Four teams undefeated after opening day at Atelka PEI Mixed Fours

Four teams out of nine are still undefeated after opening day action at the Atelka Provincial Mixed Fours Curling Championship at the Western Community Curling Club in Alberton. These teams, skipped by Sharon Horne from the host club, along with Jamie Newson and his Charlottetown/Crapaud rink, Veronica Smith with her Crapaud/Cornwall team, and Cody Dixon with his rink from Montague and Crapaud, will square of in the A section semi-finals of the modified triple knockout round, at 10 am Saturday, with Horne taking on Newson, and Smith playing Dixon. The winners advance to the 2 pm A final, with the winner gaining a spot in the championship round, which goes Monday at 3 pm, and, if necessary, Tuesday at 6 pm.

In opening day play, Smith edged the Tyler MacKenzie rink, which includes three members of the defending champion Eddie MacKenzie team, by a 5-4 score, and then doubled a second Charlottetown Curling Complex team, skipped by Jody Jackson, by a 6-3 score. Dixon took five points in the first end and stole a triple and a deuce in an 11-2 win over Montague’s Paul Morrison 11-2, while MacKenzie edged Montague’s Larry Richards 7-6.

Saturday draws are at 10 am and 2 and 6 pm.

The winning team will advance to the 2017 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship, Nov. 14-19, 2016, at the Mariners Centre in Yarmouth, NS. The Mixed Fours are the traditional 4 person competition, while the Mixed Doubles is the newer 2 person format, which has a separate championship.