It will be the defending champion Lauren Ferguson and Calvin Smith rink from the Cornwall and Crapaud  Community curling clubs taking on the Rachel O’Connor and Ryan Abraham duo from Cornwall in the last of the three section finals in the modified triple knockout draw, on Monday at 9:30 am on the final day of the PEI Mixed Doubles Championship at the Crapaud Community Curling Club, with the winner advancing to the championship round at 12:45 and, if necessary, 4 pm.

Rachel O’Connor (left) and Ryan Abraham

In the Sunday afternoon “C” semi-finals, the O’Connor/Abraham team, trailing 5-2 after six ends, took two points in the 7th end and stole a single for a 6-5 come-from-behind win, while the Ferguson/Smith team, down 6-4 after five ends in their game against Melissa Morrow and Kenny Stewart from the Silver Fox and Crapaud Community clubs, scored a triple in the sixth to take the lead. The teams exchanged singles in seven and eight with a final score of 8-7 for the defending champs.

Lauren Ferguson and Calvin Smith (file photo)

If O’Connor/Abraham, who won the “A” Qualifier, also win the “C”, they, as double section winners, will play in both championship games and have a “double life” in the championship round, winning the event if they take either game, while their opponent, who would be Jamie Newson and Miranda Ellis from the Silver Fox in Summerside, who won the “B” Qualifier, would have to win both sections.

If Ferguson/Smith were to win the “C” Qualifier, there would be three different section winners. The rules state that the team that played in the most section finals would have a bye to the second game. Since all three teams would have played in two section finals, the rules also state that if teams are tied in qualifier games played, the team that qualified first, which would be O’Connor/Abraham, who won the “A” section, would get the bye to the second game.

So, regardless of who wins the “C” Qualifier, O’Connor/Abraham will be in the final, and have either one or two chances to win the championship.

This year’s winning team will advance to the 2019 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, March 19-24 at the Willie O’Ree Place in Fredericton NB.