P.E.I.'s Tyler Smith rink drops one-point decision in opening game of championship round

The Tyler Smith-skipped team from the Montague Curling Rink recently won the P.E.I. junior men’s curling championship at the Crapaud Community Curling Club recently. Team members are, from left, Lead Ryan Lowery, second stone Jake Flemming, third stone Ryan Abraham, Smith and coach Kevin Smith. - Contributed

LANGLEY, B.C. — P.E.I.’s Tyler Smith team from the Montague Curling Rink was unable to come all the way back Wednesday night.

Smith, third stone Ryan Abraham, second stone Jake Flemming and lead Ryan Lowery lost 7-6 to Saskatchewan in the opening game of the championship round at the 2020 New Holland Canadian junior curling championships in Langley, B.C.
P.E.I. trailed 3-0 and 5-2 but scored a single point with the hammer in the ninth end to tie the game 6-6. Saskatchewan would score the game-winning point in the 10th end with last-rock advantage.
Saskatchewan improved to 6-1 (won-lost) and P.E.I. fell to 5-2.
P.E.I. has two games scheduled for Thursday against Newfoundland and Labrador (5-2) at 1 p.m., and Alberta (4-3) at 11 p.m.

Women
In junior women’s championship-round play at the under-21 event, Prince Edward Islander Lauren Lenentine and her Manitoba teammates defeated Ontario by an 8-3 score to remain undefeated at 7-0. Ontario fell to 4-3.
Thursday, Manitoba plays Saskatchewan (4-3) at 1 p.m., and Newfoundland and Labrador (4-3) at 6 p.m.
In the seeding pool, P.E.I.’s Lauren Ferguson (1-6) lost 11-7 to British Columbia (4-4).
Ferguson, third stone Sydney Howatt, second stone Kristie Rogers and lead Rachel O’Connor will play the Northwest Territories (2-5) on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The winning teams will wear Canada’s colours at the world junior curling championships in Russia.