O'LEARY, P.E.I. — Blair Jay put things in perspective following the 2021 Tankard P.E.I. men’s curling championship.
The veteran skip and Summerside resident lost 3-0 to Eddie MacKenzie of the Crapaud and Montague clubs in the best-of-five series at the Maple Leaf Curling Club in O’Leary last weekend.
“It’s a memorable experience,” said Jay, 69. “I’m getting up there in age, so you have to enjoy these win, lose or whatever.”
MacKenzie and his teammates – third stone Tyler Smith, second stone Sean Ledgerwood and lead Ryan Lowery – defeated Jay, third stone Chuck Jay, second stone Jon Philip and lead Glenn Rogers 10-4 on Friday and 6-3 and 8-4 on Saturday.
“Even though we lost the three games, I really enjoyed it,” said Jay, who is a longtime member of the Silver Fox in Summerside. “I loved the competition, and I loved playing against Eddie. He’s got my number; what can I say?”
“It’s a memorable experience. I’m getting up there in age, so you have to enjoy these win, lose or whatever.”
- Blair Jay
Smith said the final two games were much closer than the final scores indicate.
“There were a lot of shots throughout Games 2 and 3, especially, where we made a couple of ones you normally do not make, but if they go the other way, the game is a whole different story,” said Smith. “We got a couple of slight misses out of the other team, and if they make them, then the game is a whole different story, too.”
Jay and MacKenzie are no strangers to one another. Jay added “we go way back” and MacKenzie pointed out they have played against each other for 30-some years.
“Blair has always been a tough competitor over the years,” said MacKenzie, 48. “He throws a lot of rocks, so he definitely made some shots to keep the games interesting."
Fox connection
Like Jay, MacKenzie has a connection to the Silver Fox. He spent five years as a member of the Fox’s junior program.
“I definitely threw a lot of rocks there,” said MacKenzie in an interview following the Tankard.
MacKenzie, who lives in Charlottetown, recalled learning the sport from his early coaches, including Grant Somers, Jamie McCarthy and Daryell Nowlan. He went on to say Jay would have “helped a few times” instructing.
“(Jay) would have been there practising a lot when we were there, too,” said MacKenzie. “As juniors, we would go after school every day and throw a bunch of rocks.”
The MacKenzie rink will represent P.E.I. at the Tim Hortons Brier Canadian men’s curling championship in Calgary from March 6 to 14.
Jason Simmonds is the Journal Pioneer's sports reporter.
