The 2020-21 season marks the first year for MacKenzie, third Tyler Smith, second Sean Ledgerwood and lead Ryan Lowery playing together as a team. A mix of youth and experience has not only translated into success on the ice but also some fun and good-natured ribbing.

Lead Ryan Lowery jumps on a rock released by skip Eddie MacKenzie as second Sean Ledgerwood is ready to assist with the sweeping. The action took place during the Tankard P.E.I. men’s curling championship in O’Leary recently. The MacKenzie rink defeated the Blair Jay team 3-0 in the best-of-five series to earn P.E.I.’s berth in the Tim Hortons Brier Canadian men’s curling championship in Calgary from March 6 to 14. – Jason Simmonds

The rink, which is out of the Crapaud Community Curling Club and the Montague Curling Club, recently defeated the Blair Jay team from the Silver Fox in Summerside 3-0 in the best-of-five Tankard P.E.I. men’s curling championship at the Maple Leaf Curling Club in O’Leary.

“We have a lot of experience with Eddie and Sean,” said Lowery. “They have been around the block quite a few times. 

“You can’t get much better players on the Island than those two for experience. Tyler and I are younger. They like to have us sweeping, so it works out good.”

“Eddie and I can both share a lot of experience and bring the young guys along,” said Ledgerwood. “They are both great shooters and great sweepers. I can ease off a little bit and let them do the hard sweeping and give them as much experience as we can to try and get them prepared and ready for the Brier.”

Click the link to read the full story by Jason Simmonds in today’s edition of The Guardian.