P.E.I. off to hot start with Gushie up next
Tyler Smith was not yet born when a Prince Edward Island team last reached the playoffs at the Canadian men’s curling championship. Peter MacDonald’s Summerside foursome reached the Brier’s final four in 1996.
But Smith, born in 1998, has led P.E.I. to a 4-1 start at the 2024 Montana’s Brier in Regina. While there are still tough opponents ahead, including Wednesday’s clash with defending champion Brad Gushue, Smith’s Crapaud Curling Club foursome has turned heads in Regina.
“To put P.E.I. colours on your back and go out and perform the way we have so far really means a lot,” the 25-year-old skip said after a 10-5 doubling of Quebec’s Julien Smith on Tuesday afternoon. “We’re getting a lot of support from back home. People are becoming very, very interested because it’s been awhile since P.E.I.’s been 4-1 at the Brier.”
Smith and Saskatchewan’s Mike McEwen joined Northwest Territories’ Jamie Koe, who had the day off, at 4-1 atop Pool B.
Gushue was 4-2 after an 8-3 win over Nunavut. McEwen was an 11-6 winner over Alberta’s Aaron Sluchinski, who dropped to 2-3 alongside Quebec.
Northern Ontario’s Trevor Bonot (4-1) led Pool A heading into an evening clash with B.C.’s Catlin Schneider (3-2). Alberta’s Brendan Bottcher and Manitoba’s Reid Carruthers and Matt Dunstone were in a three-way tie at 3-1 with Bottcher facing Dunstone at night.
The top three teams in each pool of nine Thursday advance to Friday’s six-team playoff round, from which Saturday’s four Page playoff teams emerge.
Wednesday morning’s clash between Smith and Gushue is playoff pivotal for both teams. “I’ve seen Tyler play. He’s a great player and he’s playing really well this week, so I’m not super shocked,” Gushue said. “I know we’re going to have a challenging game against them.
Smith, third Adam Cocks and lead Ed White are teammates at a third straight Brier. They went 1-7 in Lethbridge, Alta., and 2-6 last year in London, Ont.
Smith shot 96 per cent in Monday’s win over Alberta’s Sluchinski.
“Some people might have lost some money on that game,” second Chris Gallant said. “Tyler’s been making a ton of shots for us. Carrying us a little bit on occasion. He’s so confident with the draw weight and (has) big-weight ability.”
P.E.I. opened with a narrow 7-6 loss to McEwen before a run of four straight wins.
“We actually felt super comfortable out there right away,” said Smith, who owns and operates an excavating company. “The first game the last couple of years, it’s kind of been like, ‘Oh my God, it’s your first game at the Brier, there’s 5,000 people.’ You can’t replace experience. It matters a lot.”