 5-13, 2016 at TD Place in Ottawa Ontario.
The three game Future Tankard developmental event for male curlers under age 21, is tied at a game apiece, with the two entries, skipped by brothers Devin and Mitchell Schut, each picking up a win. The younger Mitchell Schut won the first game 7-6, but lost the second 8-5. In that game, Devin was ahead 4-0 after 2, but Mitchell tied it up after 5. The teams exchanged singles to tie the game at 5-all with Devin having last end hammer. Devin capitalized on a missed hit by Mitchell, to score three in the final end for the 8-5 win. Their last game goes at 4pm Sunday.
Live results for both the Tankard and Future Tankard available at PEICurling.com