February 11…Charlottetown’s Peter Gallant successfully defended his Labatt Tankard provincial title Sunday at the Crapaud Community Curling Club by defeating clubmate John Likely, 8-7 in an extra end.

Likely led 5-2 after six ends and appeared to be on his way to Winnipeg for the Tim Hortons Brier, but Gallant took two in the seventh, then stole a deuce in eight and another single in nine before Likely forced an extra end with his own deuce.   However, Gallant was left with an open draw for the win in the 11th.

Likely, Gallant and former provincial champion Rod MacDonald had all finished with 5-2 records in the eight-team round robin. 

In seeding for the playoffs, Likely faced Gallant in the Page 1 vs 2 game, which Gallant won, 6-5 to advance to the final.  Likely then eliminated Kyle Stevenson, 10-5 in the semi-final to set up another battle with Gallant.

Gallant is joined by third Kevin Champion, second Mark O’Rourke and new lead John Desrosiers.

Gallant is making his ninth Brier appearance, but only second as skip.  Last year, his team finished 4-7 in Hamilton.  Prior to that, he’d played third for Robert Campbell in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999, third for Peter MacDonald in 2001 and second for Peter Jenkins in 1982.  He also skipped PEI to victory at the 1987 Canadian Mixed.

Champion makes his fifth appearance, after playing third for Campbell in 2003, third for Rod MacDonald in 2005 and 2006, and third last year for Gallant.

O’Rourke also makes his ninth appearance, all as second after playing for Campbell in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999, Peter MacDonald in 2001, Rod MacDonald in 2006 and Gallant last year.  Desrosiers makes his Brier debut.

Prince Edward Island has yet to win the Brier since joining the competition in 1936.

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