Host Manitoba now only unbeaten team at Mixed

Manitoba, skipped by Terry McNamee of Hamiota, is now the only undefeated team after Day 3 of the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship. Through seven draws, Manitoba is a perfect 5-0, after winning both of its games on Monday…an 8-5 decision over Prince Edward Island (Robert Campbell of Charlottetown) in the morning, followed by an 8-5 victory over British Columbia (Tom Buchy of Kimberley) in the nightcap.  McNamee is making his fourth appearance at The Mixed, having finished third at the 2007 and 2004 editions. One game behind the host province are Ontario (Chris Gardner of Arnprior) and New Brunswick (Charlie Sullivan of Saint John), both at 4-1. Ontario defeated Newfoundland/Labrador (Gary Wensman of Corner Brook), 8-6 in the evening draw after a 7-5 score over Northwest Territories/Yukon (Steve Moss of Yellowknife) in the morning. New Brunswick, meanwhile, split its games, pounding Newfoundland/Labrador, 7-1 before falling to Alberta (Tim Krassman of Medicine Hat), 11-7 in the afternoon draw. Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia (Paul Flemming of Halifax) are next at 3-1.   The Islanders took out Quebec, 10-5 after its morning loss to Manitoba, while Nova Scotia also split its games, losing to New Brunswick, 5-4, before whacking Saskatchewan, 9-4. Alberta is at 2-2, while four teams are at 1-3: British Columbia, Northwest Territories/Yukon, Northern Ontario (Craig Kochan of Thunder Bay) and Saskatchewan (Steven Slupski of Moose Jaw). Newfoundland/Labrador sports a 1-4 mark while Quebec (Simon Hébert of St-Romuald) remains winless at 0-4. The competition continues with three draws daily, Tuesday through Thursday.   After the final draw of the round robin on Friday morning, the first place team advances directly to Saturday’s final, while the second and third place teams meet in a semi-final following any required tiebreakers. Alberta leads all provinces with nine Mixed titles since the championship began in 1964 in Toronto.  Manitoba has won eight Mixed crowns, the latest by Winnipeg’s Sean Grassie two years ago when The Mixed was staged in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Two players from the winning team will then represent Canada at the World Mixed Doubles Championship, slated for April 15-24 in St. Paul, Minnesota.