It was a successful (and profitable) weekend in Nova Scotia for several PEI teams and players at both the Dave Jones Stanhope Simpson Insurance Mayflower Cashspiel in Halifax, and the 27th Oak Island Junior Cashspiel in Chester.
The Brad Gushue rink from St. John’s, which includes PEI’s Brett Gallant, cruised to victory at the Dave Jones Cashspiel, winning all their games, including the 8-4 final over Stuart Thompson and his Halifax rink. 18-year-old Joel Krats filled in for Geoff Walker on Team Gushue at the event. The winning Gushue rink went home with $4000, while Thompson received $3000.
Team Jill Brothers with PEI’s Erin Carmody, 3rd from right
Team Birt – photo by CurlingPhotos.ca
PEI’s Suzanne Birt rink, from the Montague and Cornwall curling clubs had to settle for the $2000 envelope in the women’s event, with the $3000 first-place prize going to Team Jill Brothers, which includes PEI native Erin Carmody at third stone, with Brothers winning the final over Birt by a 9-4 score.
The Mitchell Schut rink from Cornwall beat two-time defending champ Graham Weagle and his host club team 7-4 in the junior men’s final of the Oak Island Junior Cashspiel in Chester, while the Taylour Stevens rink from Halifax, which includes PEI’s Lauren Ferguson, edged the Melodie Forsythe squad from Moncton 6-5 in the Junior Women’s final.
This makes two Oak Island championships in a row for both Lauren Ferguson and for Team Schut’s coach Pat Quilty, who last year coached Lauren and her PEI team to their championship win.
Team Schut noted that Chase MacMillan’s father Chad has also won the event, and they are the only father/son duo on the trophy in the event’s 27-year history.
Cornwall’s Brayden Snow and Katie Shaw rinks were also in the event, with Snow finishing with a 1-3 win-loss record, and Shaw going 0-4.
Team Schut (L-R) Mitchell Schut, Chase MacMillan, Cruz Pineau, Liam Kelly, coach Pat Quilty
Team Taylour Stevens with Lauren Ferguson (centre)