Blanchard and defending champion Newson advance to 10 am Sat. PEI Mixed Qualifier #1

The first of three section qualifier matches in the modified triple knockout Provincial Mixed Curling Championship goes Saturday at 10 am at the Montague Curling Rink, with defending champion Jamie Newson and his Silver Fox and Charlottetown Curling Club team facing the Nick Blanchard foursome from Crapaud. Newson beat Summerside’s Corey Miller team 7-3, and the Chase MacMillan junior team from Charlottetown and Cornwall 7-1 to advance, while Blanchard edged Montague’s Team Koke 7-6 and defeated Charlottetown’s Tyler MacKenzie rink 9-2 to advance to the “A” Qualifier.

There are a couple of major lineup changes, with Team Koke skip George Koke, and Team MacMillan third Rachel MacLean out indefinitely. Garry Campbell has joined the Koke team, with Shane MacDonald moving up to skip position, while Katie MacLean is filling in on the MacMillan rink.

The “B” semi-finals go at 2 pm Saturday, with the “B” Qualifier at 6 pm.

The eight teams entered play a modified triple knockout draw, with the winners of each section advancing to a two-game championship round. Winners from each section drop down to compete in the next section. If a team wins all three draw sections, they will be declared champions, and the championship round will not be played. A team winning two sections will advance to both championship games and take the championship if they win either game, will their opponent would have to win both sections.

The winning rink will advance to the Canadian Mixed, from November 4-9 2019 at Foyer des loisirs et de la culture in Saguenay, Quebec.