(by Charles Reid)
Two out of three ain’t bad.
Tyler Smith can attest after skipping his rink to its second Pepsi provincial junior men’s curling championship in three years with an 11-3 victory over the Matthew MacLean foursome on Wednesday in Charlottetown.
Guardian photo – Tyler Smith rink
Smith led 4-1 in a close contest after four ends at the Charlottetown Curling Complex, but his crew stole a three-spot in the fifth end and never looked back.
Also headed to the nationals later this month in Cornerbrook is the Veronica Smith rink from the Cornwall Curling Club after a 6-3 victory over the Jane DiCarlo foursome from the Charlottetown Curling Complex on Tuesday night.
It’s Smith’s third straight provincial crown and third straight trip to the nationals, and she appreciated her group’s effort.
“Phenomenal. The girls came into every game prepared. Focused and prepared for what we had to do to get out of this province,” Smith said.
It’s also the last year for the 20-year-old Smith to skip her rink as she ages-out of junior next year.