CALGARY, Alta. — The Eddie MacKenzie-skipped Team P.E.I. dropped their opener Saturday at the Tim Hortons Brier men’s curling championship in Calgary.
The Island champs, including third Tyler Smith, second Sean Ledgerwood, lead Ryan Lowery and alternate Aaron Bartling from Alberta, lost 11-4 in eight ends to Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia, skipped by Ontario’s Scott MacDonald, scored deuces in the first and third ends and was leading 5-1 through four when they stole four in the fifth end to take a commanding 9-1 lead. P.E.I., representing the Crapaud and Montague clubs, got one back in the sixth before the teams traded deuces in the last two ends.
MacDonald replaced Jamie Murphy who opted out of the nationals this year.
P.E.I. is scheduled to play Kevin Koe’s wildcard team at 11:30 a.m. and Quebec’s Michael Fournier at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. They play Newfoundland and Labrador’s Greg Smith Monday at 9:30 p.m.
Charlottetown’s Brett Gallant is Team Canada’s second while Seven Mile Bay native Adam Casey is third with Manitoba. Canada and Manitoba each won their first two games.
