Strong start

Smith-skipped rink into championship round in B.C.

Prince Edward Island was atop the Pool B standings entering the final day of the round robin at the New Holland Canadian junior men’s curling championship in Langley, B.C.

The Island squad of skip

Tyler Smith, third Ryan Abraham, second Jake Flemming and lead Ryan Lowery defeated Northern Ontario 6-5 and

Nova Scotia 8-4 in nine ends on Monday to improve to 5-0.

Against Northern Ontario, P.E.I. took a 3-1 lead in the fourth with a deuce. Northern Ontario responded with three in the sixth to lead 4-3 but

P.E.I. tied it in the seventh and took the lead by stealing one in the eighth. The teams traded singles the next two ends.

The Smith squad scored three in the seventh to break a 3-3 tie with Nova Scotia and added two in the ninth to end the contest.

The Phil Gorveatt-coached team from the Montague Curling Club played Manitoba Two (3-1) late Tuesday night. Atlantic to complete round-robin play.

They have already clinched a spot in the championship pool by being amongst the top four teams in their pool.

They will play the top four teams from the other pool beginning today. The top three teams based on their 10-game record qualify for the weekend playoffs.

The Lauren Fergusonskipped rink from the Cornwall Curling Club lost 9-7 to New Brunswick Monday to drop to 0-4.

Down 2-1 in the third, New Brunswick scored a deuce to take a 3-2 lead then stole four in the fourth. P.E.I. got two back in the fifth to make it 7-4.

The teams traded singles the next two ends before P.E.I. stole singles in the eighth and ninth ends to make 8-7. Nova Scotia counted one in the 10th en route to the victory.

P.E.I., which also consists of third Sydney Howatt, second Kristie Rogers, lead Rachel O’Connor and coach Patrick Quilty, played Nunavut (1-3) and Northern Ontario (1-3) on Tuesday.

The finals are set for Sunday with the winners advancing to the worlds in Russia from Feb. 15-22.