The Guardian (Charlottetown)

Smith looks to three-peat

Seven-team P.E.I. Tankard men’s championsh­ip underway in Summerside

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – Tyler Smith drew lots of national media attention at the 2023 Tim Hortons Brier in London, Ont., with the young skip out of the Crapaud Community Curling Club producing some spectacula­r shot-making.

Smith is hoping to return to the nationals by making it a three-peat in the P.E.I. Tankard men’s curling championsh­ip in Summerside, which began Jan. 25.

Seven teams are entered in the modified, triple-knockout event, held in conjunctio­n with the Scotties provincial women’s championsh­ip, at the Silver Fox Entertainm­ent Complex.

Smith, the event’s top seed and early favourite, graduated from the junior ranks in the 2020-21 season.

Last year, Team Smith defeated Summerside’s Darren Higgins 9-5 to win the provincial crown in Crapaud.

ROSTER

Last year’s Smith team included third stone Adam Cocks, second stone Alex Macfadyen and lead Edward White. Christophe­r Gallant, who replaced Macfadyen at second stone, is the younger brother of Brett Gallant, who won multiple Brier with Brad Gushue and now curls with the Brandon Bottcher rink in Calgary, Alta.

In 2021, Smith, then just 22, moved up to skip P.E.I. from the third position for a game at the Brier as skip Eddie Mackenzie was on the bench as the team’s alternate

and alternate Aaron Bartling played third.

EXPERIENCE

Last year was Smith’s third straight Brier appearance. He skipped in 2022 when Team Smith was selected as P.E.I.’S representa­tive after the provincial­s were cancelled due to COVID-19.

The provincial competitio­n will determine P.E.I.’S representa­tive at the 2024 Montana's Brier, Canadian men's curling championsh­ip, in Regina, Sask., March 1-10.

On Jan. 27 and 28, there are draws at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Jan. 29, draws are scheduled for 9 a.m., and 2 p.m., if necessary.

TEAMS

Following is a look at the teams in the P.E.I. Tankard:

• Defending-champion Tyler Smith is playing out of the Crapaud Community Curling Club. He is joined by import third stone Adam Cocks out of the Mayflower Curling Club in Halifax, Christophe­r Gallant at second stone and lead stone Edward White from the Summerside Curling Club.

• Darren Higgins hopes home ice will help him get revenge on Smith this year as the Summerside curler is playing third stone with skip Tim Hockin. The Summerside rink includes second stone Mike Spencer, lead Alex Macfadyen and alternate Jonathan Greenan. Hockin is seen as the team with the best chance for an upset.

• Calvin Smith skips a team out of Crapaud. He has junior Anderson Macdougall from Cornwall as third stone, Tyson Smith at second stone and Nick Blanchard as lead. Susan Hubley is coaching the team.

• Veteran Tyler Harris skips a Crapaud team and is joined by fellow Charlottet­own curler Tyler Mackenzie at third stone, Daniel Macfadyen at second and lead Nathan Hardy from Crapaud. The team plays in the Tuesday men’s league in Crapaud.

• Blair Jay is back as skip with a Summerside team that includes third stone Corey Montgomery, second stone Kent Mackay and lead Alan Montgomery. Jay also competed in the provincial masters’ championsh­ips last week in Montague.

• Jamie Newson, who has a string of provincial mixed curling titles to his credit, is skipping a Crapaud-based team. He is joined by third Chris Ellis, second stone Jamie Stride and lead stone Greg Ellis.

• Rounding out the Tankard field is skip Steve vanouwerke­rk, third stone Nick vanouerker­k, second stone Sam Ramsay, lead Patrick Ramsay and alternate Corey Miller. The team is affiliated with the Crapaud Curling Club.